Page 7 of Ravaged Devotion

Rue had only just made it to the lobby when suddenly he felt it, that familiar electric tingle whenever the Black Hart was watching him. Rue turned and saw Ryker sweeping his way across the room, the angry look on his face causing him to shiver before he could help it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” Ryker’s hand tore the pin off Rue’s shirt. When Rue tried to step away, he captured him by the nape, and leaned in. “Did you come here thinking you’d get your hole plowed, little brother?”

Rue flinched at the horrible title. Just because their parents were married now didn’t mean they were brothers. “What? Don’t call me that.”

“More offended that I called you brother than you are by my accusation?” Ryker growled. “That means it’s true.”

“No—” Rue grabbed onto Ryker’s wrist as he was suddenly dragged off the side. His friends called after him, but he didn’t bother replying, knowing no one was a match for Ryker on a good day.

And today clearly wasn’t good.

The Black Harts ruled the university, even to the point many of them could order professors around. They were the children of the planet’s most prestigious families, and Ryker, as the eldest Hart heir, technically held the title of Imperial.

Usurn was a rare planet that wasn’t governed by an emperor or one Imperial family. Instead, members of a High Council ruled, of which Rhys Hart held the most important seat.

One warm night, under a canopy of stars and inky black sky, Ryker had whispered that he’d name Rue his Heart once they were at Sacrum Cor.

Only…it hadn’t been Ryker. Not really.

And Rue had fallen for it.

For the illusion.

For the fantasy.

“Are you about to cry?” Ryker had brought them to a stairwell, shoving him hard against the wall. “Pathetic. What are they teaching you on Tulniri? How to be a little bitch?”

Rue straightened and lifted his chin, but that only made Ryker laugh mockingly.

“Defiance? Cute.” He slammed a palm at either side of Rue’s head, grinning viciously when that caused him to jump. “And responsive? Maybe I’ll consider giving you what you want after all, little brother.”

“What…I…want?” Pathetic.

He was pathetic.

“Had a different Black Hart in mind?” Ryker purposefully misunderstood.

Or maybe he didn’t.

Maybe it was all in Rue’s head.

Again.

Before Rue could correct him, his friends burst through the entrance to the stairwell, the door clattering against the wall almost comically. They froze the second their eyes landed on the scene before them.

“Uh,” Adams cleared his throat, breaking the silence first. “Sorry, but…We were hoping to talk with Rue?”

“He’s busy,” Ryker stated gruffly, the warning clear.

Lenore tugged on Adams; arm, voice low, “Leave it. It’s Praeda.”

The Black Hart straightened, but Rue remained pressed against the wall all the same.

“Any news on Ryder?” Bowie abruptly changed the subject, clearly trying to distract the Black Hart and help Rue out.

Not realizing all he was doing was making a bad situation worse.

Was Rue’s best friend attempting to draw Ryker’s fury his way instead?