“Yes. Year twenty-two.” She straightened then, her face going blank. I understood why the moment Ryder’s minty cologne touched my senses. He entered with a phone to his ear, his expression flat.
I pulled a shirt over my head, then frowned at the violent energy wafting off of him. His facial features indicated he was fine, while his body radiated a primal energy underlined in murderous intent.
He nodded toward the exit, indicating I should follow. Then he turned without a word.
“I should go,” I said as I quickly put on the socks and shoes she’d brought me. They were a little snug, but they worked better than the heels I’d kicked off outside earlier.
Patricia caught my arm as I started to leave. “If you ever need help, let me know.”
I looked at her—really looked at her—and noted the true concern in her gaze. “Ryder’s not Silvano,” I finally said. “Pay attention to him. He’ll surprise you.” It was all I could say without really knowing her. While I could sense her sincerity, it wasn’t nearly enough to trust her.
I didn’t need saving from Ryder.
But he’d made it clear that we couldn’t allow others to know that. Not yet.
Patricia gave me a sad smile, one that seemed to say she worried about my mental state. Given how long it took me to see the real Ryder with continued exposure to his decisions, I understood her hesitancy.
She released me as I stepped away, then didn’t try to stop me as I left.
Ryder stood outside, the phone still to his ear. “I said you have my attention,” he said, his voice radiating a calm not reflected in his stance. Upon seeing me, he bent to lift his bag up over his shoulder, then he grabbed my hand and we started walking.
Apparently, his commentary to keep Rick safe went without further related tasks.
“I’m new to this, Lilith,” he said a few minutes later. “You’ll have to review the rules more clearly with me.”
Just hearing her name sent a chill up my spine, but Ryder seemed focused on whatever she was saying. He also appeared to know where to go because he navigated the alleys with ease.
Vampires were outside, all glancing his way in shock at seeing him strolling down their streets.
Several had candles lit inside.
A few even dared to try to approach him, but one shake of his head sent them scampering backward.
His mood radiated off of him in an intoxicating cloud of danger and savagery. I felt dizzy from it, my feet moving quickly to keep up with his long strides.
“I see,” he replied again. “I’ll think on it during my walk over. Then we’ll talk more.” He ended the call and shoved the phone into his bag with a growl that stole the breath from my lungs.
This was Ryder angry.
I hadn’t seen this side of him yet.
On the next block, he finally stopped walking and pushed me up against the side of a building, his mouth capturing mine in the next breath. I shook against him, shocked and dismayed by his sudden affection. Only, it didn’t feel very affectionate. It felt furious. Threatening. Paralyzing.
My lungs stopped working.
Why did this feel so desperate?
A sensation of foreboding twisted in my stomach, causing my eyes to prickle with tears.
It seemed as though he was saying goodbye.
“Ryder,” I whispered.
“Shh.” His tongue entered my mouth, demanding my compliance and reciprocation. I responded because I didn’t know what else to do. This male had come to mean something to me, and I showed him that with my body since I knew he preferred actions over words. Only, he didn’t seem to return the sentiment.
Something was very wrong.
Fundamentally broken.
Missing.
I clung to him as though I could pull the man I knew back to the forefront and reclaim him with my wolf, but he wasn’t there. This man kissing me now resembled a stranger, his emotions locked up tight.
He finally pulled away with a stoic expression. Not an ounce of feeling resided in his gaze. I searched for his inner beast, for the vampire I’d fallen helplessly for, and found a vacant shell of a male in his place.
It all happened so quickly, the reality of it a punch to the gut.
“Come, pet,” he said, his tone holding an icy edge to it that resembled the kind of royal I’d originally expected him to be. “We have a meeting to attend.”
I shivered, my heart in my throat. “Ryder…”
“It wasn’t a request,” he said, turning without grabbing my hand,