Page 93 of Facade

Every step, my nerves flared, but I took comfort in the knowledge that everyone at the camp had to have been sleeping under one of Aniah’s spells. Ryker’s wings were tucked in tight, the shine of the bright specks dampened, as if they were helping camouflage him. Although his white hair still gave him away.

We moved silently, careful with every step. I was mesmerized—seven feet of lethal grace, ducking beneath branches without making a single sound.

My heart pounded hard enough to make the world tilt.

A clearing came into view.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he gave a quick shake of his head, so I clamped my lips tightly together.

He held his arms out to me as his leather wings stretched wide. As did my eyes.

I shook my head no. I’m not letting you carry me through the air. I crossed my arms, hoping he understood what my face conveyed.

He only raised a brow, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

Wanna bet?

Without warning and incredible speed, he snatched me carefully into his arms, cradling me to his chest as my hands naturally wrapped around his neck, holding on for dear life, a scream lodged in my throat.

He shot into the air, swift and smooth, leaving my stomach on the ground below.

I clenched my eyes shut, burying my face in his warm, bare chest, and I could've sworn he held me tighter to him. My tattoos tingled with the growing distance, but never hurt. Even the pain in my back eased, despite the moon bathing us in her light.

Once his wings snapped, and the ascent turned into a steady glide with his wings beating at a slower pace, I dared a peek.

It took my breath away.

Everything seemed so small and insignificant from these heights. The perilous cliffs were nothing but a short stretch of path. A laugh escaped me at how scared I’d been while traveling through them. We hit some clouds, and my view was obscured. I buried my face against the heat of Ryker’s chest once more to shield from the icy wind. At least, that’s what I told myself I was doing, as his scent enveloped me warm and heady, and for the first time in three years, I felt truly safe.

25

Evanee

Ryker brought me to a small, weathered cabin, deep in the woods, nearly two hours by flight. It was hidden; the trees barely cleared enough for the home.

As he shifted back to his human form, I knew I should look away—I couldn’t. His muscles bulged and shifted as they shrank back to human size. Talons retreated, leaving him barefoot, but still at an intimidating height. His wings absorbed into his skin, leaving a mesmerizing tattoo in their place. My gaze traced the tattoo further down—to where his pants hung loosely. He turned, giving me a full view of his rigid abdomen and that sharp V that made my stomach flip.

He cleared his throat. "Gawking again?"

My eyes snapped up, blood rushing to my cheeks. A hint of amusement flickered across his face as he rolled his shoulder, where ridged pink lines with fading black veins blended with the ink on his shoulder. The useo’s bite—

I blanched.

“Your—your shoulder,” I sputtered. “I’m sorry—I didn’t even ask. Are you okay? I can’t believe you carried me so far—”

He huffed a laugh, “I’m fine. Aniah stopped the poison from spreading. And you hardly weigh anything. You’ve lost weight,” he said, nodding toward me. My gaze dropped down, and I quickly pulled my coat tighter.

“You could've just told me you were a Gargoyle.”

He smirked. “How well do you think you would've taken that?”

The door burst open, light flooding around Aniah as she ran out.

“Did anyone see?” She frantically scoured every inch of us.

I frowned.

“No. Your fog knocked everyone out. Except Aiden—I don’t know where he was.”