Page 73 of Fated for Flames

“For what?” he asked.

“For helping me that day. At the amphitheater.”

He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“I would’ve done it for anyone,” he said dismissively.

“But you did it for me,” I pointed out.

He didn’t say anything at first, just continued to stare like he normally did. Then he approached, grasping my chin gently. My breath caught in my throat as he held my gaze with such intensity that it sent electric currents through my body.

“I will kill anyone who tries to harm you,” he declared.

His intense expression morphed into a fire that left me speechless. I could only nod in response.

We stood in a charged silence until a gust of wind snapped me back to reality.

“I should head back inside,” I said finally, tearing my eyes away from him.

Ryker simply nodded, his gaze focused on something in the distance. I followed his line of sight but found nothing out of the ordinary. Just the silent expanse of snow-covered grounds bathed in the moonlight.

I turned to leave but was stopped by Ryker’s voice. “Evelyn,” he called out, his voice low but clear in the quiet night. “Be careful.”

I nodded with a smile.

He turned and left.

Taking a deep breath, I looked toward the darkness, and a sudden unease settled in me.

The music and laughter from inside hit me like a wave as I reentered the ballroom. I rejoined Chad and the others, but I couldn’t shake the unease.

Something in my gut didn’t feel right.

46

Evelyn

Theo found me in the crowd, his face pale under the dim party lights.

“Evelyn, I need to talk to you,” he said urgently as his eyes darted nervously around us. “I just got a flash of memory back. Meet me outside in five minutes.”

“I’ll be right there,” I assured him.

He nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

With Theo’s departure, I noticed that Lia and Rick were missing.

I took a moment to quench my thirst with a glass of punch before making my way outside to meet him.

The cold night air hit me as I stepped out of the warm party room. The yard was eerily silent compared to the loud chatter and music inside.

But Theo wasn’t there.

I waited.

Then there was a noise coming from the side. It sounded like…fighting.

Fear clenched my heart as I moved toward the noise.

---