Page 39 of The Storm Within

Nate collapsed, as did everything in the room. The wind vanished, and the thunder gave one last boom before falling silent.

“Nate!” Ryker raced toward him and dropped to his knees, pulling him into his arms.

He glanced up at Ryker, his eyes so dull they almost appeared lifeless. “Kill his body,” he wheezed out. “Then get me to mine.”

With time almost up, Ryker shot through the motel, searching frantically until he drew in a pungent smell. Following the noxious odor, he pushed open the door to room nine and saw Diobno curled up on the bed. It wasn’t until this moment that Ryker could assess the full extent of damage his bear had caused.

On Diobno’s chest were four gashes in his shirt, the wounds still slowly bleeding. On his left arm were two puncture holes where Ryker had sunk his canines in. Bruises marked his face and neck, and one eye was swollen shut.

If you asked Ryker, it wasn’t nearly enough damage for the pain and suffering the bastard had caused Nate. With pure disdain, Ryker unsheathed his claws then punched through the demon’s chest, ripping out his heart.

“I dare you to slink your way back into your body now.” He glanced at the heart in his hand. “Blah.” Ryker dropped it, wiped his bloody hand over Diobno’s shirt, then hauled ass back to his mate, desperate to get him home where he belonged.

Chapter Eleven

“I’m nervous.” Nate joined Ryker at his side, his mate sliding their hands together. The contact helped tremendously, but that didn’t stop Nate from trembling slightly.

“You’re nervous to meet a toddler?” Ryker shifted the large gift under his free arm. “Come on, honey bear. The cub was inside your head, helping you wield your powers. That practically makes you two brothers, or something.” He mumbled the last two words.

Nate still couldn’t believe they’d used a toddler’s mind to accomplish it. When he’d opened his eyes, he’d been back in his body, a bit tired but no longer hanging on by a fingernail.

But Ethan had been gone. Quinton had explained that it had taken a lot out of the boy to help, so his uncles had taken him home to rest.

If it hadn’t been for the rug rat, they wouldn’t have made it out of the motel, and Nate wouldn’t be standing there nervously, about to meet Ethan in person.

All because the kid liked grapes.

They approached the door of the quaint home, Nate taking a few deep breaths of frigid air, his exhales tiny bursts of clouds in front of his mouth.

Despite creating snowstorms to lure people to the motel, Nate had forgotten just how cold winter could become and he was freezing his nuts off.

When Ryker raised his hand to ring the doorbell, Nate seized it, giving his mate’s wrist a light squeeze.

“Close your eyes.” Ryker’s soothing voice settled over Nate, making him instantly obey. “What do you smell, sweetheart?”

Nate took a deep, cleansing breath, drawing the cold air into his lungs. “Pine trees, crisply fresh fallen snow, and your dark, woodsy scent.”

A scent that never failed to evoke the feelings of safety and love. Some might think it too soon, but after what they’d been through, Nate couldn’t care less what others thought.

“Mmm. I smell peppermint—sharp, sweet and drives me wild.” Ryker brushed his cheek over Nate’s, the rough texture of his beard causing Nate to gasp. “Open your eyes, honey bear.”

When he did, he found a tiny person in the doorway, practically bouncing where he stood. “Um, hi.”

He assumed this was Ethan.

“Uncuh Dyke shoe me.” Ethan bounced again, his gaze landing on the gift under Ryker’s arm. His eyes lit up, and Nate could practically see the boy drooling.

“What did he say?” Nate asked, grinning at the toddler’s exuberance. He was a gorgeous little boy, with golden blond hair and pretty green eyes. The rug rat also had deep dimples.

“He said I shushed him.” Ryker picked Ethan up with one arm, settling the boy in the crook of it.

Jesus. Nate would never stop swooning over his mate’s sheer strength or the way his muscles flexed.

“He opened the door while we were doing our exercise,” Ryker explained as he and Ethan smiled at him.

Nate was thankful his mate hadn’t said anxiety attack. He didn’t want to look like a punk in front of his hero.

That would be Ethan.

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