Page 84 of Facade

Hooves pounded past me.

“Luna!” I called.

She charged straight for him. He turned, smiling at her. Luna skidded to a halt in the mud, prancing around giddily. Ryker ran a taloned hand down her muzzle before kneeling and pressing his forehead against hers. She looked at peace with him.

I started toward him again, until his attention returned to me. His face was just as beautiful and alluring in his Gargoyle form as when he was in his human form—sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and those damn eyes.

Death would have found me today, had it not been for him. My gaze inadvertently flicked to the steaming carcass before settling on him again. He risked everything coming here, but he came anyway.

For me.

“Ryker,” I whispered.

I wanted to thank him. To throw my arms around him. To smack him for not just telling me we were the same. Bastard. Instead, I stayed rooted to the spot, shaking from the cold, leaving his name hanging in the air between us.

He took a step toward me.

My pulse quickened.

His head snapped to the trees beyond—he moved back. My throat tightened—You can’t go, I wanted to scream.

But I didn’t.

I barely breathed as those predatory eyes landed on me.

“Go. Now. I’ll come for you.” His words came out in a growl, and before I could respond, he pushed off from the ground and with a powerful beat of his wings, he was gone.

22

Evanee

My steps barely registered.

Luna pranced giddily behind me as if we hadn’t just almost died from a demon monster. That my life hadn’t just blown wide apart. Images of Ryker played on a loop in my mind—etching him permanently like a tattoo.

Movement in the distance met my ears as something large barreled toward me through the trees. It only took seconds to discern I wasn’t in danger; the voices were familiar.

“Where is she?” Aiden barked, the sound of him kicking a rock out of his path echoing painfully. I clamped my hands over my ears.

“We’ll find her. The proximity spell would have flared if she’d gone too far.” Malachai offered, his usual anger threaded through his words. I rolled my eyes.

Twigs snapped beneath my boots. I focused on the sound, tuning out Aiden and Malachai, and leaned against a tree. Air hissed past my teeth as I waited for them to happen upon me.

The only thing holding my mind captive were the questions I planned to hurl at Ryker when I saw him next. The sheer anticipation of seeing him and Aniah had my stomach twisting.

“Evanee?!” Aiden now shouted through the silent trees. I winced, his voice hitting deeper within my eardrums.

I could see him, although he was still a distance away. He’d get close enough eventually—

My brows drew together when his eyes lit up in the dark as Ryker's had, and after a moment of looking around, they froze as they landed on me.

He can see me too.

Then Malachai did the same.

My pulse thundered. The tree anchored me as the truth sank its claws deep.

The fangs.