Page 19 of Wicked Fate

His chest rose and fell like he’d been holding his breath for hours.

He turned toward me, his eyes dark with anger, then released my hand and took a step back.

My heart dropped. I didn’t know what I’d expected to happen once we were alone, but it definitely wasn’tthis. “What’s wrong?”

He tilted his head back and grimaced. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m going to tell you. In fact, I have alotto say.”

CHAPTERSIX

Ryker’s chest heaved as he stalked across the room, running both hands through his brown hair like he couldn’t stand being in his own skin. The air felt thick—charged—and not in the way it usually did when we were alone.

This was different.

Harsher.

Colder.

Like a wall had been constructed between us.

I swallowed hard. “If you’re angry with me, I get it. I’m disgusted with myself for falling for all that so hard.”

He froze mid-step and slowly turned to face me, jaw locked tight. “You think I’m angry atyou?”

I hugged my arms across my chest. “You’ve barely looked at me since we left Reid’s. You let go of my hand the second the door shut. You’re breathing like you’re going to explode. So yeah… I think you might be regretting all of this, and I’m sorry. That’s all I can say.”

His eyes widened, then narrowed as disbelief crashed over his face. “Regrettingyou?”

I stared at the floor, not wanting to see his shock wear off and true disgust slide into place. I wasn’t strong enough to handle it, not with my entire world being ripped apart and making me question everything I’d ever known.

He moved so fast I didn’t even register it until his hands cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. The gold blazed in his eyes as they burned into mine. “Ember. I’m furious. But not at you.”

My breath hitched as so many emotions poured into me. “You should be, at me. I was weak and let myself get manipulated by magic. I doubted you.”

He shook his head. “Lil rebel, I’ve been under a spell for almost two months now. I know exactly what that does and how it twists you up and makes you question your own instincts. I’m mad because you were forced into this nightmare, and you had to walk through hell, thinking your heart betrayed you. ThatIwould betray you too.”

My knees went weak.

“Your feelings were manipulated,” he growled, voice raw. “You should’ve been able to trust them without second-guessing every emotion. But she stole that from you.”

I tried to blink away the tears that blurred my vision, but one slipped free.

He caught it with his thumb, his touch sparking something primal in me.

But he wasn’t done. “And then she let you stand there—on that damn cliff—humiliated, broken. Alone.”

I grabbed the hem of his shirt, fisting it in my hands. “I wasn’t alone. Not really. You were always there, Ryker. Even when I didn’t know what we were. You kept showing up.”

His hands slid down to my waist, gripping tight like he was afraid I’d disappear. “Because I felt it,” he rasped. “Even when it didn’t make sense. I felt you in my bones. I’ve tried so hard to protect you, despite you running straight into danger, but I couldn’t protect you from that.” His voice cracked on the last word.

I leaned into him. “Well, now we know what happened, and what’s brewing between us makes sense,” I whispered.

That must have released something in him, because his mouth crashed down on mine, not gentle or soft but desperate. Consuming.

I didn’t hesitate, and our tongues collided. I clawed at his back, dragging him closer. The kiss deepened, full of everything we hadn’t said, everything we’d feared.

When he pulled back, he searched my face. “I’m so damn tired of fighting this. I want this. I wantyou. But I need to be sure it’s what you want too, and I know I promised you time.”

"I don't need more time." My voice came out stronger than I expected, surprising even me. "I've wasted enough time doubting and trying to ignore what I already knew in my soul."

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