Page 99 of Facade

I burst through the trees and skidded to a halt—three enormous Werewolves blocked my path. Just as big as Dimitri. They looked equally surprised to see me, a gray one even cocked its head to the side. Then they lowered their snouts, snarling and growling, their long, dagger-like teeth snapping.

My wings tucked in tight as I lowered into a defensive stance. I was in no position to fight them. Not in this form. Not yet. And I only had my talons as weapons.

A golden one on the left lunged.

I threw my arm up, crying out as he locked his jaw around my forearm. I sliced toward his belly with my free hand, pulling out tufts of fur. But it'd been enough to make him release my arm.

A spine-chilling roar shook the ground as Ryker landed in front of me, the impact making the trees groan from the power pouring off him.

The Werewolves faltered a step before their leader, a large white wolf, snapped at them. Then all three lunged.

They were no match for him.

Ryker lifted the golden wolf into the air with impressive strength, then lunged forward, his fangs ripping into the wolf’s jugular. Blood rained down his face and body until he discarded the corpse to the side and quickly snatched up the gray wolf into both hands, pulling his snout and bottom jaw until the whole fucking head ripped. I grimaced as more blood sprayed all over Ryker, making him look like something out of a nightmare—one I couldn’t look away from.

The third wolf moved to his blind spot. But I was there, not even feeling myself move.

One minute, I stood before the wolf. The next, movement blurred. I looked down to see the white wolf’s body lying on the ground, bleeding out where its head had been, and blood was dripping down my face. I blinked. I didn’t remember doing it.

Ryker approached me slowly, his shining blue-and-silver eyes a contrast against the dark blood coating his even darker form.

“You’re hurt,” he growled, gesturing to my forearm. My wide gaze flicked down to the blood dripping.

I didn’t feel it.

Too much warred within me. Overwhelming me. Overstimulating. The rush of the kill, the concern over not having complete control, and… deeper. Something deeper stirred within me as I looked at Ryker. This male Gargoyle that I matched. His scent filled my nostrils as if it were tailored for me—everything I craved and more.

His eyes flared as if he could see what was churning low within me. Smell it on me.

“Evanee,” his voice was deep. Husky.

But movement had us both turning as another Werewolf bolted from the trees and away from us. Ryker took off after it.

A roar loosed from deep within my chest, ready to follow.

Instead, my vision went completely black.

The dam I’d wanted broken for so long, had finally shattered.

27

Aniah

Two days had passed since the Werewolves attacked, and Evanee still hadn’t woken. I'd been able to heal the wound on her arm, and another nasty burn on her shoulder, but Ryker became so restless that he refused to sleep and continuously paced the small confines of the cabin, his eyes never leaving her.

Evanee going into a deep sleep like this, had to mean her memories were returning. The only issue was that we were out of time.

We hadn’t heard from Freesia or received any word from our mystery informant in the days we’d been here. Both Ryker and I knew the Werewolves’ absences would be noted, if they hadn’t already, and reinforcements sent. I knew they'd tracked us from the proximity spell. There was too much still attached to her—it was my fault.

“It’s always fascinated me that animals aren’t frightened of you in your Gargoyle form,” I said, shielding my arms from the slight chill in the air.

“I’d like to think they look at us as protectors rather than predators. Though the animals in this shit realm are terrified of my presence,” he responded, voice deeper in this form. His full height would be intimidating if I didn’t know him. One of the largest Gargoyles ever recorded, from what I'd read a long time ago. A blessing, the Gargoyle king had once said to me, passed down by the ancients, along with his other blessings.

“Spending the time I have with the Gargoyles, I’d agree with that,” I stated. He turned and smiled at me. Only a half smile, but I’d take it. “Ryker, you need to get her away from here.”

He hung his head, his light hair falling onto his forehead. “I know.” His fangs bit down into his bottom lip in thought.

“She’s okay to move,” I insisted. “She’s just in a deep sleep. It’s her body’s way of coping.”