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RAIKA
I didn’t even seeDixon and Phell coming for me. My attention had been on Shane fighting the other three demons.
Dixon and Phell grabbed my arms and hauled me away while Shane was distracted, while the entire club was. A bigger fight erupted around Shane, and the supernaturals, some incredibly prone to violence, didn’t hesitate before fighting people they didn’t know just for being pushed.
I opened my mouth to call for Shane, but I shut my lips. I didn’t want to say his name, not when Dixon and Phell could report back to Conri. At the stairs, I glanced back once and briefly met Shane’s eyes. He was absorbed in the fight, his arms and half of his face shifted into his beautiful black wolf.
Then, I was upstairs and Conri waited for me, rage written all over his face and body. The moment the demons pushed me to his side, Conri wrapped a tight hand around my arm and pulled me with him as he guided us to a backdoor.
In no time, we were inside the rented limousine. We left the parking lot seconds before the supernaturals spilled outside, bringing the fight to the human world.
Once more, I glanced back.
But I didn’t see Shane again.
I looked up, wishing I could get a clear view of the sky, but lights and Manhattan's skyscrapers blotted out the stars.
I still couldn’t believe I had found Shane. He had been right here, and he had seemed glad to see me. Or was that my imagination? The bastard. I had been so mad at him for the past year. I still was. After all, he had been at that nightclub, having a great night out, while me and his siblings and the rest of his pack suffered.
So selfish.
My hands shook; my heart beat fast. It would take a while for me to calm down after this encounter.
An encounter I should put out of my mind. Shane didn’t deserve one ounce of my brain power. One inch of my heart.
He didn’t deserve anything from me.
When we were inside the chartered flight and up in the sky, Conri got up from his seat and gestured for me to stand too. The demons scattered to the corners of the airplane, leaving the main cabin for us.
Oh, this wouldn’t be pretty.
“I’m tired,” I told him, closing my eyes and leaning my head back.
“I’m not asking.” He unbuckled my seat belt, grabbed my arm, and hauled me to my feet. “Where did you go?”
I jerked free from his grip, but held my ground. “To the restroom.”
Conri’s eyes turned red and his hands shifted into his dark-gray claws. “Don’t fuck with me, Raika. You evaded Dixon and Phell, and they found you downstairs.” He stopped right in front of me. “What were you trying to do?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “I wanted a moment to myself without your lapdogs following me around.”
Conri gritted his teeth, several of them elongated and sharp. “I know you better than that, Raika.” He snapped his teeth less than an inch from my cheek. I did my best not to flinch. “Dixon and Phell said a man was talking to you. Who was he?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. He was crazy drunk and thought I was some long-lost girlfriend, poor guy.”
I barely had time to brace my core as Conri’s closed fist met my stomach. The air fled my lungs, the pain spread like an avalanche, and I fell to my knees.
Conri grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled me up again. I swallowed the yelp that wanted to break free from my lips. He held me close to him, his teeth once more a hair's breadth from my face, his foul breath filling my nostrils.
“I gave you a night away, and if you behaved, I planned on taking you out more. But you were a bad girl, Raika.” He punched me in the gut again, and this time, when my knees gave away, he held me up by my hair. Tears filled my eyes. “Here’s your punishment: tomorrow, the entire pack doesn't eat. I want to see you explain to them why.”
He dropped me and I fell to the floor.
His claws and the red of his eyes gone, Conri went to the front cabin, probably to get a drink.
And I had a minute to wallow in my pain and hurt pride.
A sob lodged in my throat and I pulled myself back to my seat, where I lay against the window, closed my eyes, and did my best not to cry.
