Page 55 of Ruin

Come on…The stench of burning fur and skin filled my nostrils.

The demon’s roar hurt my eardrums. I pulled my flames away and peered into those dark eyes. Slowly they changed to a deep chocolate brown.

“Reed?”It was so damn hard to stop my voice from shaking.

The Were huffed, but gently this time.

“Oh, my gods.” Myles ran over and dropped to his knees by Reed’s head.

Again Reed huffed, his eyes full of pain and love as he looked on his mate’s distraught face. I knew we wouldn’t have long, and even though Reed was showing through, he couldn’t speak. His Were wasn’t really under his control. I stood behind Myles and peered down at my friend. “Reed? Listen to me.” He tore his eyes from his mate. “We’ll find a way to bring you back. Don’t you give up...ever,” I told him, my voice thick.

He dipped his head once, and his eyes started to flicker between the demon’s and his. He snarled but I had no idea if that was Reed or the demon. Either way, Reed came back and held Myle’s gaze. Even though it was only for a moment, that look spoke such volumes. I curled my fists as black seeped across his irises until there was nothing but demon left. I wanted to punch something—or someone. Without waiting for Myles or Lionel, I spun on my heel and marched away from the damning sight of my chained friend.

Connor had that Halo, and the only thing we needed to use it without us being catapulted into Hell, was an angel. I pressed my lips together. Where the fuck would I find an angel? Before I knew where I was heading, I’d stomped through the caves and out into the compound. I noticed Stone leaning casually against the rock face. His attention moved from Shannon who was helping Selina by holding her baby, to me.

Shannon glanced over as I stomped past Stone. “Take it she hasn’t forgiven you yet?” I don’t know why I asked as I had no intention of stopping. I was headed to the far side of the camp, where there was a training area.

“Where are you going?” Stone asked, ignoring my question. I turned my head. He was scowling as usual.

“Gods, no wonder Shannon doesn’t want to be around you. You’re a miserable bastard.” Yeah, I was spoiling for a fight, so I kept walking, knowing he wouldn’t take that kind of shit from me. In fact, I was counting on it.

“Hey! What’s eating you?” He stalked behind me, closing the distance between us.

“Nothing. Why don’t you go back to perving over the woman you want to fuck, but don’t have the balls to?”

Stone’s footsteps halted. My nostrils flared as I heard his mumbled curse. Footsteps caught me up. An iron grip wrapped around my arm. “You’re right, I don’t, but that isn’t what this is about.”

“Let go.” I snarled and narrowed my eyes, Mea rolling across my gaze.

His wolf glinted in his eyes, coming out to play just like I wanted. I’d issued a challenge, an order. One he wouldn’t comply with.

“I don’t think I will.”

Holding his gaze, I smiled and let Mea through a little more, just enough to enhance my senses. I inhaled deeply. The scent of determination and adrenaline hit me. Stone wanted this as much as me. I hadn’t given Mea freedom for weeks now and she was itching to be let loose, to fight and run. Stone’s pupils dilated.

“Oh, I think you will,” I said.

Stone grunted. “You want to fight.” It was a statement not a question.

“Yes, I fucking do.”

Stone let his hand fall away and looked at the cave mouth where he knew Reed was. His eyes softened.

“Don’t you do that. I will not take your damned pity.”

He snarled. “I don’t fucking pity you, girl.” He leaned closer. “But I do know what you need. And if it’s punishment you need, I’m happy to oblige.”

“Good.”

“And Connor?”

I shrugged and curled my top lip, but we both knew Stone was putting himself at risk by fighting me. “You can walk away, if you’re too chicken-shit to fight me.”

A slow animalistic grin stretched his full lips. “I never walk away from a challenge.” And in the blink of an eye, he shifted. So did I. Mea burst through my skin and leapt sideways to avoid Stone who launched himself at me, his jaws snapping. His wolf was stunning, a deep silver with a strange aura of purple mist around him. He stood far taller than Mea, possibly even as tall as Prime.

He bounded forward, changing direction at the last moment and nipping at my hind leg, ripping some fur and skin from my limb. It stung, but wouldn’t incapacitate me. Mea snarled and flicked her body around. Despite challenging a more powerful wolf, her excitement for the fight rolled through me. She jumped up intending to leap over his back, grab his neck and body roll him to the ground. The move totally backfired. Stone dropped to the ground and Mea missed her mark. She fell awkwardly. Stone immediately snapped his jaws and grabbed her around the back of her own neck. He could easily rip out our spine.

I snarled, pissed off with how quickly he’d beaten us.

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