“Dark Fae consorting with the Horde,” I whispered more to myself, but Ryder heard it anyways.
“Dark Fae and the Horde are allies Synthia, this isn’t a well-kept secret. It’s fact. We help them when needed and they help us.”
“Funny, I thought the entire Fae race loved to fuck each other over. And right now their king is missing. Meanwhile your father isn’t. Sure you’re not trying to step into the Horde Kings shoes?” He smiled mischievously and watched me as he refused to answer. I rolled my eyes and watched as Zahruk stepped up closer to Ryder.
"Zahruk, Tara is heading this way. Tell her to give me twenty before we start and make sure she explains to our people the rules as well as the others." Ryder asked his man before offering me his arm once more.
Zahruk didn’t reply, more than to nod his head and run interference with the busty blonde who was even now trying to get past him to talk to Ryder. Her vibrant green eyes locked on me as her lips twisted into disgust. She was one hundred percent Fae, of which kind I wasn’t sure. She was definitely pissed off Fae.
"Girlfriend?" I asked as he pulled me over towards the dance floor.
His sexy smirk was irritating as he dodged the question and easily pulled me against his chest smoothly. "Jealous?" He asked scanning my face.
"Hardly," I said grinning.
"You look beautiful tonight Syn," his eyes burned with intensity that made me hesitate as I placed my arm around his until he turned me around to stand in front of him.
"You look nice," I replied not used to giving out compliments to guys very often unless you wanted to count telling Adam he looked good goofing off, which he did and often.
He rewarded the comment with a half-smile as his hands settled around my waist. "Nice is what you tell your brother when he does something stupid."
Wow, this guy was good. I smiled even as I tried not to. Considering I had been thinking the exact thing when I'd said it, but the funniest part was his disgruntled look now. It was as if I'd just insulted his person. "You look like a rogue, who is intending to do very bad things while looking very debonair Ryder," I amended.
His smile brightened wickedly, his eyes alight with laughter. "Maybe I am—would you let me Syn?" He asked all traces of the laughter gone instantly.
A silent shiver crept up my spine as his fingers touched my flesh, his eyes caressing me more than his hands could ever manage. I licked my lips and considered lying. Ryder was beyond my boundaries. I'd set them for a reason and yet to tell him I didn’t want him would be just that—a lie.
"I want you Syn, I shouldn’t, but it doesn't change the fact that I still do."
I swallowed and turned my face away the best I could manage to keep him from seeing the brilliant blush that flowed over my cheeks. "I'm not like Claire, Ryder. I won't be used because you want sex. That's what it would be—right?"
If he said yes, then it would be so easy to just walk away. He was unpredictable. The dancing we'd done had been intimate and surprising. He's been gentle and so unlike himself on that dance floor, here he was once again a sexual male. Ryder was not the kinda man you walked away from, he was the type you crawled away from trying to remember your own name after he was done with you.
"I want you, I make no excuses for what I am Syn. Claire satisfied a hunger—one you created. Would you have rather I took you, even though I knew you were not ready? I'm not that person. I don’t take unwilling females—ever. Don’t have to," his hands moved up, his finger and thumb cupping my chin so I was helpless to look away from his exotic eyes, "You want me, your body trembles with it."
"And if I don’t want to be yours Ryder?" I questioned fighting the urge to claim his full mouth.
He smiled as Zahruk motioned to him from beside us. "I told you, tonight is all about being yourself, Syn, but it's more than that. You get to see us as our true selves, as Fae. You will be mine tonight, even if I have to hunt you down and claim you."
"And if I run?" I asked narrowing my eyes as he stepped back from me his hands releasing my chin and lowered back to his sides slowly.
"I enjoy a good chase."
"I'm not a dog, Ryder," I growled as an overwhelming urge to run hit me.
One minute I wanted to kiss him and the next I wanted to run from him, or kick him. From the pleasure I could read in his eyes. He was enticing, the sexual pleasure I felt just being around him was intoxicating. My body felt the need to give in to the truth of his words, but my mind knew he was quicksand.
"No Syn, tonight you are mine. You’re the white stag everyone will be chasing," his smile turned dangerous, his eyes glowing brightly even in the dimly lit club. A shiver crept down my spine as his words filtered in.
"Deer, dog, I'm neither."