Page 61 of Ravaged Devotion

“They’re different sizes,” Uriel informed him then. “I’ve counted seven total so far, and that’s if I’m correct and there aren’t multiple of the same stature. If I am right, there are at least three that we should be able to overpower.”

Ryker shouldn’t be surprised that that’s what Uriel had been up to all this time. Or that the guy’s eyesight was so much more superior to the rest of them. “Describe it to me.”

“Most of them have the heft of a bear,” he explained. “But some are larger. I’ve seen them move onto their back legs as well. I don’t think they’re able to move as quickly when they do that, however. Could end up being a good thing when we encounter one.”

“Unless you plan on teaching it tricks, I’m not sure how we can get it to stand on two legs for us.”

“It’s just an observation.”

Ryker ran a hand through his dark hair, then scowled when he glanced over to Rue and saw Bowie’s arm around his shoulders.

It was tempting to order Rue over here, but he hadn’t made that deal so he could treat the other guy like a dog.

He’d done it so he could satisfy this burning desire once and for all.

The next time he found himself inside of him, Rue was going to be awake for it.

“Word of advice.” Uriel was watching Ryker when he turned back. “Don’t tell him about the plan. He won’t like it.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to disagree, but if he set his anger aside, Ryker knew that was true. Hell, Rue had been opposed to the idea of him going out there at all. There was no way he’d approve of him hunting a monster.

“We can either sit here and wait out the fog, or we can get answers,” Ryker said. “I vote for the latter.”

“I concur.” Uriel sighed heavily. “This world is very dull. I forgot how boring normal reality can be.”

He tensed. “Don’t say shit like that.”

“Be at ease. I have no intention of re-entering the game.”

Ryker wasn’t entirely convinced, but Ellery called out to Ishleen’s group then, telling them to bring over the meatballs, and he decided it wasn’t worth discussing now.

“Do you trust these people?” Uriel asked then.

“I don’t trust anyone but you guys.”

“Not even your stepbrother?”

“Especially not him.” Didn’t matter that Ryker now understood why Rue had run. Didn’t change the fact that he had, or the way it’d made Ryk feel all this time. Didn’t make up for the suffering he’d put him through. “Ryder is a fucking liar, by the way.”

“Oh?” Uriel quirked a brow.

“He made Rue think the two of them had hooked up, but that’s not the case.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yeah.” He held his friend’s gaze steadily. “Because I’m the one who fucked him the night Ryder claims to have.”

Uriel considered this new information and then grunted. “Asshole.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Yet you still want him back.”

“He’s my brother.” Ryker smirked, the look violent. “And I want to beat him up.”

Rue wasn’t the only one who had to make up for his deception. Ryder would pay, too. But that was a score to settle on another day. For now, they needed to focus on how they were going to get off this damn mountain first.

Chapter 13: