Page 34 of Devon

“Jonas and I will see you there.”

Ryan hung up without saying goodbye.Devon stared at the phone for a moment longer.Did he really have to go?He was human, so he wouldn’t be of any help in a fight or in an attack.He also wasn’t looking forward to seeing Jonas and Kendrick again.He was pretty sure he could reason with Kendrick, but Jonas?Devon wouldn’t be surprised if the man slapped him as soon as he saw him.

Ryan squeezed Devon’s shoulder.“It’ll be all right.”

“I don’t know about that.”Devon couldn’t imagine how things would be all right.The village was about to be attacked, and he had to face Jonas.He didn’t know where Nic had gone or if he’d ever see him again.

He wasn’t sure he was going to survive the night.

* * * *

THEY SCRAMBLED TO GETdressed.Nic hadn’t said when the Kudlaks were supposed to attack, but he’d made it sound like it would be tonight, which meant that Ryan and Devon needed to get out of there.

They didn’t wake up Melissa and Haley.Ryan didn’t know what would happen, but he hoped that the Kudlaks wouldn’t get into the village.If things went the way they should, almost no one would find out about the attack because they’d still be asleep.Ryan didn’t know how protected the village was, but he was sure that Clay and Rowan had thought about it since the village had already been attacked once.

They left the house and turned toward the dirt road that would lead them to Clay and Rowan’s house, but Devon stopped walking almost immediately.He squinted in the direction of the forest, and he didn’t move even when Ryan gently pushed him.

“I think there’s someone between the trees,” Devon murmured.

“A Kudlak?”Ryan asked.He was ready to defend his mate, even though he had no idea what he was doing.He’d stood up to Parrish, the Kudlak who’d attacked him on his way to the village.He would’ve died if Parrish hadn’t been interrupted, but he was ready to sacrifice himself if it meant that Devon was safe.

“Nic,” Devon hissed.

Ryan heard someone swear.Before he could say anything or find the person Devon had seen, Devon was running away from him.

Ryan hesitated for only a moment.They were supposed to meet Kendrick and Jonas at Clay and Rowan’s house, but Devon was running in the opposite direction, and Ryan couldn’t let him go on his own.

He swore, too, and ran after Devon.“We need to go,” he called out.

“I need to talk to Nic,” Devon called back.“Nic, stop, please.”

Ryan could see Nic now.He was running ahead of them, clearly not wanting to talk to Devon.Ryan couldn’t say he was surprised.He hadn’t thought they’d see Nic again after he’d jumped off the roof earlier.

The only explanation for his presence was that he cared about Devon, no matter how hard it was to believe.He was still here because he’d wanted to make sure that Devon was actually leaving the village.He should’ve known that Devon wouldn’t leave his family.Even when Devon had been planning to do so, he hadn’t been able to go through with it.He cared about Haley and Melissa too much, and the village was his home.

“I’m going to kick your ass when I get my hands on you,” Devon yelled.

They were away from the houses now.Ryan had no idea where Nic was going, but he probably had a vehicle somewhere.He couldn’t have come here on foot.The village was in the middle of nowhere.

Or Nic could have shifted.Ryan hadn’t known any Kudlaks or Krsniks until he’d moved to the village.Hell, he hadn’t known theyexisted.He was curious about which animal Nic could shift into.

Nic stumbled and fell forward.Devon didn’t stop running until he reached him.Ryan was right behind him, and as he stopped, he felt something move behind him.He turned in time to see a wall of light shoot from the ground up before quickly vanishing.

He stared.He had no idea what the light had been or what had just happened.He reached forward, even though the wall of light was gone, and he felt tingling.He could push his hand through it, though.

“What was that?”Devon asked.

“Thatwas a protective spell,” a voice Ryan unfortunately recognized explained.

Ryan moved quickly, but he was too late.Parrish grabbed Devon and pulled him back, pressing Devon’s back against his chest and wrapping an arm around Devon’s neck.To Ryan's surprise, Nic scrambled to his feet and decided to stand with him rather than with Parrish.

Parrish’s eyes narrowed at Nic.“What is this?”

“I’m sorry.Devon’s my friend.”

Parrish was silent.When he smiled, Ryan had to resist the urge to scream.It wasn’t a nice smile.It was a smile that told Ryan that Parrish had just gotten what he wanted.

“You brought me a gift,” he told Nic.

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