“I don’t think they’re going to hurt her this time. Something is different.”
“Why hasn’t Liam contacted us? That’s what I want to know. He has to know how worried we are,” Natalie says as she paces the room. Since our first meeting, about fifty more people have shown up. Our odds are looking much better with each passing day. However, the chance of Ryanne and Liam’s safety dwindles as more time passes.
“I don’t know. I’d like to know that too,” I reply as I hear my phone ring in my bag across the room. I look around confused. All the people who would contact me are in this room.
I pull the phone out and grimace as I read the caller I.D. “Who is it?” Tom asks.
“Jane,” I say as I answer. Jane and I exchanged numbers when she stayed with us overnight after Ryanne saved her and Ross. She’s worried about Ryanne and wanted me to keep her updated…and I’ve neglected to do that so far.
“Colton, is that you?” I hear her say before I even get the phone up to my ear.
“Yes.”
“Is Ryanne there? She won’t answer any of my texts or calls. Is she okay?”
I look toward Tom. How much should I tell her? “Tell her, Colton. She deserves to know.”
“Oh my god, what do you have to tell me? She’s not dead is she? I swear—”
“She’s not dead, Jane. Calm down.”
“Then what’s wrong with her? Where is she? Why hasn’t she answered?”
“Dravin has her.” I go on to explain everything. “We’re doing everything we can to get her back. We’re going to get her, Jane.” I hear silence on the other end. “We are going to rescue her.”
“Don’t let anything happen to her, Colton,” Jane whispers.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she comes back to us, I promise.” Jane sniffs on the other end. I know she’s crying, but there’s nothing I can really do to help her.
“I know you will. Thank you for telling me. Please keep me updated, Colton. I need to know.”
“I will. Stay safe, Jane.” She hangs up without saying goodbye, and I end the call. I can’t believe none of us thought to alert Jane before this.
“We have to get her back,” I mutter as I lean back against the bed. I haven’t gotten any sleep the past two nights. I toss and turn wondering what’s happening at Dravin’s compound. Is she hurt? What’s she experiencing? There are too many unknowns and I need answers before I can even think about getting my much needed sleep.
I close my eyes as Tom and Colin talk over further plans. I rest my head against the wooden headboard of the bed. I’ll just rest for a couple of minutes. I feel the bed dip down beside me, but I’m too far gone to see who it is.
“Colton?” I open my eyes. I’m sitting on the small wooden bench in the garden behind Colin’s house. I stand up and look behind me. Ryanne’s standing behind the bench, staring at me confused.
“Ryanne?” I ask her. Her eyes widen when I say her name. She runs forward, jumps over the bench, and barrels into me. I catch her in my arms, wrapping them tight against her small waist. Her floral scent knocks into me as I bury my face into the crook of her neck.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers against my neck.
“I’ve missed you too.” I pull back, but keep her in my arms. “Ryanne, are you safe? Are they hurting you? You need to tell me.”
She looks up at me and sighs. “They’re not intentionally hurting me. Dravin’s trying to get me to use my magic, so he keeps trying to get me to fight these Gadramicks. I’m only defending myself, physically. I’m not infusing any magic, so they are able to overpower me extremely fast. Dravin stops the fight before I get too hurt, but some of the men take advantage of the situation.”
I lean my forehead down against hers. She’s not being beaten…so-to-say. Ryanne attempts to make herself taller. She snakes her arms around my waist and leans against me
“You don’t know how good it feels to just be near you. I don’t like being away from you,” she whispers. She leans her head up and her lips brush against mine. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t do anything because I’m so worried about you guys.”
I lean forward and lightly kiss her. Ryanne sighs and melts into me. It feels so good to hold her like this—to feel her body pressed against mine, the taste of her against my lips. “Ryanne,” I whisper.
“Mmmmhmmm,” she says without pulling back.
I kiss her lightly once more and pull back. It takes all of my willpower to pull away from her, especially when she’s pressed up against me like this…kissing me like that. “How is this possible?” I ask. “How am I talking to you right now?”