Page 35 of Devon

“No.Please, let him go.”

Devon was silent and frozen.He looked terrified, and he was right to be.Ryan had been in his place not that long ago.He knew how ruthless and cruel Parrish was.He needed to get Devon out of Parrish’s hold, but how was he supposed to do that?If he moved toward Parrish, the Kudlak would probably kill Devon.His fangs glinted in the moonlight.He was still smiling.

“What have I already told you?”he asked Nic.

Nic was silent for so long that Ryan didn’t think he would answer.He did, though.

“That I shouldn’t get attached to our food.”

“Why did you?”

“Devon isn’t food.He’s my friend.”

Parrish clicked his tongue.“Your friend?You couldn’t even find out about the protective shields from him.”

“What protective shields?I walked into the village without anything stopping me.”

“Try to walk back into the village.”

Ryan wasn’t surprised when Nic obeyed.There was something menacing about Parrish, even though he was talking as if they were getting coffee together.

Devon’s eyes were wide, and he was staring at Ryan.Ryan needed to do something.He might survive an attack from Parrish, but Devon wouldn’t.He was human.He couldn’t defend himself, and he wasn’t as sturdy as a shifter.Ryan needed to find a way to pull him away from Parrish or take his place.

Nic tried walking toward the village, but he slammed into an invisible wall.The wall briefly appeared at the contact, sparkling pink and blue in the darkness.It was beautiful, but it left Ryan confused because even though he knew the wall was there, he’d been able to get his hand through it.Nic was unable to do anything like that.

“It seems like we’re locked outside of the village,” Parrish said, still sounding casual.“And that’s a problem.We were supposed to beinsidethe village, not outside of it.”

Ryan knew he couldn’t wait.Parrish was distracted by his displeasure with Nic, but it wouldn’t last long.He’d find a way to make Nic pay and maybe even sneak into the village.

Nic had saved the village.If he hadn’t come to tell Devon about the attack, no one would’ve known what was about to happen.They wouldn’t have been able to raise the shields so quickly.They had, and Parrish and his Kudlaks were stuck outside.

Unfortunately, so were Devon and Ryan.

Ryan knew he couldn’t think too much about it.He threw himself forward, catching Devon’s wrist and pulling.Parrish was distracted, and Ryan was relieved when he let go of Devon.Hewasn’trelieved when Parrish reacted quickly, reaching for Devon again.Ryan twisted him and Devon, and Parrish grabbed him instead.

He yelped when he felt Parrish’s nails dig into his shoulder.He tried to pull away, but Parrish’s hold on him was too strong.

It caused memories to rush back to the front of Ryan’s mind, but he pushed them away.He couldn’t afford to panic.He needed to save Devon.

“That was a stupid idea,” Parrish said.“Look.He’s still here, and he’s not going anywhere.”

Ryan saw that Parrish was right.Devon was standing with Nic and was staring at Ryan in horror, but when he moved toward Ryan and Parrish, Nic caught his arm and pulled him back.Devon shook his head, but thankfully, Nic didn’t let him go.

Ryan didn’t know what would happen, but he could take a good guess.Parrish wasn’t a nice person.He wouldn’t take any of this well.Not only had Nic betrayed him, but he was stuck outside the village.He would get his revenge, and Ryan and Devon were the only people available.He might even try to use them to get Clay and Rowan to lower the shield.

Ryan didn’t think they would.Their priority was to protect the clan as a whole.If they had to choose between everyone and Ryan and Devon, the choice would be easy.

“Now, Nic,” Parrish said as he squeezed Ryan’s shoulder and dragged his hand to Ryan’s throat.“I’d like to know why you didn’t tell me about this shield.”

Parrish’s fingers pressed into Ryan’s throat.He whimpered, but he didn’t try pulling away.It would be useless, and he wouldn’t be going anywhere.He was trapped, and unfortunately, his mate was trapped with him.

* * * *

DEVON HAD FUCKED UPagain.If he hadn’t run after Nic, if he’d gone to Clay and Rowan’s house instead, if he’d put his mate first instead of his friendship with Nic, Ryan wouldn’t be in Parrish’s claws.

Devon swallowed.He needed to do something, but what?He would willingly trade his place with Ryan, but Ryan had just done the opposite, and he wouldn’t let Devon put himself in danger again.Besides, Devon doubted that Parrish would get so distracted that he let it happen a second time.

They were fucked.

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