by Leia Stone
Lucas helped me up. “Also, I have a surprise for you.”
He draped his arm around me again for the walk back to my room. Oliver was probably still there, but it didn’t matter. I needed to clear the air with Jayden.
Lucas left me at the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he dropped a light kiss on my cheek and left. I realized once he was gone that he’d never showed me his surprise. He’d probably forgotten.
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door, eyes fluttering as I stepped inside, hoping like hell that my best friend didn’t hate me. I already had one of them ignoring me. I needed Jayden.
Shouts enveloped me, followed by strong arms that wrapped around me and lifted me up into a hard chest. “Holy shit, Charlie, why didn’t you tell us Lucas had blood wine! This is the best mutha-effing thing I have ever tasted.”
Oliver spun me around once, before setting me back on my shaky legs. I realized then what Lucas’ surprise must have been. He’d finally come through on the cartons of wine for me surviving the culling, and Oliver and Jayden had cracked open the first bottle. Or finished it actually, judging by the inch I could see left in the bottom.
I took a second to stare at the enforcer. He looked so much better, his injuries healed up and vitality back in his face. The olive-skinned ash had been looking mighty pale when he’d first dragged himself into our room after the Sanctum took off. Now he was all drunk and happy.
I turned my attention to Jayden, who was looking his normal gorgeous black self on the couch. He sat a little straighter and held out his arms to me. I didn’t hesitate running across the room and throwing myself into his arms. “Missed you, bitch,” he said as his muscled arms enfolded around me. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again.”
I pulled back to see him better, arching one eyebrow as I did.
Jayden grinned, before leaning in and resting his forehead against mine. “I don’t care who the fuck has me and how many guns are pointed at my head, if you ever try and trade yourself for me, I will kick your ass so hard it will make Sanctum look like freakin’ Care Bears.”
I hadn’t thought anyone had noticed in the chaos, except for Ryder of course, since I’d full on shoved him across the room to get to Jayden. But my best friend had seen too.
“Kick my ass all you want,” I whispered, “but nothing will stop me coming for you. No matter what.”
Jayden groaned, pulled back to stare at the ceiling. “Stubborn woman, you deserve to love someone as hardassed as Ryder. He might whip you into line.”
I whacked him across the back of the head for that one, even though I knew he was joking. Plus, I’d never mentioned love before. I wasn’t going to delve deep enough into my Ryder emotions to put a label on them.
I settled in beside Jayden, the couch snuggling around me. Oliver dropped in on the other side of us and handed me a glass of red. I held it between my hands, warming it.
“You have to stop with this Ryder stuff,” I blurted out. The not thinking about him thing was not going well. “He doesn’t want me. I mean, he freakin’ kissed me like I was the only woman in his world, like he couldn’t live or breathe without me. The walls were down, the fire was lit between us, and then he not only doused the flames, but iced right the hell over them.”
I took a sip, letting the sweet copper tones cross my tongue. It was followed by a burst of blackberry and cherry, which was tart and crisp and delicious. I would have to let Lucas know this one was a hit also.
“Give Ryder time,” Oliver said. “You mean something to him. He rarely lets anyone new into his world, but you somehow snaked your way in there almost from that first night in the club when you were just some human he ran into. He’ll come around.”
I shrugged, even though a part of me jumped with joy to think that it hadn’t just been me who noticed the connection between us. Even from that very first night. Still, I wasn’t sure I had the time or energy to wait around any longer. Ryder and I were friends, and that was where it would stay. This time I was almost certain of it.
The next morning I woke up dry-mouthed, with the slightest of hangovers. Luckily, Lucas had provided more than twenty bottles, because the boys and I had polished off at least ten of them – with a little help from Kyle and Markus, who had joined us later in the night. Ryder and Sam were no-shows, and I couldn’t say I was surprised about that.
