Page 142 of Facade

Ryker and Malachai straightened, faces like stone. Ryker very subtly moved in front of me, fists tightening at his side.

“I may be crass and rough around the edges, but you don’t see me walking around half naked with a bunch of mangy males around.” Lyra clucked her tongue, placing a thin blanket around my shoulders.

“Thanks, Lyra.”

“No biggie. At least the wolves covered up their man meat. And why aren’t there any woman wolves? Not that I want to see a bunch of melons and bushes strutting about.”

Under normal circumstances, I'd correct her. Maybe even spare a laugh. But these weren’t normal circumstances, and something was going on with Ryker.

“Hey, uh, think they’re going to cause trouble? " Lyra whispered, nodding toward the approaching wolves. “I have more muffins…”

I didn’t answer her; my focus was on Ryker’s back as Dimitri approached.

Dimitri shifted back to human form, thankfully with a pair of pants ready to slip on.

“I guess we should thank you for your assistance,” Ryker said, his tone tight and mistrusting.

Dimitri smirked. “Looked like you had things under control. The lightning thing was pretty impressive shit.” Ryker crossed his arms. “Even with my damn leg, I couldn’t miss out on the chance to sink my teeth into some of these fuckers.” His attention slid to Malachai. “Glad to see you were released from your chains.”

Malachai gave him a tight smile. “You were convincing in your role.”

Dimitri smiled a wolfish grin. The two wolves flanking him lowered to the ground, their lips pulled back in warning. I pulled the blanket closer, shielding myself from the cold and building tension.

“I’ve been in an alliance with Thaddeus for years. In that time, I’ve warned many human villages before they were attacked and helped both humans and Werewolves escape this realm. Not an easy task with the sentries the King has covering every border,” he said, smugly.

A growl escaped me. “And what of Chairn?” I demanded, pushing past Ryker. “What of the rebels? Fletcher?”

Dimitri’s smile faltered, sadness churning in those deep brown eyes.

“I couldn’t do anything about Chairn. When we were passing through on our way to get you, a human whispered an insult about the Fae. Aiden reacted swiftly, having Slade and Alaric fetch the torches. It was done before I could do anything. And the rebels—I made sure they didn’t suffer, as they would've with Aiden. I had no choice.”

Bile rose in my throat at yet another bald-faced lie I bought from Aiden.

“You mean that you didn’t want to blow your cover.” My voice deepened as I involuntarily shifted, rising above Dimitri so that he had to look up at me, a lace of fear in his eyes.

“Evanee, calm down,” Ryker warned. “The sun’s about to rise.”

A challenging growl tore free from my throat, and Ryker shifted instantly. He towered above me in our changed forms. Something primal twisted in my gut at both of our Gargoyles being out, mine matching his, signaling us as equals. A match. His eyes flared as if he, too, could sense my body’s response to him. But he quickly turned away from me.

My teeth ground together. What the hell is going on with him?

“Look, Evanee, I can’t say you’re wrong. But I came today to help make up for that. Our cover is blown. Please understand, I’ll carry those deaths the rest of my life,” Dimitri pleaded, stepping toward me, until Malachai blocked him with his arm.

I dragged my eyes from Ryker long enough to give a tight nod at Dimitri. But when I looked back at Ryker, something raw in his eyes stared back. Only this didn’t feel like it had at the cabin. This was cold. Distant.

“Uhh, is anyone else feeling really uncomfortable with the way those two are starin’ at each other?” Lyra piped up.

My head whipped toward her, and in the blink of an eye, one of the wolves behind Dimitri leaped in front of her, his hackles raised at me, teeth showing as he released a guttural sound. I hissed, but before I could do more, Ryker was there, shoving me behind him, and released a deafening roar.

The wolves celebrating in the field went silent.

Everyone scarcely breathed. The Werewolf in front of Lyra shifted back, with a mop of blonde hair on his head, naked as the day he was born.

He held up his hands defensively.

“Whoa! Sorry, sir, not trying to challenge you or anything. It’s just this girl—well, she’s special to me, sir, and—”

“Shut up, pup. And put your fucking pants on,” Dimitri snarled.