Page 37 of The Storm Within

Yeah, Nate got nothing. No clue whatsoever what that meant. “Sorry, kiddo. I have no idea what you’re saying. He dare?”

“Translated, it means ‘he’s there.’”

Nate’s heart stalled at the deep, rich voice coming from the foot of the bed. He struggled to get up, desperate to make sure Ryker’s voice was real, but he couldn’t even lift his head.

He burst out crying.

* * * *

As much as Ryker wanted to hold his mate and comfort him, they needed to go. He was still shocked Ethan’s shadow worked. It was like taking the express lane when the rest of the traffic was shrouded in darkness. It had been a straight shot, no getting lost like he’d feared.

“Is it really y-you?” Nate’s tear-soaked eyes was enough to bring Ryker to his knees.

“It’s me, honey bear.” He ran his knuckles down the side of Nate’s cheek, his throat thick with emotion. Ryker thought he would never hear his mate’s voice again or see those amazing dark blue eyes. “I’m going to pick you up, okay? I don’t want to spend any more time in this place than we have to.”

Ryker wasn’t sure if it was because his mate wasn’t in his corporeal form or if it was his fueling desperation, but it was like picking up a feather when he lifted Nate from the bed. And damn, it felt so good to have the guy back in his arms where he belonged.

“But my uncle sealed all the passageways.” Nate clung to him, his fingers curling into Ryker’s shirt. “How are we going to get out of here?”

“We have a little angel on our side.” He winked.

It was the truth. As Ryker traveled through Ethan’s shadow, he’d caught glimpses in the surrounding darkness. Most of the images Ryker hadn’t understood and hadn’t stopped to figure out. It was like trying to look at them through the bottom of a glass, distorted and too far away.

But one had caught his attention, causing him to nearly slow down. Somehow, Ryker had known he was in Ethan’s subconscious and that his nephew wasn’t even aware those images—memories, whatever they were—were even there.

The image hadn’t been clear enough to see the man’s face, but Ryker had gotten a good look at the white, expansive wings on his back.

A rattling sound and a deep groan pulled Ryker from his thoughts. “Do you know where your uncle is?”

“His body, yes.” Nate glanced around, his limbs shaking. “His mind… it could be anywhere.”

Since Diobno wasn’t in the room, Ryker moved swiftly toward the closet. It didn’t matter how much he wanted to end the guy. Right now, Nate was his only priority. Ryker had to get him out of this illusion and back to his body, pronto.

“Are you sure we want to go back into the closet?” Nate stared wide-eyed at him, as if Ryker had completely lost his mind.

“Babe, you’re making this too easy.” Ryker smiled, trying to give his mate a reassurance he didn’t feel.

“I don’t get it.” Nate’s arms tightened around Ryker’s neck at the sound of something slithering over the wooden floor, a slow, endless noise that had Ryker reaching for the closet handle. Fuck if he was looking down to see what was making that sound.

It would just have to be one of those unanswered questions in life.

“Shit!” Ryker yanked his hand back when the doorknob turned bright red, burning his hand and causing him to nearly drop his mate.

“You’re like an unwanted rash that just keeps coming back.”

So much for a clean exit.

Turning, Ryker glared at Diobno. This couldn’t be his physical form, because there wasn’t a scratch on him. “You’re a little too knowledgeable about rashes. I’d see a doctor if I were you.”

Ryker adjusted his hold on Nate, instinctively bracing himself as he eyed Diobno with a mixture of disgust and wariness. The demon stood in the doorway, his presence exuding an arrogance Ryker found nauseating. He couldn’t let his fury take over. Not with Nate still clinging to him, frail and defenseless, relying on Ryker to get them out of this hellhole.

Diobno laughed, a chilling sound that filled the room, reverberating against the walls. “Oh, come now. Surely a bear shifter like you can handle a bit of heat?”

Feeling Nate’s fingers digging into his shirt even tighter, Ryker growled. “This coming from a guy who can’t even take some ribbing?” he scoffed. “I think the word you’re looking for is hypocrite.”

Diobno raised a brow, his smile oozing a condescension Ryker was dying to erase. “You still think you can win, don’t you? It’s adorable, really. Like a puppy barking at a thunderstorm.”

Why hadn’t the demon already attacked? He’d wiped the floor with Ryker the last time they’d fought, so what was with the playground taunts? Was he stalling? If he was, why? Was it to keep Nate there longer so he could fully ensnare his nephew’s mind?

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