Breaking the silence, there was a loud knock on the door. It sent a pounding pain through my head, and for a second there I thought I might throw up. I closed my eyes for a second, gripping the thick blanket in hope of regaining my equilibrium. Thankfully, the dizziness and pain passed, enough so that I could drop my leg over the bed and stumble my way to the fridge for some blood.
O-negative, not tainted by alcohol. My fangs had descended and the bottle was already in my mouth when I wrenched open the front door. I was not in the mood for visitors today. The second I saw who it was, I instantly regretted not at least brushing my hair, or my teeth for that matter.
Ryder’s eyes were light, the black swirling with silver as he stared. “Rough night?” he finally asked, his lips curling up as if he was fighting a smile. I narrowed my eyes and pulled the bottle of blood from my lips before sticking out my tongue and slamming the door in his face. I was totes not in the mood for Ryder. I sank back against the door, my body sagging as I fought the urge to tear the barrier open and throw myself at him. Don’t be pathetic, Charlie. Not even for the hottest man that ever lived. I finished my blood before throwing the bottle into the trash.
“Charlie, open the door.” His low words penetrated through to me, and I had to squeeze my eyes tightly shut, my nails cutting into my palms as if the pain would somehow make me stronger. “Charlie … please.”
My knees pretty much collapsed under me as he uttered those words. I had never heard that tone from him before, that level of low anguish and need. I bit my lip as tears rimmed my eyes. The pressure in my chest was sharp and biting as the force of my emotions slammed into me. I couldn’t ignore him when he spoke like that, I needed to know what he was here for. This Ryder seemed different.
I wrenched the door open again. Ryder was still in the same position, his eyes almost purely silver now. We stared for a few long moments, and he didn’t speak as the energy stretched between us. Finally, he held out a hand, asking me to take it, and jerked his head to the hallway, asking me to trust him, to follow him.
I swallowed roughly, before nodding in a jerky moment. “Just give me a second.”
I dashed away from him into the bathroom, where I brushed my teeth in record time. I managed to tame the rat’s nest hair I had going on, and even threw on a clean shirt. Mine had a few blood wine stains on it.
When I stepped back into the living area, Ryder was still in the same spot, just standing there waiting for me, as if he had not even moved an inch while I was gone. I couldn’t stop my feet from crossing to him. My hand slipped into his like it had been made to fit. He led me from the room, silent, his body heat and spicy scent enveloping me as we walked side by side.
I had a lot of things to say and so many things to ask, but for now I was content to just be by his side, holding his hand. Ryder ended up leading me to the elevator, and we descended to the ground level. Stepping through the rubble of the entrance hall, most of the damage from our “car crash distraction” had been repaired, but not all of it. Once we were outside I recognized the place he was taking me. It was that same green area Jayden and I had sat long ago, before the culling, where the ash had attacked us. Ryder and his men had stepped in.
“I never thanked you properly for that day,” I said, breaking the silence. We were outside, standing together in the sun, the thick forest surrounding us. I loved the feel of the warmth on my face, the breeze as it ruffled my hair.
Ryder shifted his head to stare into my eyes, and then he graced me with a full-on grin. My heart sort of stopped, or stuttered at least. Ryder so rarely smiled like that, a true smile. It was al
l kinds of sexy and beautiful. Who was this new Ryder and could I keep him?
“That first night I saw you in the club, I knew you were trouble.” He turned away again to stare off into the trees. “The days before the culling only cemented my view.”
I barely heard his words over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
“You were so stubborn and willful, fighting me every step of the way. Resisting training, resisting killing, even though it was to save your own life. Like I said to you before, watching you fight was torture. Every single second. Knowing you could be culled before I had a chance to discover more of the hidden fire that fills you. Charlie, I have been emotionally dead for a lot of years, doing my duty, fighting the pain of who I am, of what I did. Not allowing anyone in. Well, I’m done fighting it. I can’t with you.”
My breath hitched at his admission.
