Part 21 (2/2)

I blinked as Larissa went off on Adam. She thumped her foot as she crossed her arms and waited for him to leave. I knew better, he wouldn't walk out and leave her upset, he wasn't built like that. ”It's okay, really.” I said when Larissa didn't let up.

”I don't like her going out with him, not without us as backup baby,” he said messing with the suit tie he wore.

Larissa's sternness gave away to a huff of air as she rushed forward and threw her arms around Adam's neck. ”I know. Me either but she won't change her mind. Looking like that she could have any guy inside the Guild and we could watch her back.”

I snorted, ”I'll be fine, if not I'll call you. You two enjoy tonight. We need to let loose once in a while. Just remember not to make a huge show of your newly found feelings tonight, never know who might try and use it against us. Just be safe and have fun tonight.”

Adam smiled roguishly, ”Right, so I shouldn't grind my erection into her on the dance floor?”

”Ahh,” I held up my hands covering my ears making a show of it, ”My ears!”

We all laughed, including Malinda who had been watching us. Adam released his hold on Larissa and stepped up until I had no choice but to turn around and face him. ”Be careful tonight Syn, call us if you need us. We'll come,” he said before pulling me in for a hug carefully as to not wrinkle the silk dress. ”You look beyond amazing tonight, just remember, one call and we're there.”

I smiled, ”Considering I don't even know where there is, you're just going to have to trust that I am able to take care of myself for once.”

He swallowed and nodded, ”We're well aware that you can Syn that's never been in doubt. It's all this s.h.i.+t with Adrian coming back, it has to be driving you crazy knowing he was a few blocks from us this entire time and you're vulnerable right now.”

It was my turn to swallow and nod. ”You guys remember what I told you earlier about Adrian's reason? I mean it doesn't change what he did by leaving us, but you guys should know, he's still tapped in to us, our power. I need to release him, just couldn't do it yesterday.”

”s.h.i.+t, so he's been connected to us this whole time,” Larissa said putting her hand over her mouth in disbelief.

”Yes, but I didn't realize it until yesterday when I knocked him on his a.s.s. He pulled from my power I'd tapped into. He was able to draw power from me.” I exhaled a shaky breath and continued, ”I'll take care of it, but I needed you guys to be aware of it as well. He's chosen a side and if he ever was against us, well, he'd know our moves before we would.”

I walked out of the room with my friends by my side, we'd all be leaving close to the same time and I was as ready as I would ever be. With my heart in my throat I looked down the intricate long stairwell and found Ryder watching us.

He was decked out in a black suit. He was mind blowing in his finery. I had to remember how to breathe as I took the stairs carefully in the heels. He was devastating tonight. His short hair was loose, falling over his ears as he watched me through his perfect bedroom eyes. His hands folded in front of him as the perfect smirk covered his beautiful mouth.

When we reach the bottom of the stairs he came over, his eyes roving over my body hungrily, his wicked s.e.xy grin was blinding compared to the usual c.o.c.ky air he showed. Tonight it's gone and in its place is a s.e.xy intriguing male who is oozing f.u.c.k-me vibes that sent heat pooling to my molten center.

”Syn,” he said lifting his grin into a smile as I accepted his arm that he held out for support. ”You look beautiful,” his eyes slowly slid down my body with naked desire in their fiery golden depths.

”You clean up pretty good as well Ryder,” I mumbled before biting my lip as I smiled.

Adam leaned in and whispered in my ear before he and Larissa went out the doors, ”It's so a date.”

I blushed, turning to watch his retreating back as he turned smiling back at me wiggling his eyebrows childishly over his shoulder. Ryder only laughed as we followed them to the waiting limos outside. I looked at it and smiled. It was black gloss in color and had tinted windows.

He opened the door and we climbed in silently, when we were fully inside he sat across from me, his eyes dangerously s.e.xy as they caressed over me. I crossed my legs and leaned against the seat for support, which I needed in any form I could get right now.

I managed to pull my eyes from his hungry look and watched as we drove away from the mansion. The loud sound of a cork being removed from a bottle made me jump and place both hands on the soft leather seats.

Ryder laughed, ”Scared to be alone with me Pet?”

I watched the bubbles flow from the bottle, none of them landing on his crisp freshly pressed suit. ”Not at all,” I lied.

”You're a horrible liar and you should be afraid. The things I want to do with you right now...I could think of a few hundred things to do right now that don't include ending up at the club tonight.”

I swallowed and narrowed my eyes on him, ”This isn't a date. You promised to give me a time frame for when you would release me from the contract.”

This isn't a date, yeah nice Syn! He hadn't said anything about it being a date.

”So I did,” he said as he reached to the window box and pulled out two champagne flutes and held them in one hand as he filled them before offering me one, which I accepted without a second thought. I needed it to calm my nerves. Or at least, that is what I told myself.

”Are you going to?” I asked prompting a reply from him.

”At the end of the night, is what we agreed on. Until then you promised to relax and not try to control everything. So drink and relax Syn. Loosen up and enjoy the night. Tomorrow we have to continue the search for the killers.”

”What is it you expect from me tonight exactly, Ryder?” I asked watching his dangerous eyes flick to my legs.

”The possibilities are endless Synthia.”

Twenty Six

We entered the sub-level of the club through an elevator which I hadn't noticed the first time I'd been inside Sidhe Darklands. It had been a short visit and I'd been bordering on hysterical when I'd been here signing his contract. This level was exclusive. Security was thick inside the club tonight as if they were expecting trouble. I fisted my hands at my side as my eyes wandered and took in the a.s.sortment of creatures inside the club. It was something out of a nightmare, different branches of the Fae, many kinds I had never seen before, mingling with humans who looked to be here willingly. Of course I looked willing-which was really still up in the air.

”Having second thoughts?” Ryder asked close enough to my ear that his breath fanned my neck.

I turned to look at him as the elevator behind us opened to allow more Fae into the room. One approached us not even trying to hide what he was. He was dressed immaculately, his long hair tied at his nape with a strip of leather. His eyes were red with orange around the irises, his hair coppery red.

”Ryder,” he said stopping to bow to Ryder who tipped his head to acknowledge the newcomer.

”Altius,” Ryder said dismissing him with a nod.

The Fae moved on without another word as Ryder's men, who had come earlier, moved in around us. Tonight they looked wild, as if they were fighting against something and losing. Zahruk's eyes were wild, his mouth tightened from strain. I was about to ask if he was okay, or if we should worry, when music started up from the stage set up in the front of the small intimate club.

We were moved further in as more and more Fae showed up, each acknowledging Ryder before moving deeper into the club. ”You know them all?” I asked turning my head to watch his response.

He smiled wolfishly, his eyes turning to lock with mine. ”Why wouldn't I?” He asked quietly which I barely managed to hear over the pounding music.

”Because most look like they might be from the Horde,” I said just as quietly.

His smile grew bigger, ”Someone has been doing her homework,” Ryder replied his eyes now challenging me to say more.

If he was moving in on the Horde in the King's absence it was none of my business, not unless it caused a war which crossed into my world. Until then, it was his problem. I smiled and let it drop for a moment which only seemed to amuse him.

”Dark Fae consorting with the Horde,” I whispered more to myself, but Ryder heard it anyways.

”Dark Fae and the Horde are allies Synthia, this isn't a well-kept secret. It's fact. We help them when needed and they help us.”