“Fucking try me, little girl. Just fucking try me,” he growled, as the rattling noise started deep inside his chest. I blinked, seeing something shining from deep inside his eyes, as if something, besides the man, was staring back at me.
“Should I get on my knees and beg, Ryder? Would that please you?” I asked, feeling sweat bead on the back of my neck. I didn’t know why I was trying to antagonize him. Only that I was, and I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
“I promise to make you beg, later. In the meantime, try keeping that fucking snarky mouth to yourself, Pet,” he growled in warning.
“Make me,” I shot back.
When Ryder got pissed, I could see something beneath his cool fa?ade. He was always in control—except around me. And I wanted to know what it was he was hiding. He moved in closer, the rattle intensifying. “You don’t want to challenge me. I like to win. I like to play games, just so I can win.”
I shivered and pulled away from him. “Promises, promises, Ryder.” I turned to meet his men's shocked faces. “What?” I barked, fed up with the testosterone level in the mansion.
“We are gathering and meeting your Guild at the Darklands,” Ryder said, holding out his hand for me.
“I can sift by myself!” I snapped.
What the hell was wrong with me? I was irritated, and my skin felt on fire. I blinked and shook my head, and ended up throwing out my arms and holding onto Ryder for support as I lost my balance. He scanned my face and narrowed his eyes on me. “What's wrong, Syn?”
“I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. It’s probably from not eating today.”
“Sift then,” he said, stepping back, while everyone in the room watched us. I closed my eyes and imagined his club, but my mind latched onto Ryder and I didn’t move. I waited for the weightless feeling I'd experienced in his shower, when I'd sifted to him before. Nothing happened. I snorted and shook my head and tried again.
This time the weightlessness came and I smiled, until I hit something hard and bounced off of it to the sounds of laughter and snorts. I opened my eyes and looked up from where I sat on the floor of the foyer—at his feet. “I sifted,” I said proud of myself, even if I had only sifted to Ryder.
“That's twice in one day you landed at my feet, Synthia. I think I preferred the first time in my shower,” Ryder replied wickedly, watching me as his words brought heat to my cheeks.
Adrian gave an angry grumble next to Vlad, who was quick to check his attitude. “That’s enough, Adrian.”
I swallowed past the pinch of regret and looked up to Ryder, who had held his hand out. I slapped it away and got to my feet, closing my eyes. I sifted again and, this time, the entire room erupted into laughter with the exception of mine, Ryder's, and Adrian's. I felt hot tears pushing against my eyes, but I held them in check as I climbed off my ass again.
I ground my teeth together and held out my hand for Ryder to sift me. He shook his head and took it, pulling me in close against himself. “Sifting takes time,” he whispered close to my ear, before he sifted us inside his elegant club. It looked the same as it did before the bomb had gone off and killed seventeen Fae. Ryder had blamed it on my Guild, but, in the end, I'd proven it wasn't and prevented a bloody war.
“Thanks,” I said when I had my bearings, and tried to step away from his touch.
“It's sexy, Syn,” he whispered, refusing to move away from me as I tried to put distance between us.
“What's sexy?” I asked, even though I was afraid to know the answer.
“That every time you sift, you land at my feet.” He smirked and turned, walking away as he left me with my mouth hanging open.
I looked around the club. It looked so different during the daylight hours when it was closed. It was still elegant, but something was missing without the music, flashing lights, and partying people.
I rubbed the back of my neck and found it drenched in sweat. Maybe I had picked up a flu bug somewhere. It would be just my luck and, considering I was supposed to be immune to everything, getting sick would just be the icing on the cake.
“You look like you could use a drink,” Vlad said from behind me. I turned and looked into his beautiful silver eyes. He led me over to the bar while the rest of Ryder’s group fanned out to the tables to meet with a few of the Fae that were waiting for them. I didn’t recognize any of these Fae.
“Is Adrian okay?” I blurted anxiously, since I felt I'd been the one to get him beaten up by Ryder. I slipped onto one of the bar stools, while Vlad made his way behind the bar.
“He's tough. Some lessons have to be driven home. He knew you were off limits. He made a choice, and that falls on his shoulders—not yours.”
“I kissed him, Vlad, he didn’t kiss me,” I argued.
“So you did, but he didn't pull away from you. He took it further by placing his hands on you when he knew better. That makes it his fault. He’s been warned against doing it many times.”