Page 77 of A Story of Sinners

I sighed and turned all the way to him, moving to grip his fist. He withdrew his hand and backed away before my skin could brush against his, knowing what would come if we were to touch. He would be thrust from my dream, an issue I was determined to get to the bottom of.

“What I said…” I shook my head. “I was angry Ryken, downright furious that you took me away from Cambriel without my say. I was mad that you dared to claim me while I lay unconscious from the sleeping potionyougave me, the same sleeping potionRedmondgave you. I’m still mad about that part. There are some boundaries you should never cross. There are some actions that are unforgiveable violations.”

I felt myself getting worked up again over the complete lack of respect, so I breathed deep, unclenching my jaw. “But claiming I never wanted to speak with you was a mistake, one I sorely regret. The silence has been deafening, and though I’m still mad at you, I would take the anger and hatred and arguments over the deafening silence left in your wake. Any day.”

“Hell, I’m still upset you’ve been invading my dreams without my knowledge, but the relief I felt at knowing that this”—I waived my hand around the dreamscape and back to him— “is all real is intense. I miss you. I miss Redmond. I’ll take the pain over nothing.”

His lips parted open, and his gaze glued to mine. He didn’t breathe or move, as if a mere twitch of his body would send him spiraling away from me and this dream. I lunged forward and grasped his arm, prepared to end this discussion and show him what happened next. What always happened next.

Ryken shouted, “No!” and tried to pull away from me, but I held firmly onto him, skin twisting in my grip.

“I want you to see.”

The air shifted once again, a hole tearing open in the sky above. Shadows swirled out from the tear of my dreamscape with a determined ferocity. Swirling darkness headed for Ryken, preparing to push him out as it did nearly every night.

Another visitor. One I expected.

I should have seen that Malachi had found a way into my dreams long before now, but the shadows had only ever drifted in to thrust the male out of my world, disappearing as soon as Ryken had gone. Malachi had never bothered to take form or speak with me.

He had a plan, as always, and his silence spoke louder than words ever could. He was meticulously devising a way to achieve an end goal, all while not revealing his true intentions. It worried me, as it should everyone else in the realm.

Whatever his plan was, it ended tonight.

When the shadows reached Ryken, they pushed, but I wrapped my arms tightly around the fae male, refusing to let him be carried away. If he went, so did I.

The shadows split off, wrapping around Ryken’s body and tugging him away, but I still refused to release him. When I wouldn’t quit, the shadows went after me, pushing and pulling, gripping my hair and tugging. I let the strands of shadow attack us both, then remembered that I wasn’t defenseless. Not anymore.

I had magic.

Shadows swarmed us, encompassing our bodies in a dark shroud tinted with maroon streaks. They swirled around like a tornado, sucking out the air between us until there was nothing left to breathe. We gasped, and I clenched my jaw, calling on my magic, demanding it aid me.

If Malachi could use his powers here, then so could I.

Ryken noted the flames that burned like a hot kernel in my chest, and he placed his hand at the center of my heart. The flames sprouted, pouring down my arms and crawling up my neck. My eyes met his metallic irises that burned with their own silver. Our fires mixed and clashed together, burning into a hot flash of silver and gold.

Then, we exploded, the fire swallowing the shadows whole.

The blast of our combined magics sent us sprawling to the ground and gasping for air. After the chaos settled, I called my magic back into me, and Ryken called on his.

I choked on smoke, but it cleared shortly after. My desperate gaze cast over Ryken, ensuring he was fine. He held up his hand, halting me as he swallowed down mouthfuls of fresh air, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

He was still here, with me. Safe.

“I see you caught on.”

My body froze, and Ryken’s eyes narrowed onto the spot behind me where that dark voice originated.

“You were always a little slow on the uptake. I thought that would change with age and experience, but I guess not,” Malachi clucked.

I twisted around, my gaze connecting with the winged male—the storyteller who’d always kept me on my toes. “What do you want, Malachi? You’ve been patrolling my dreams without saying a word. Why?”

He only shrugged. “You broke a promise to me. I figured the least I could do was keep an eye on you and ensure you were safe with your captor.”

Ryken rose and stepped forward, every inch of his body primed for an attack. “Did you steal the seer?”

Malachi tutted. “You shouldn’t leave important things lying around.”

Not an answer.

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