Page 113 of Ravaged Devotion

Rue had no clue where they were going, but it occurred to him that they weren’t going to make it. Almost as soon as he had the though, Bowie grabbed him from behind, yanking him back with enough force he found himself roughly separated from Ryker.

Their hands reached out for one another, but in the shock of the moment, Rue didn’t consider fighting off Bowie.

He had a flashback of yesterday when something similar had occurred.

Rue had punched him then.

He hadn’t brought it up because he’d figured the message had been delivered, that he had no intentions of leaving Ryker behind, even if it meant possibly saving himself. Now, he realized he shouldn’t have placed so much faith in Bowie. Not when it meant risking something like this.

A desperate sound escaped past his lips.

His best friend tore open one of the side doors they’d explored earlier and pushed Rue inside, entering after him. The smell of decaying flesh and blood gusted toward them, a growl near enough now that the hairs on the back of Rue’s neck stood on end.

The last thing he saw was Ryker trying to make it to the door, then his eyes snapping in the direction they’d just come. The gun was lifted and he let off a round, and then Bowie slammed the door shut, separating them.

Again.

“What the fuck?!” Rue tried to shove him away, but Bowie deftly did the lock and then pushed him back. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“There wasn’t any time,” Bowie said.

“Liar!” There’d been plenty of time for them all to make it.

“Do you think that creature wouldn’t be able to break down a flimsy door like this?” Bowie snapped and Rue felt like he’d been doused in ice water.

“You left him out there to be bait?” He swung, clipping the side of Bowie’s chin. The impact moved him a foot away from the door, and Rue reached for the handle. Outside, the gunshots had stopped, but he could hear the creature still moving, no doubt giving chase. If he could sneak up behind it, maybe he’d give Ryker enough time to get away. Maybe—

Bowie’s arm wrapped around his neck, suddenly catching him in a choke hold. It brought them both down to the ground, but he didn’t let up, pressing even harder, effectively cutting off Rue’s air supply.

“I’m sorry.” Bowie didn’t sound very sorry. “But I didn’t go through all of this just to lose you this close to the finish line.”

Rue wanted to demand what he meant by that, wanted to beg him to stop so he could go save Ryker, but then the room spun.

“I’m sorry,” Bowie whispered again as Rue lost consciousness.

* * *

His throat burned.

Rue came to hacking, shifting onto his hands and knees, one palm pressed against his neck. There were tears in his eyes and when he lifted his head, a death stare was already prepared.

Bowie was sitting in a dusty corner, legs drawn up, head down, as if he knew he’d fucked up and that would somehow make it okay.

It didn’t.

Rue didn’t bother wasting words. He shot to his feet and rushed the door, ignoring Bowie’s calls. As soon as he got it open, he froze, the pool of blood just outside causing his chest to constrict painfully.

“Ryker?!” He didn’t care about drawing attention or attracting the creature if it was still out there. All he wanted was to see the Black Hart. His feet pounded down the hall loudly, heart thumping wildly as he searched and ran at the same time.

There was no one in the main room when he glanced inside, so he kept going, making it to the stairs that led back into the lodge and taking them two at a time. He barely processed that Bowie was with him. The two of them would have to deal with what he’d just done later, but Ryker—

Ryker had to be okay.

If he wasn’t.

If the creature had gotten him.

If Bowie was the reason—