Descending Darkness(61)

The arms wrapped around my stomach tighten. “Wait, you fought Dravin?” Colton asks me.

“No, he ran into the compound when I started to go after him, but Larkin stopped me.” I know that my voice sounds bitter, but I am upset. I had a chance, and Larkin ruined it. I could have thrown up a shield and stopped his entry in the compound.

“Thank you, Larkin,” Colton says. Seeing Larkin’s subtle nod, I scoff and look up at my soulmate. Of course he would take Larkin’s side…this time. He smiles down at me when he sees my glare. I just shake my head and turn back to Kyril.

“How did Dravin find out you were helping us?”

“Adam saw Larkin transport me back to the compound after you did the enchantment. He told Dravin. He used his magic on me and made me call for Larkin. When Larkin came, he attacked.” Kyril and Larkin were both almost killed because they were helping us. They were getting information for us, and Dravin tried to stop that. I bite my lip and look toward the ground. No one is safe around me.

“Ryanne, stop,” Liam says. I look over at him but don’t say anything. Liam always knows what I am thinking about.

“It’s not your fault,” Larkin tells me.

“How do you know that’s what I’m thinking about?”

“Because your aura turned a dull pink,” he says. Am I supposed to know what that means?

“She feels guilty,” Natalie says while turning around and looking toward me. Larkin nods, agreeing with her. Dull pink means guilt. Got it.

“Esh, you can’t hide anything around here,” I mumble. All this magic use is starting to catch up to me. I try really hard to stifle a yawn. Natalie looks over at me and winks.

“Well, I’m starting to get tired. I think I’m going to call it a night.” Standing up, she starts walking upstairs after saying goodnight to everyone.

“That’s actually a good idea. Kyril, Jane, and Ross, you are all welcome to stay here tonight. Jane and Ross, you guys can have my room. I’ll stay down her on the couch.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary. We’ll be fine on the couch,” Jane says.

“Nope, I won’t have it. You’ll stay in my room. I insist.”

“Good night all,” Colton says as he starts pushing me toward the stairs, his hands on the small of my back. I follow his moves—too tired to argue with him.

“Remember what I told you,” Jane yells after us.

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget it,” Colton says back with a small laugh.

I turn around half-way up the stairs and ask, “What did she tell you?” Colton just shakes his head, laughs slightly louder, and continues pushing me up the stairs. I open the door to our room and walk in. I sleepily walk over to the corner of the room and open the armoire. I grab a large t-shirt and some yoga shorts. I change in the bathroom and start brushing my teeth. Standing in front of the mirror, I get a good look at my reflection. My hair looked like this all night, and no one said anything?

Rinsing out my mouth, I try to tame my hair. Nothing I try works. Giving up, I open the door and walk toward the bed. Colton walks past me and goes into the bathroom to brush his teeth. I crawl onto the bed and sit down, waiting for him. I don’t want to lie down because I don’t want to risk falling asleep.

Colton walks across the room and sits down on the bed next to me. I watch him as he moves closer to me. “What?” he asks me.

“Nothing, just watching you,” I tell him, while biting onto my bottom lip. He reaches out and grabs my shoulder, pulling me down so I am lying in his arms. I move so that I am pressed against his side. Resting my left arm on his chest, I start lightly tracing patterns into his shirt.

“Still think I need to get more fat on me?”

“What?” I prop myself onto my elbow and look at him. “What are you talking about?”

“You were a little slap happy when Liam brought you back here.”

“Are you serious?” I must have done something pretty funny because Colton starts laughing. I can’t even remain embarrassed because I love his laugh.

“You told me that my chest was too hard, and I needed to get some fat on me.” I can feel a blush rising. I don’t want to know what else I said. There is no telling with me. Colton starts laughing again. “Don’t worry; we all thought it was cute.”

“We? Everyone saw me acting like a crazy person?” He nods. Great. “I’m never going to live that down. You know Bragden and David will make jokes about it.”

“And that’s when you bring out the magic,” Colton suggests.

“Hmm, this could actually be fun.”