Page 76 of Ravaged Devotion

“Maybe to you,” he stopped him, “but to me, this is the most important thing. I thought…”

“I know what you thought.”

He searched his face. “You believed it too.”

“When I asked if you’d been with my brother, you didn’t deny it,” Ryker reminded. “It never occurred to me that he’d lie and convince you what was between us wasn’t real.”

“But it was? Right? It was real?” Rue felt pathetic having to clarify, especially now, after they’d already had sex, but… “I don’t think I can go through that again either. Thinking it was fake and that you never—”

“You’re mine.” He cupped his face. “This is real.” He flashed him a grin that immediately had Rue going on the alert. “But that doesn’t change our arrangement any.”

“Arrangement?” Rue frowned but allowed the Black Hart to help him onto his feet. His eyes trailed over to the window, noticing how when he’d pulled them to the floor, Ryker had effectively put them in a blind spot from whatever was out there.

“I protect your friends, and you do as I say.” Ryker adjusted Rue’s clothing and then his own, smiling with that same devilish charm that was so disarming when Rue remained silent. “Now that we’ve established a sexual relationship, don’t think you’ll be getting out of it.” He snorted. “What am I saying. You’re kinkier than I am.”

He tried not to let that distinction hurt him—not the part about him being kinkier, but the clear label that this thing between them was about sex—turning his head to hide his expression from the Black Hart.

Ryker meant more to him than a cock and a good lay, but maybe Rue didn’t mean the same.

Yet.

Instead of being upset, he decided to focus on the progress. This was a step forward. They’d cleared the air, untangled the misunderstanding, and instead of dwelling on the disappointment, he should allow himself to be happy over the discovery that it hadn’t all been a lie. That it hadn’t all been in his head.

There was something between them, which meant there was a foundation with which he could build upon.

“Ready?” Ryker held out his hand, and Rue slipped his palm against his.

A part of him worried they’d find Bowie still waiting in the dining hall, but his friend was gone. Probably left after hearing what they were up to. Rue’s face heated at the thought, but he didn’t have time to worry about that for long, the sound of an argument reached them before they made it into the foyer where the others were gathered.

“What’s going on?” Ryker asked, glancing between Ellery and Hollis, who were practically standing toe to toe.

“He wants to go back out there!” Hollis stabbed a finger against the center of Ell’s chest, and that must have been the final straw for the Black Hart, because he attacked in a flash of motion hard to follow.

Ellery latched onto that finger and snapped it back, instantly breaking it.

The crunch and the following scream had Rue flinching, but Ryker merely sighed in exasperation.

Hollis retreated as soon as he was released, back slamming into the check-in counter. No one went to help him, most of them having clearly sided with Esti after yesterday’s cowardly display, and he sunk to the floor, clutching his injury close to his chest.

“Uriel,” Ryker motioned toward Hollis, “set that.”

“Don’t touch me!” Hollis yelled, and when Uriel turned to Ryker, Ryk shrugged.

“Fine. Let him suffer. What’s it to us?” The Black Hart turned to the rest. “Anyone else have a problem with the plan?”

“You’re really going to go out there?” Ishleen asked.

“The pool house has a separate system,” he reminded. “There’s a chance we’ll be able to contact help. It’s worth a shot.”

“Those things are smart,” Esti argued. “They’re mimicking us, trying to lure us out. Won’t you just be walking right into their trap?”

“Nah.” Ellery pulled a handheld speaker out of his pocket. “Found this. Our devices don’t have service, but they can still play music. We’ll toss this outside and wait for the monsters to take the bait, then slip out the back. That exit is closer to the pool house.”

“And when it’s time for you to return?” Ishleen frowned.

He pulled out a second speaker, this one a different shape. “Ta da.”

“Where did you get those?”