He sifted me back, barely slowing to throw open a portal and uncaring of any damage I might take. He was in as much of hurry to get to his people, as I was. Only he wouldn’t let me go to mine. I'd fallen on my ass as we had sifted in, the world spinning as I fought the urge to throw up everywhere.
Gone was the gentle lover who had been playful and completely different than he'd been in Faery. I struggled to my feet with my hand on my head as he watched his men who had sifted in shortly after us. I had no idea what had happened, or why he was acting like this other than he'd said we had attacked them. "Where's my coven?" I asked through the lump in my throat.
"Go to the room you were staying in and don’t come out unless you're invited Synthia," Ryder growled.
"Fuck you! Where are they?" I demanded and was instantly shoved up against the wall with his hands around my throat. I didn’t cry out, I didn’t flinch, "Where the fuck are my friends?" I snarled not caring if he tightened or loosened his hold, as long as he told me where they were.
"They're in the fucking the basement, chained to the walls because they were inside my club when it was attacked. I'd watch your mouth unless you want to join them. I should have known it was a fucking act, should have seen through it," he seethed.
I smiled coldly, "Is that what you think? That I fucked you just so they could do it? I don't play games and I had nothing to do with what happened—if you’re really stupid enough to believe that I would do that, please put me with them Ryder."
His eyes narrowed, his teeth ground together as he tightened his hold around my neck.
"Go ahead, finish it Fairy," I whispered feeling the blood as it rushed to my head, or leaving it. I met his eyes and held them with challenge.
"If you think I wouldn’t just because we fucked—think again," he growled.
I struggled to keep focus, "Fuck you, fucking means nothing to the Fae…I'm smarter than to think just because I fucked, you it would change a damn thing between us. Either finish it or let me go Ryder, decide."
His smile faltered, or maybe it was the stars rushing up around me that made it appear so. I felt his hands release my neck. I felt my body go limp as my legs gave out, unable to hold myself up any longer. He caught me before I fell. I saw the flash of remorse briefly before he covered it up with anger.
"Pussy," I said, or I think I did.
"Say again?" Ryder tilted his head.
"Pussy," I ground out through the pain in my throat, tears rushing to my eyes.
"You, Synthia, have a fucking death wish," he snarled.
"So do you," I challenged him, I knew it was suicide, but if I couldn’t get to my coven through my own stubborn pig headedness, they'd absorb my powers through my death and Adam would channel the power, he'd feel the bond sever.
"I'd behave, or you might find yourself chained to my bed," he replied huskily.
"Right now I'd choose death over your bed."
His men snickered. I was upset, scared and fighting for my life and the lives of my coven. If we had attacked, nothing short of a miracle would keep the Fae from wanting our blood. What the fuck could Alden have been thinking to attack the freaking Fae?
"Take her to my room," he growled.
"I said, I'd rather fucking die," I said with enough force to mean it.
"No, you choose death because you think it will save your fucking coven, it won't. I won't kill you Syn, I could think of many uses for you—"
I dropped and kicked his legs out from beneath him and jumped back up, Dristan was there defending Ryder the moment he hit the floor. I kicked his legs out and as he came down I lifted my leg and smashed his face against my knee with the use of his hair. Once more, I went crashing against the wall, my bones jarring while my teeth clattered from the impact.
"Fucking move and I'll feed from you Syn, I'll keep you as my fucking Pet," Ryder warned his tone harsh as his eyes swirled with anger.
I lifted my head defeated, "Let them go," I cried, I would beg if he just let them go. They couldn’t pay this price, they were everything to me. Everything worth fighting for.
I felt him pushing against my mind before he released me. "Put her in my room and chain her."
"Ryder, if you do anything to them. Anything. I'll fucking hunt you down and cut your fucking heart out," my words came out crisp and clear, I meant every fucking word of it.
"I know you would Syn, that’s why they're locked up instead of dead like the rest who walked into my club and killed my people," he said softly no longer meeting my eyes.
"No, Fae can't be killed. Not by any weapons we own," I argued.
"You could have Syn, you tied my fucking soul to yours," he retorted.
I smiled, "Yes, I can. Not them. Me, Ryder, I was with you…unless you have forgotten already."
"You're saying they couldn’t have done what you did?"
"No one else knows how to tether souls," I swallowed realizing I'd just given him ammo to use against me.
His lips twisted coldly, "Good to know, chain her in my room and gather the others."
~~~~~~~~~~*