Page 97 of Immortal Throne

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

Istared at Ryker with my mouth opening and closing, but no sound coming out. It was pathetic, the way my heart skipped a beat and tried to tear itself out of my chest to get close to him.

Clearing my throat, I adjusted my stance so that I balanced on the balls of my feet. “That was a bad move,” I replied. “Because I’ve been on a winning streak for ages.”

Ryker shook his head and shifted so he mimicked my posture, his hands in front of him, his knees slightly bent. His jeans and T-shirt told me he hadn’t come here to fight.

Well, he shouldn’t have stepped into the cage with me.

The crowd remained silent, watching and listening. It wouldn’t take them long to figure out we knew each other.

I raked my gaze over him, over all of those familiar lines and angles, over his gorgeous green eyes and the strong breadth of his shoulders.

Should I tell him I missed him? Should I tell him my life was dull without him, or that I dreamed about our ride through the forest on the demon mounts every night?

Absolutely not.

I hadn’t realized how badly I wanted to see him until he stood in front of me. I made the first move before I thought about it, rushing at him and automatically putting him on the defensive. Of course, he managed to block every hit I threw his way. And I hit harder and harder. And with each blow, he dodged. Yet, he refused to hit back.

“I thought you said you put money on yourself?” I asked breathlessly. Perspiration beaded along my forehead for the first time today as we danced around each other. “This is no way to win.”

“I actually thought we’d have a chance to talk to each other first,” he told me, his face a severe mask I hadn’t seen on him in a long time. “I forgot how bloodthirsty you are.”

My heart thumped painfully once again. “If you wanted to talk, you should’ve asked me out, not stepped into a cage in an illegal fighting operation.”

He hadn’t reached out to me since I ripped a portal through the final trial of the Inferno to escape to the mortal realm. Not once.

Probably too busy ruling the Underworld.

So, what was he doing here? Why now?

“I’m pretty sure you would’ve turned me down.” Ryker said.

“Got that right.” I kicked out with my leg to try and bring him down, but the hit bounced off of his thigh and sent me back a step instead. I flashed my teeth.

“Come on. We’re not here to talk,” I snapped out.

Ryker lunged forward, lightning fast. My ass hit the canvas a second later, and Ryker loomed over me with his arms on either side of my head. His attention focused squarely on my mouth. At once, heat blossomed through me and I forgot about all the aches and pains from the day. I forgot about everything except for the feel of him and the way he fit snugly between my legs. Even the booing crowd faded away.

“Sloane,” he said, my name a whisper in the wind and made goosebumps rise along my skin. “Do you have any idea how badly I’ve missed you?”

I shook my head. “You haven’t missed me. This is…this is your mind control. You’re doing this to me.”

“When are you going to realize the truth? I have no control over you,” he said. “I barely have control over myself when I’m with you.”

“Bullshit,” I spat.

He had the nerve to look affronted. “I’m serious. I can’t control you with my touch and I never have. My powers don’t work on you.”

“Your powers seemed to work on me just fine when you helped me access my magic in the kitchen.”

“That only worked because you wanted me to help. My magic can’t force you to do anything you don’t already want to do. You’re stronger than me. You’re a Dazamon.”

I shook my head. “I don’t believe you.”

He made no move to get up as he asked, “Why?”

“Because you’re a liar and you’ve been out for me from the start.”

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