Page 33 of The Storm Within

A chill passed through Ryker. Turning, he saw a dark corner. When he took a step toward it, Ethan backed away.

Ryker released his small hand. “It’s okay, hon. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“What’s going on?” Stewart asked, but Ryker ignored his brother-in-law’s voice. Still, it was weird he could hear the people in the room but couldn’t see them.

Cautiously, Ryker walked toward the darkness. Ethan didn’t follow. Good. He didn’t want his nephew frightened, even from the things locked away in his own mind.

The closer Ryker drew, the more the darkness swelled. Whatever was in there, it pulsed with an unnatural energy.

“Ryker.”

He spun when he heard Nate say his name. His mate’s voice sounded weak and exhausted, like he was barely hanging on. “Honey bear?” Ryker called out, but Nate didn’t answer him.

Ethan slid his hand into Ryker’s, and then pulled him to the right, away from the dark corner.

The farther they walked, the clearer an image became. Ryker’s heart almost gave out when he spotted his mate lying on his side, glistening with sweat, his blond hair matted to his head.

“I’m here, baby,” Ryker called out, but Nate didn’t acknowledge him.

Ethan stuck his arm out in front of him and waved his finger back and forth, causing Ryker to glance around. “You’re trying to show me where to find him.”

“Yup.”

“If Nate’s body is lying in my bed, am I supposed to physically look for his mind?

“Gwapes!” Ethan giggled.

“Does that mean I’m right?”

Ethan nodded, but this time he shrugged.

Ryker grinned and ruffled his soft hair. “I’m right, but I have to figure the rest out on my own.”

It was hard as fuck not to run to Nate, to not help him when every instinct in Ryker wanted him too. But this was only an image, not a doorway, and Ryker couldn’t waste time on it.

But if his mate looked that bad, they had less time than Ryker had hoped for.

Ethan tugged on his hand. When Ryker looked down, the cub tapped his nose then sniffed. “Smew.”

Ryker inhaled, the scent of the musty motel filling his lungs.

Shit. Diobno had taken his nephew back to his prison. Ryker’s bear roared, ready to hunt the son of a bitch down.

“But it’s in limbo,” he said to Ethan. “How do I get there?”

Ethan glanced to his right. It wasn’t that pulsing dark thing in the corner that he was looking at, but it was still a dark place.

“Oh hell no.” Ryker groaned. Not the fucking shadow again. “I know I’m probably going to get lost, and then I’ll be stuck in there forever.”

“My dark,” Ethan said. “No stuck.”

Ryker gazed down at him then crouched. “What are you, cub? I just want to know so we can take better care of you.”

Ethan shook his head. He either didn’t know or didn’t want to say.

“Uncle Ryker loves you no matter what you are, cub.” He kissed Ethan’s forehead. “But it would be so cool if you turned out to be a unicorn.” He chuckled, but Ethan frowned. “No? Then how about a big grizzly bear?”

Ethan scrunched his nose and growled.

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