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Ryder was lost in his own thoughts, his own guilt, and any words spoken would’ve gone over his head. I hugged him a little tighter, though, in the hopes that my actions would convey my own feelings towards him.
Ryder was lost, I knew that. He needed to be found by someone. I wasn’t sure if that person would - or even could - be me. I didn’t know how to love, nor did I know if I was capable of it. But I would try.
For Ryder and Calax and all of the other boys weaseling their way into my heart, I would try.
* * *
I couldn’t tellyou how long we sat there. It might’ve been hours or even minutes. Ryder, at some point, must’ve fallen asleep. He was lightly snoring, his head still resting on my lap.
Shaking his shoulder, with more gentleness than I knew I had, I whispered, “Ryder, we should get going.”
It hadn’t left my mind the ominous mention of Liz’s “partners.” So far, we hadn’t seen anyone else in the house. Where were they, if they even existed? It would not surprise me if Liz had imagined them, but it still did not change the fact that someone had helped her kidnap Ryder and me. It stood to reason that, at least on one matter, she had been telling the truth.
It begged the question: what the hell did they want with me?
Ryder blinked, fatigue evident in his blind gaze, before finally nodding. He maneuvered himself into an upright position, wincing at the pain in his shoulder and arm. I knew that he would need a sling sooner rather than later.
“Wait here,” I instructed, easing reluctantly to my feet as my body detached itself from Ryder. He let out a small cry, hands feebly reaching for me. Heart clenching at his anguished expression, I crouched down in front of him. “I’ll be right back.”
Moving quickly, I first checked the room I had left Liz in. She was still unconscious on the bed.
She looked so peaceful when she was asleep, so tranquil. How could someone so angelic in appearance hold so much evil? Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I moved from room to room, quickly grabbing supplies and anything that I could use as a sling. Liz, fortunately, had hoarded a large collection of medical supplies including some pills and bandages. I threw them all into a duffle bag I had spotted beneath the bed.
Grabbing a shirt from the drawer, I marched back towards Ryder and began treating his numerous injuries. They weren’t as bad as I initially suspected - besides for a couple of cuts and bruises, his arm was in the worst condition. After I wrapped his arm up in a makeshift sling, I catalogued the remainder of his injuries with narrowed eyes. I wanted Liz to pay for every slash on his skin, every bruise on his face. The need for vengeance was palpable. My chest constricted at the thought, and my hands turned clammy.
Still, I kept my face impassive as I pressed a kiss to Ryder’s bloody cheek.
“What’s the verdict, doc? Am I going to live?” Ryder asked, a bit of his usual sass returning to his voice. I snorted.
“Probably not. Don’t worry, though. I’ll make sure to eat everything besides your head.”
His eyes gleamed. “Evil woman.” Turning towards the medical supplies, he grabbed a wipe and a bandage. “Now you.”
Grunting, I obediently allowed him to dab at the cut on my face. I heard his sharp intake of breath as he surveyed my bloody and bruised form. I knew that I would be scarred, but I also knew that I didn’t care. My scars always served as a reminder of all that I had endured and eventually conquered. I was a warrior, and the scars only accentuated that.
Ryder’s fingers were gentle as they traced my swollen cheek, down to my lips, and across my collarbone. Pain and guilt darkened his amber eyes.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he choked. “If it wasn’t for me...”
“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t laugh as much as I do,” I cut him off. “If I wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have found my comfort zone, and then broke through it. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now.”
His hand stilled under my chin, breath leaving him in a whoosh at my confession.
I brought my own hand up and gently traced the shape of his face. The high cheekbones, the light stubble, his luscious, full lips, the bruise just below his jaw. We stared at one another, and the world around us seemed to still. Stop.
There was no Liz. No Ragers. No storms.
It was just us and feelings that we both struggled to understand. I realized then that I didn’t have to face this unfamiliar territory alone. It was new to Ryder as well, and we would juggle the obstacles together.
It didn’t change the way I felt for Calax. He was my rock, my sun, and my love. What I felt for Ryder was different. He made me laugh when I felt like crying. He understood me in a way that no one ever had before.
I loved him. I loved them both.
I could only hope that they wouldn’t hate me when I told them the truth.
“Come on. Let’s go,” I said at last, breaking eye-contact. I held out a hand for him, and he took it eagerly. “We need to get the hell out of here.”
“But first...”
Before I could ask what he meant, Ryder pressed his lips to mine. It was a short kiss, only a second, but it made my stomach clench and heat rise to my face. He pulled away, looking happier than I had ever seen before. His smile was glorious, and his eyes, though still shadowed, radiated an inner light that had been missing for a while.
“Let’s go,” he echoed.
Without another word, we moved towards the front door of the house. We didn’t know what awaited us, but I knew we would face it.
Together.
