Part 27 (1/2)
”So,” Maz says loudly. Too loudly. He's speaking like we're back in the crowded music hall, shouting to be heard. ”What happened last night?”
I purse my lips. It's none of his business, but I don't doubt Ryker has already filled him in on the details. Not wanting to discuss it before an audience, I say to Dawson, who's stationed near the door, ”I'd like a moment alone with Maz.”
My guard shuts the door as he leaves.
I flash Maz a nasty look. ”That's none of you business!”
”It is if I wake up and find Ryker sleeping on my couch.”
So that's where he went. Makes sense. ”We had a disagreement. That's all. I've already been thoroughly chastised by my mother. I don't need you to heap on the guilt.”
”What's going on with you?” Maz wrinkles his forehead. ”Kyra tells me that you're fine. Ryker says you're a mess.”
”Is that why you came? To see how crazy I am for yourself?”
He flips his hands over, palm side out. ”I'm on your side. I want to help you.”
I cross my arms tightly across my chest. ”Like you helped me get to Summer Hill? For all I know, you walked me right into Callum and Annalise.”
Maz shuffles backward. His eyes are wide. ”No. Remember, Beck asked me to make sure you got there. I was helping you then, just like I am now.”
”I doubt that,” I snap and head toward the double doors leading to the hallway. My shoes strike the wood floor in an even, steady rhythm.
”Where are you going?” Maz yells after me.
My ponytail whips across my back as I continue to walk. ”To wake Kyra up.”
Maz runs across the room and grabs my arm. ”Lark, no. You can't.”
I fling my arm so that he lets go. ”Of course I can. Kyra is my best friend.”
”I can't let you.” He steps in front of me, blocking my path. ”Ryker's right. You can't be near...our friend.”
I s.h.i.+ft my weight back on to my heels and push past him. He's not going to treat me like a puppet. ”You can't stop me. I'm going over there.”
”What the h.e.l.l is wrong with the two of you? Why can't you stay away from each other?” Maz shouts at me.
I stomp onto the porch. ”Try to stop me.”
”Lark-” I fling magic at him and Maz's sharp voice slithers down the side of my face and pools at my feet. Literally. Like shards of gla.s.s.
His mouth moves without sound. When he grabs at his throat, I roar with laughter. ”What's wrong, Maz? Did you lose your voice?”
His face grows red, then a curious shade of purple, before settling into a mottled day-old bruise color.
Beads of sweat dot Maz's hairline.
”What did you do?”
I pivot slowly, the way I've seen Mother do and find Ryker standing behind me. He holds his hands out in a defensive position.
”Only what he deserved for talking back to me. It would serve him well to think before he orders me around.”
Ryker barrels toward me and shoves me back into the house. ”Fix whatever you've done to Maz. Now.”
I roll my eyes and wave my hand. Maz's voice erupts from deep in him. ”She's crazy.”
The green wristlet encircling Maz's arm chirps. ”Are you coming home soon? I'm lonely,” Kyra says.
Maz's eyes meet mine. Fear lurks behind the calm facade. ”I'm over at Ryker's. I'll be home in a few.”
”Leave them alone and come home where you're needed,” Kyra teases.
”I will.”
His wristlet chirps off.
Without a good-bye, Maz shoves past me. Dawson stands near the front door, ready to open it. At the last minute, Maz spins around toward me. ”You're no longer welcome in my home, Lark.”
I playfully slap his cheeks. ”What did you say?”
Dawson pulls the door open to let Maz leave, but I wrest control of it and slam it shut.
Maz squares his shoulders. ”Until you have better control of yourself, you're no longer allowed in my home.”
How dare he. I lunge for him and grab at the loose ends of the scarf hanging from his neck. I shove him backward, until his back presses against the door.
”Don't threaten me,” I hiss.
Maz's hands claw at mine just as two large hands reach around me and clamp my arms to my side. My body buckles against Ryker's.
”Let go of me!” I bash the back of my head against Ryker's chest and stomp on his foot, but he doesn't release me. ”Dawson!” I scream. ”Make him stop.”
To my surprise, my bodyguard doesn't move. Or answer me. Or even acknowledge I've spoken.
A flicker of sadness crosses Maz's face as Ryker pulls me backward, well away from Maz. ”You may not know it, but this is what you want.”
”You can't stop me. I can go wherever I want. No one can stop me. ”
The muscles in Maz's neck bulge. ”Maybe not. But I'm doing this to keep your mate safe.”
His words settle into my brain and my knees tremble. He's talking about Beck. Not Ryker. About keeping Beck safe from me.
Because I'm turning Dark. And they all know it.
Ryker's hands slide off my arms and my knees give out. I fall onto the ground, my quaking hands tear at my loose hair. Dawson reaches for me but I bat him away.