Reaching Retribution(78)

He told me to kill Dravin. “Don’t think about the blood promise, Ryanne. Stop Dravin.” Despite me proclaiming that he’s nothing more than a sperm donor to me, I know that’s not true. He’s my dad. We don’t get to choose who are parents are. Blood is blood. I just wish there was a way I could stop Dravin and save him. I just found him and now I have to lose him again.

I look around the field. I can’t see Colton anymore. In fact, I can’t really see anyone through the chaos. I laugh as I hear Adam commanding Gadramicks to fight other Gadramicks. I’m so glad he’s on our side. His power is very helpful. Liam reaches past me and punches a man in the jaw. I jump back and hit Liam’s chest. I hadn’t seen the man standing there. I need to get out of my thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

My eyes continue their scan as I look for one person specifically. I see him standing off to the side, alone. He’s not fighting anyone, and no one is attempting to fight him.

“I’m going to go after Zahtri,” I yell at Liam and Adam. Both Adam and Liam knock out the men they’re fighting and turn toward me. It’s almost comical how both men fall to the ground unconscious at the same time.

“Ryanne, are you sure you want to do that?” Liam asks.

“Liam, I’m the only one here that can,” I tell him. A man comes at me and I push a string of magic toward him without taking my eyes off Liam. He falls instantly. They both raise their eyebrows at my action, but don’t say anything.

I don’t like this. Colton will kill me.

She’s right, but she could get herself killed in the process.

“Colton’s not going to kill you, Liam. He understands that I have to do this,” I tell him. I turn to Adam. “And I could very well get myself killed, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take to stop Zahtri.”

I walk up to Liam and give him a hug. “You’re not going to die if anything happens to me,” I whisper to him.

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” he tells me. “How do you know that?”

“It’s just a feeling I have.” I whisper to him as I step back.

As I turn around, Adam reaches out and grabs my wrist and pulls me back. “I’m sorry for high school.”

“That’s in the past,” I say as I step away from him.

“I was jealous of him,” he states. I instantly know that he’s referring to Colton. Adam told me something similar before, but I didn’t think much about it then.

“I know.” Taking a few steps back, I start walking toward Zahtri. Liam looks torn. He wants to be with me during this, but I know I’m supposed to do this alone. This is what I’m supposed to do. It’s him versus me. No one else. It hurts to leave him standing there, but it has to be done. I didn’t get to tell him that Claire came to me while I was unconscious after Zahtri pushed me into a wall. She said that Liam was meant to protect me for this moment. Everything was leading to this. I no longer need Liam’s protection, but I know nothing I tell him will make him believe that. No matter what, Liam will always be my protector, with or without magic binding him to me.

“Please remember Ryanne, a dawn is coming. Don’t give up just yet,” he yells after me.

“This is darkest dawn I’ve ever seen, Liam.” I give Liam and Adam a small smile as I call my magic to me to jump onto the platform. Zahtri stands up straighter when he sees me, but doesn’t move.

Two Gadramicks jump onto the platform with me: one in front and the other behind me. Simultaneously, they run toward me. I roll my eyes. You’d think these Gadramicks would communicate with each other to see which stunts work against me and which things are just stupid to attempt. I push my magic underneath me. When they’re both a foot away from me, I jump and hover ten feet above the ground. The men collide into each other and fall over. I twist my body in the air and then land in a crouch on the platform. They groan and don’t get up immediately. I look toward Zahtri again. He looks surprised, but still hasn’t moved.

I bring my attention back to the two Gadramicks on the ground in front of me. They slowly stand up and turn toward me, angry and determined. I siphon their anger and use it to strengthen my magic. I smile as another emotion hits me. I stand up and slowly walk toward them. The men look surprised to see me approaching.

I make sure to add an extra swing to my hips. I turn toward Zahtri and smile when I see their eyes soften. Even in a fight, you can always distract a man. Zahtri looks angry when he sees my simple plan working. I stop right in front of the men and place my hands on my hips. “Hey, boys,” I coo.