Page 48 of Shaped By Darkness

I can't say I blame him. If anyone else were to stumble upon him, I doubt they'd be as happy to see him as I am. Hell, they might very well raise the alarm, and the last thing we need is more fighting.

I'm so sick of the fighting; I just want Lyle back, Draven gone, and...

Ryker moves out of the shadows, and my eyes are drawn to his, the bright glowing purple that matches his 'broken' magic. I know from the way he talks about it that he hates it, and I'm sure I'd probably feel the same if my crazy father forced it on me in an attempt to experiment, but fuck, I think he's amazing.

If only he could see it.

I shake my head, attempting to clear it. What the hell is it about him that makes me like this? You would never know I have three mates with the way I'm damn near drooling over Ryker.

I'm just grateful he doesn't seem to understand that. Usually his lack of people skills makes things funny or even difficult, but in this particular situation, it works in my favor.

That's fucking rare these days.

"Wait, what?" I know he said something, but I can't remember what the hell it was. Fantastic, so distracted by how good he looks that my brain stops working...

The smirk that curls his lips is playful, and his eyes shine as he stalks toward me. I don't move because I'm stubborn, but it onlytakes me a moment to realize what a stupid idea that was when he stops damn near toe-to-toe with me.

I crane my head back, holding his gaze, unwilling to look away even as my heart races and my palms sweat.

Damn it, get it together, Serena. I mentally scold myself, but it doesn't do a damn thing. I remain trapped, pulled to those beautiful purple eyes like a moth to the flames.

That's why I don't miss his reaction. If I'd been looking anywhere else, I would have.

My mouth goes dry from his proximity. I know it's silly considering I slept in his bed and I've spent time in his arms, but I can't control this reaction I have to him. Pressing my tongue between my lips, I attempt to wet them, and while it works, that's not the only thing it does.

Ryker's eyes dart down as if drawn to the movement, which on its own is normal enough. I mean, we're in the woods… at night. It never hurts to be alert, but this isn't that. Not if you take into account the way his nostrils flare and his Adam's apple bobs.

It would seem I'm not the only one affected by our proximity.

He takes a step back, and I have to force myself not to follow him. It's hard because that's all I want to do, but somehow I manage.

"We…" he stumbles over his words, running a hand through his hair and messing it up even more than it already is. Fuck, I want to be the one who runs my fingers through his hair.

"We should start practicing. We don't have a lot of time."

He's not wrong, but it's not at all what I want to do, even though I know we should. I need to get my powers under control so that I can save Lyle. I won't give up on him, no matter what.

I can always daydream about Ryker while we practice, and it's not like I'm going to let him go back into hiding after this.

No, he thinks that's what he's going to do. Help me, then go back to being a shut-in, but he's so wrong.

He's stuck with me now, has been since the night he decided to bring me back to his cabin.

This is why we don't take in strays; I bet he won't ever make that mistake again.

I don't say any of that, instead nodding as I follow him into the middle of the clearing. We've been doing this long enough that I know the drill. I also know I'm about to get my ass handed to me.

I'm panting, sweating, and fucking losing, just like always.

Ryker zaps me out of the sky as I fly at him, and I hit the ground hard enough that it knocks the wind out of me, but I push to my knees. I know I need to move. If I stay in one place too long, he has no problem showing me how that leaves me open for an attack.

I used to train with the guys, but a lot of it was how to evade magic because I didn't have it. Now I do, and I need to learn how to use it in all capacities, including fighting. Not to mention, I've never gone against dark magic. It's a pain in the ass, and Ryker isn't pulling any punches.

'My father will kill you,or worse'he loves to remind me when I complain about him beating my ass. He's right, but shit, let a girl catch her breath.

I'm on my feet even as the world spins around me, moving into the trees for cover. I only need a moment to recover, but of course, he can't give me that.

His purple lightning hits the tree five inches to my right, and it explodes. I manage to cover my face as I roll away, but I stillfeel the wood as it slices into the exposed skin of my arms, a few splintered pieces hitting my cheek and neck.

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