He reached out, gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You came along out of nowhere and you completely disarmed me. You made me feel. And now I don’t know what the hell to do about it. I don’t know what I’m ready for…”
I leaned into him, our bodies melting together. His honesty took me completely off guard. “We don’t have to make any rules now, Ryder. You have to find peace about what happened to Molly. Otherwise that is a cloud which will live over us forever.”
I got all brave then, raising up on my tiptoes to press my lips to the corner of his mouth, his delicious scent and taste drawing me in. “This is enough for me, for now,” I whispered against him, and with a groan he yanked me closer, our bodies slamming into each other.
“Never enough with you, Charlie.”
Then he was kissing me, like the night in the karaoke club, but this time tinged with so much more desperation. We had been through a lot since then. That night in the Hive with the Sanctum had cemented the ties between us. Ryder had protected me and I would never forget it. There was a hunger in the way he kissed me, like he would never get enough.
“Is this why you were trying to keep me from coming back to save Jayden?” I asked as we pulled back for air.
His swirling eyes locked in on mine. One of his hands ran up and down my back, as if he just wanted to be touching me. “I was angry with the situation, but also with myself. I knew I should not bring you back to the Hive, but I couldn’t say no to you when you needed me to say yes. I don’t like that sort of weakness. I should always be able to do the right thing, even if it is the hard thing to do. I should be able to protect you and my team without giving in to you just because you flash those gorgeous silver-black eyes at me.”
I smiled, dropping to my feet, my heart still rapid as I tried to adjust to this sudden change in Ryder. He was so open. So free with his words. I wanted more of this. I wanted all of it. But I also understood what he was trying to say.
“You did the right thing, Ryder. Any relationship works two ways. You have to trust I’m strong enough to handle the bad as well as the good. I would rather walk into battle by your side than cower in the car while my best friend is killed.”
He smiled again. “I’m starting to see that, and having you by my side feels right.”
A shadowy figure stepped out of the trees then, and Ryder tensed for a moment before he realized it was a friend, not foe.
“Hey, bro, unicorn, I’ve been looking for you guys.” Kyle loped across to us, all happy and casual-like. He was out of enforcer black, wearing dark blue slacks and a button shirt. It was the most formal I’d seen from Kyle. Even his unruly dirty-blond hair was brushed back, emphasizing the defined cheeks and broad features in his handsome face. “Everyone is gathering in the stadium. It’s time to say farewell to our fallen soldiers.”
Ryder didn’t say anything more, but as we turned and followed Kyle, things felt right between us. We still had a long way to go. I had no idea what Ryder wanted in the long term from us, but this felt like a positive step in the right direction.
The Quorum were dressed in their finest attire. It seemed nearly all of the Hive was assembled. The stadium that held the culling was now completely transformed into a clean and peaceful ceremonial hall. White and blue silk draped the walls. The bloodstained fighting mats that had covered the ground had been pulled up to reveal polished wood floors. A large chandelier hung in the middle of the room, giving an elegant ambiance that had been missing from my days in this room. Before us all lay ten gold urns. Odd that the place these men fought for their lives would also become the place they were laid to rest. A podium with a microphone stood empty, and Ryder squeezed my hand before approaching it. I stayed behind, leaning against the wall, next to Kyle and the other enforcers. My eyes remained locked on Ryder as he sidled through and around the masses of gathered Hive members. He never even glanced at the beautiful faces of our people around him. His focus was solely on the enforcers he had lost. When he reached the podium, he stood very still for a few long moments. No one made noises or spoke. The silence felt both respectful and heavy. People had lost friends, and loved ones. After this time of silence, Ryder cleared his throat and all eyes were on him.
“For centuries the ash have laid down their lives to protect the Hive, to protect the vampires and the Quorum that govern it. These ten men died doing their jobs … protecting all of you. They will be remembered! They will be honored!” His voice grew strong and loud toward the end. These words were met with applause. This Hive hierarchy really confused me. They made us kill ourselves for the opportunity to live with them. Then, even though the vampires were physically stronger, they made us fight to protect them. But we outnumbered them ten to one.
