Page 24 of Ravaged Devotion

Find Rue.

And make him pay the price of his deception.

Chapter 5:

Outside the sky turned gray, rain coming down lightly. The change in weather was sudden, but he’d brought an umbrella from his room, intending on going straight to campus from here later.

Rue was in the library at the main house, flipping through a comic book series that Ryker had introduced him to years ago. The final issue had recently been published, and he’d purchased a copy, part of him hoping to use it as a peace offering.

If only he could gather enough courage to actually do so.

Remembering how Ryker had made him sit through an hour of hypovolley practice the other day made his cheeks heat. The possessiveness in the order, the stares Rue had received, and the whispers wondering what was between them, were all things that had haunted him since.

Because he’d liked it.

Because a part of him wanted to be publicly claimed, and publicly claim the Black Hart in return.

But it was all an illusion.

Ryker had never wanted him. It’d all been in Rue’s head, and—

The sound of the library door slamming open startled him, and he was partially out of his seat, peering around the stack of books as he listened to heavy boots against the thin carpet.

He knew that gait.

His heart was already beating rapidly by the time Ryker turned the corner, and they both froze when their eyes met, Rue still hovering over his chair at the table, Ryker seemingly coming to some sort of decision.

What happened next was an explosion of motion that Rue wouldn’t be able to properly track later, when he thought back on it.

One second, the Black Hart had been still as a statue, and the next he was at Rue’s back, shoving Rue down over the table, a palm on his skull, pinning his face to the hard wood no matter how Rue struggled or hissed.

Rue fought back, tried to push up, but his strength was nothing compared to Ryker’s, and the Black Hart held him down, almost patiently waiting for him to tire himself out.

He wanted to ask what this was about, knew he hadn’t done anything recently to set Ryker off. Aside from when he’d confronted him about the wrecked sound studio, Rue actively avoided him at all costs. It was easier that way, for the both of them. Though it was for different reasons, it was clear that neither of them could tolerate seeing the other.

His eyes caught sight of the book a few inches away from his face. A stack of all the past issues was on the other side of him, arranged on the table. Had Ryker noticed?

Pitiful, to be wondering that at a time like this.

To still want to please him, even as he crushed Rue’s head and dug his nails into his scalp.

Violence for the Harts was as simple as eating was for everyone else. It was almost as if they had to do it to survive. A basic need, essential for their continued existence. He’d grown up witnessing it, both Ryker and Ryder quick to temper and solve their problems with fists and fury.

Only, in the past, it was rare for them to turn that bloodlust on him. They’d disagreed, of course, as everyone does, but Ryker had always held himself back. Been careful with him.

That privilege once reserved for Rue had clearly been rescinded.

But—

“I’m going to ask you something,” Ryker spoke as soon as Rue had gone lax, leaning over him, his body sealing over the back of Rue’s in a way that made his heart flutter and his chest constrict tightly. “You’re going to answer me truthfully. Nod if you understand.”

It was difficult with his face squished against the table, but Rue did it as best he could.

“Good. That’s good.” The Black Hart inhaled, seemingly trying to get a hold of himself after all.

His next words dashed any hope of that from Rue’s mind instantly.

“Did you fuck my brother, Rue?”