CHAPTER 26

O f all the stupid things I’ve ever done, running right into the heart of a strip club full of sirens was up there on that fucking list. But I didn’t care. Ryder was inside fighting a losing battle. There was no way in hell I’d leave him to fight alone.

There was no way I’d let him go back to the greenhouse or whatever other hell Daddy Hartford had planned for him.

And there was no way in hell I’d leave Ryder behind. Ever.

The pain hit first, damn near bringing me to my knees. It bled from the fucking walls. Every breath stung like a million razors in my lungs. My skin burned underneath my clothes. I wanted nothing more than to fall where I stood and claw my fucking skin off.

I couldn’t.

I wouldn’t.

It was in my head.

All of it was in my head .

I had to keep telling myself that. I refused to be brought down by Ryder’s power. It was all in my head. I wasn’t in danger. I wasn’t dying like it felt.

Taking steps two at a time, I fumbled as I rushed up the stairs. Every fucking step hurt and my breath stuck in my lungs by the time I hit the top landing. Digging into my power, I sent a gust of air through the room with hopes it’d help.

It didn’t.

Down that stupid hallway all over again, ignoring the few men who had stumbled out of rooms and onto the floor.

That door at the end of the hall damn near vibrated with power. Tendrils of black smoke curled out from every crack in the frame. I kicked and shoved on the fucking door with no luck. It didn’t even budge.

“Please, don’t be on the other side of the fuckin’ door,” I muttered. The last thing I needed was to hit Ryder with the fucking door.

Still, I used my power to send it careening across the room.

The blast of power that burst from the room was more intense than anything I’d ever experienced. It stole the fucking breath from me.

In the middle of the room—and narrowly missed by the fucking door—was Ryder tied to a chair. Decrepit bodies crumpled on the ground around the chair. Dead sirens. Everywhere.

Ryder’s head tipped forward against his chest, eyes shut and body limp. His powers billowed out of him, spilling onto the floor in rapid waves. Jesus fuck. His skin glowed white with some kind of fucking magic. Maybe that was the spell from Daddy fucking Hartford.

Whatever the hell I was going to do, I had to do it fast. Rushing across the room, I dropped to my knees in front of him. I cradled his face in my hands and gave him a slight shake.

“Come on, baby,” I said. “Open your fuckin’ eyes, please.”

Nothing.

“Ryder.” My hand drifted down the side of his neck to feel for his pulse—a morbid fucking thing I didn’t want to do. I wasn’t sure what the hell I would do if I couldn’t find one. Fast and fluttering but there. “Oh, thank fuck.”

I tried shaking him once more. Nothing changed.

“Don’t you leave me,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Come on, baby. Don’t you fuckin’ leave me.”

I smacked his chest, hoping it’d help. Nothing. The glow of his skin continued to increase. My hands ached from the heat he radiated, but I wouldn’t stop.

I couldn’t.

If I did, I’d lose him.

“Damn it!” I exclaimed. “You don’t get to leave me, you hear? It’s you and me, Ryder. Just you and me… it’s supposed to be you and me. Please, don’t fuckin’ leave me. I need you…”

I pressed my forehead to his and desperately willed him to hear me.