“These enforcers are mine to protect!” Ryder was all deadly now, his long arm pointing to all of us leaning against the wall. “And I will protect what is mine.”
There was no mistaking that threat. Whomever the mole was should be shaking in their boots right now. I held a little hope, too, that since he so readily grouped me in with them, it was time to mention that I really wanted to be an enforcer. Maybe he’d actually consider it at this point. Please, God, don’t make me answer phones for the rest of my life.
A group of enforcers walked out military-style in a perfect line. They picked up the vases, and as they turned to march from the stadium, golden urns cradled in their hands, they stopped only once to salute Ryder. The heaviness broke then and Ryder indicated that people could leave. The Quorum disbanded, and a few members trailed over to talk to the lead enforcer.
Kyle and I strolled within earshot, stopping in the pretense of waiting, but we were really listening in. I knew of most of the Quorum members now, but except for that lovely day where they forced me to go with them to the medical wing, I had not really met them.
The leader of the second house was a willowy female. She had dark blond curls that fell around her face. She was a lot taller than my five feet seven and looked extra cheerleader cute, even though she was most probably deadlier than cancer.
She was scolding Ryder. “You have one of my vampires in the pit who has had an unnecessarily long sentence. A month for biting an ash?” Her tone indicated that this was barely even a crime at all.
Ryder stood taller, his height giving him domination advantage over her. “A month for attacking and feeding off of a female ash.”
The Quorum members looked at me quickly before turning away again.
“Let him go, he has served enough time,” said the dour and jowly male leader of the third house, before turning with cheer-vamp and leaving.
As he watched their retreating backs, Ryder’s face indicated that he wanted to beat the Quorum into submission, but instead he just walked over to Kyle and me.
“Well, duty calls,” Ryder said.
Kyle grabbed my hand. “Wanna see the pit?”
Ryder shot him a glare, but before he could protest I nodded. I totally wanted to know what this infamous pit was.
Ryder shook his head, looking resigned. “It’s not going to be pretty, and starved vampires are pretty deadly. But if you wa
nt to come along…”
Even with our talk outside, I knew it was going to take him some time to stop treating me like a delicate flower and realize I was just as tough as most of the ash. Sure, I had boobs, but that only increased my power.
We all walked to the line of elevators. I paused, expecting we would take them down into the crater of hell or something. I mean, where else would the pit be? So I was a little surprised when instead of going to the normal silver elevators, we went around the corner, and there, resting in a small alcove, was an elevator with a red door. I had never seen it before in all my time at the Hive. It was perfectly hidden away. Ryder and Kyle put their thumbs on a keypad and the elevator beeped and flared to life. Whoa, legit super-secret. My stomach knotted in anxiety and excitement.
The doors opened and we stepped inside. One button on the panel, labeled “pit.” Ryder hit it and the elevator made its way down.
“So,” I asked, “the pit is what exactly?”
Ryder looked at me, seemingly thinking about his answer. “It’s the Hive’s version of jail.”
Kyle snorted. “More like a mixture of, jail, solitary confinement, and torture.”
Ryder and Kyle exchanged a grin. I felt a moment of queasiness at the mental images those words provoked. I must have paled, because Ryder stepped a little closer to me, his heat warming my cool limbs.
“You can still back out,” he said.
I swallowed down my fear and stood taller, squaring my shoulders. “I’m fine.”
The slightest of smiles tipped up the corner of his lips. Nice to know I could amuse him.
The elevator ground to a halt and opened to reveal a long hallway. Before we even stepped out I was hit with a wall of stench. It immediately had me gagging. Since becoming an ash I’d learned to separate out various smells, and right now I was surrounded by blood, sweat, and urine – plus a completely disgusting concoction of bodily fluids. To add extra ambiance to the stink room, there were distant but drawn out screams echoing across the stone chamber.
