Part 26 (2/2)

”I've been told I'm quite good, you know.” He grins at me. ”Why don't you come find out?

Flames burst from the b.u.t.tons.

”I'm afraid you're too hot for me.”

”What the h.e.l.l!” Ryker jumps from the bed. ”Out! Out!” He screams as the flames creep lower, toward his pants. ”I was joking!”

I lie down on the bed, my gown folded neatly over my knees, and watch my new mate flail. Serves him right.

Ryker bats his clothes. ”I'm sorry. Make it stop.”

”Out.” The flames die.

Ryker's breath comes in panicked pants. ”It was a joke, Lark. I don't want you anymore than you want me. You know that!”

”I don't know anything! What game are you playing, Ryker? You help...our friend hide. And then you try to a.s.sault me.”

Color drains from his face. ”I didn't try to a.s.sault you. Don't be so dramatic. I made a bad joke.” He kicks at the bedpost. ”But what you did to Lena, that wasn't a joke.”

I gape at him. ”So that's what this is about? You're upset because I won't let you have a human pet?”

He cringes. ”Listen to yourself! You sound like Kyra.”

Magic still trills along my skin and I'm not sure what to do with it, so I release as much as I can on the nearest chair. It disintegrates.

”Holy h.e.l.l!” Ryker says, heading toward the door. ”You're seriously messed up. Do you realize that? f.u.c.king crazy.”

The door slams shut behind him.

Part of me wants to run after Ryker and demand he apologize for yelling at me. But the other part knows he's right.

I'm not only going insane, I'm losing my humanity.

25.

”You cannot set Ryker on fire, Love. It's completely unacceptable.” Mother paces before me and her blue eyes flash with agitation. ”What were you thinking?”

Mid-morning light spills through the oversized picture window of my front room. Across the street, I can see Kyra's house. Somewhere, inside, is Beck. I wonder what he's doing.

”Are you listening to me?”

I play with the hem of my nightgown. Ryker never came back last night, and I have no idea where he's gone. I'm sure Mother does though, since she's here reprimanding me. But I haven't bothered locating him. It's probably best if he stays away.

”He was teasing me,” I say, half-heartedly.

Mother tilts her head. ”How?”

I stammer. ”He...”

”Tried to get you in bed?” she finishes for me. ”That's what he's supposed to do. He's your mate. And an eighteen-year-old boy. I'd be worried if he didn't try.”

I stare at my bare feet; Mother surprised me before I had a chance to change into my day clothes. ”Are we done?”

She rubs her hands together. ”Do you know where your mate is?” she asks.

”Which one?” I sa.s.s.

Mother flies across the room and I recoil in antic.i.p.ation of her slap. However, at the last second, she composes herself and plasters a fake smile on her face. ”You only have one mate and his name is Ryker Newbold. Do not forget that, Love.”

”How can I?”

Her fingers twitch in anger as she struggles to keep her magic in check. ”This will not happen again, is that understood?”

I grit my teeth. ”Yes.”

After she's gone, I lean against the window. Across the street, Miss Tully walks past carrying a shopping basket piled high with baked goods, and two of Kyra's maids beat out a rug in the side yard.

Every time Kyra's front door opens, I pray that it's Beck. But it never is. Just delivery men, maids, and other help.

Maybe Beck has left? Getting as far from me and my craziness as possible would be the reasonable thing to do.

But when has Beck ever listened to reason?

Which means, he's probably still over there. I bounce from foot-to-foot. I could run over for a visit with Kyra. No one would think that it's odd. Granted, I'm supposed to spend the next six days locked up with Ryker, but since he's not here, why should I sit around the house?

Someone knocks on the door. ”Yes?” I ask, turning from the scene out the window.

”Good Morning, Miss Lark,” Dawson says. Since I'm in my night clothes, he keeps his eyes politely averted. ”I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you have a well-wisher. Maz Matsu.”

That's odd. Why would he be here without Kyra? Unless he's bringing a message from Beck? ”I'll meet him in the library in ten minutes.”

Dawson draws the front room door shut and I race up the back stairs to my room. I quickly slip on a dress and pull my hair into a ponytail. I have no time or need for make-up. Besides, Maz has seen me looking my worst.

I scurry down the stairs. As I near the library, I can hear the nervous patter of Maz's tapping foot.

”There she is!” Maz strides quickly across the room and lifts me from the ground. I stiffen in surprise. In all the years we've known each other, Maz has never hugged me. He squeezes me tighter.

”It's...nice to see you too.” My heart is still, which means Maz is Maz, not Beck in disguise. ”Where's Kyra?”

Maz lowers me back down to earth. ”She's still asleep. You know how she is.”

I nod. Bethina used to force Kyra from bed with threats.

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