Page 22 of The Storm Within

Glancing over his shoulder, Ryker saw Nate staring at his hands, like he was trying to figure out why they weren’t working the way he wanted them to.

“You think brute strength will be enough to defeat me?” Diobno hurled a blast of energy toward Ryker. The impact struck like a wrecking ball, throwing him across the room. He crashed into the wall, the collision jarring his bones as pain flared through his back.

Fuck, that hurt. Disoriented, Ryker forced himself to his feet.

“Leave him alone!” Nate’s voice rang out, edged with panic.

Diobno shot across the room, his speed belying his size. His form shifted like a dark mirage as he lunged toward Nate, grabbing his nephew by the throat then lifting him off the bed. Nate struggled, clawing at his uncle’s grip, his eyes wide with fear.

“You think you can stand against me?” Diobno’s voice was sharp with indignation, his rage making the air feel heavier with each breath. “Not a chance in limbo will I allow you to be happy for even a second.”

“Drop him!” Ryker roared, his voice a guttural mix of human and beast, his fury lashing through him. Closing the distance, he tackled the demon. Nate hit the bed, clawing at his neck, wheezing heavily.

“Get off of me, you dimwitted bear!” Diobno spat, another surge of power gathering in his hands. Ryker felt the pulse of it, but couldn’t get out of the way before a blast once again sent him flying. He slammed into the dresser, the wood splintering beneath his weight, but he was on his feet in an instant, his vision narrowing on Diobno.

“Stop throwing me around, asshole,” Ryker growled just as a thick, cold mist began to fill the room.

It seemed his mate had finally figured his hands out.

“You think you can escape me, Nathan?” Diobno’s voice dripped with venom, every word a sneer as the shadows sliced through the mist. “You pissant. Do I need to remind you who holds the real power?”

Ryker took advantage of the distraction, rushing forward and delivering a heavy blow to Diobno’s side, smiling at the sound of ribs cracking. The demon staggered backward, a look of genuine shock crossing his features.

“You dare—”

Ryker didn’t give him the chance to finish. With his teeth bared, he grabbed the demon around his neck and slammed him against the floor, pinning him. “I’m about to do more than dare,” he growled, his voice a low, deadly promise.

“Nate will never leave this motel, and neither will you.” Unable to get out of the way, all Ryker could do was brace himself as the blast struck, for the millionth time hurling him into the wall.

He’d been thrown so many times his body was too battered to feel any more pain.

“You might have dark powers, but your daddy should’ve shown you a few more tricks other them pushing people around.” Ryker staggered to his feet like he was three sheets to the wind, punch-drunk and unsteady. “One way or another, we’re getting out of here.”

“I would think you’ve had enough,” Diobno taunted, his voice pure scorn.

Ryker’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Not even close.”

Nate started pelting his uncle with huge ice balls, one cracking the guy in his head. A heavy downpour of rain—only above Diobno’s head—caused his powers to flicker when he raised his hands.

A demonic scream bellowed out of Diobno’s chest. He launched himself at Nate with a murderous gleam in his eyes.

Ryker’s bear burst free, his mouth nearly unhinging as he roared. Charging forward, he barreled into Diobno, catapulting the demon away from Nate. Within seconds, Ryker was on him, trapping Diobno under his massive weight. Using his razor-sharp claws and teeth, he ripped into the demon, punishing him for what he’d done to Nate.

The taste of Diobno’s blood and the crush of bones wasn’t nearly enough to make up for the cruelty the demon had inflicted on his nephew.

But before Ryker could deal the final blow, the demon dissolved into smoke and fled the room. Ryker spun, making sure the dark souls hadn’t attacked his mate.

“That was…” Nate stared slack-jawed at him, wonderment in his dark blue eyes. “The most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”

Ryker shifted back into his human form, grabbing the clothes he’d discarded when he’d claimed his mate. “It would’ve been even more impressive if I’d killed him,” he grumbled.

Since he hadn’t been in his bear form long, Ryker didn’t have a chance to heal. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he used the bedding to wipe away as much blood as he could, then dressed.

Taking a hit to his pride, Ryker inwardly admitted the demon wiped the floor with him. It’d been decades since he’d had his ass handed to him, and he didn’t like it any more now than he had the last time it happened.

“I hate to say it, but this is far from over.” Nate wrung his hands, his nervous gaze bouncing around the room. “You critically wounded Diobno. If my uncle imprisoned me for making fun of him, he’s going to come after you with a scorched-earth vengeance.”

“Then we need the homecourt advantage.” He yanked on his boots then tied them. “Now that your battery has been juiced, can you get us out of here?”

---