Page 107 of Shaped By Darkness

Never mind, you can stay right where you are.Laughing, I smack him, and I hear his chuckle as well.

What’s so funny?Pike asks, and I feel my cheeks heat, which only makes Sol laugh harder as I shake my head and try to change the subject.

Before he can push too far and have Sol explain, we come up on the castle wall, and I sigh in relief.

No way do we need to have a conversation like that right now.

The guards open the gates without hesitation. When we’d first arrived, there were issues, but the guys have slowly won over not only the guards but also the people.

All but Nero, that is. The captain of the guard still hates me for my powers and isn’t a fan of the guys ever since Lyle broke his nose.

Thankfully, he’s been able to keep his opinion to himself since then. The most I have to worry about is a mean side-eye, but I’ve dealt with much worse, and he’s easily ignored.

It’s late, or early, I guess, which means there’s pretty much nobody outside, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it completely deserted.

It starts with whispers.

“Is that…?”

“No, they would never bringhimhere.”

And despite the early hour, the whispers turn to conversation, and we have an audience before we reach the castle.

Garrett and Ryker could have been there in seconds, but hung back with us as the guys moved through the city walls. I hadn’t thought anything of it, but I should have. These people are no different from Garrett; their belief that Ryker is a monster is something they won’t be able to just let go.

Someone throws something, a rock, maybe. It doesn’t really matter what it is as it flies past my face, right toward Ryker. Whoever threw that had fantastic aim, but there’s no reason Ryker couldn’t evade it. I’ve seen how quick he is when we train, which is why I’m shocked when the rock hits his shoulder, andwhile it wasn’t terribly big, it’s enough that he staggers in the sky.

“Hey!” I shout, looking around to see who the hell threw it, but as I scan the now growing crowd, I can’t pinpoint where it came from.

“Leave!”

“You’re not welcome here, monster!”

“You killed my sister!”

“He burned our houses!”

Shouts begin to grow, and I know they won’t listen, but the need to defend him, to make them understand, bubbles up inside of me like it has a mind of its own.

I move to get off Sol’s back, but my feet never hit the ground. The next thing I know, I’m airborne.

“Put me down! They don’t get to treat you like that,” I huff, trying to wiggle free from Ryker’s grip, but he’s not having it. His fingers tighten, and I can feel the way his nails dig into my skin.

“They’re right, though, Serena. I did do those things. I am the monster they believe me to be. You don’t need to argue with them or try to change their view of me. If anyone is mistaken, it’s you, Darling.” He looks down at me, a sad smile on his lips, and it breaks my heart.

I fight harder, kicking and flailing, and while he still doesn’t let go, I can see the struggle on his face.

“Serena,” he grits out as he struggles to hold me.

Fine.

Calling my shadows, I feel the weight as my own wings cling to my back, pushing Ryker away.

I hear his groan of annoyance as I turn around, headed back toward the people who are still yelling, but this time it’s not only about him.

“I bet she brought him here to finish us off.”

“Of course she’d be friends with him. We all knew she was no good. She tricked the prince. Dark magic, I’m telling you.”

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