He dropped the suave act instantly and said, with a shrug, “I’d say equal parts.”
There might be something I could use here after all. “I’m not agreeing to merge magic with you, and I’m not jumping in bed with you. But I might be able to help with the Ryker part. Can you erect a ward?”
He let out a huff of air. “Of course I can. That’s basic.”
“A strong one?”
“You saw my torso. What do you think?”
I smiled.
26
“Ryker thinks he can do whatever he wants and dictate to me, but it’s not going to happen.” I sat on Ruck’s bed, tugging on my boots. I took a bite of the biscuit he’d brought me because I’d slept through breakfast.
“Are you getting crumbs on my bed? I don’t like sleeping on crumbs.”
“No.” I waited until he turned his head and wiped off a couple of specks. “And when did you get so picky? We used to sleep on dirt.”
He wasn’t the only one, not that I’d admit it. I missed my bed badly. It was amazing how fast you could get used to having it better. Not that sharing was a big deal, since Ruck worked the night shift.
“Look, I know men. He didn’t get close because of the magic or because he had to, so don’t be insulted. He wants you.”
Ruck didn’t understand magic, though, or the way mine and Ryker’s reacted, the way it ignited when we got close, and I wasn’t going to keep explaining it either.
“I don’t care if he wants me. He’s an asshole. It’s better that he keeps making that as painfully obvious as possible.” I wouldn’t bother explaining. It was impossible unless you felt it.
I stood up, grabbing the last of my biscuit, and heard Ruck huff. “Why did you do that?”
“What?” he asked, all innocent and naive.
“You huffed at me.”
He looked like he was going to feign ignorance but then he huffed again. “You’re full of shit. For someone you hate, you track that man’s movements like you’re dying of thirst and he’s a cool glass of water.”
I sucked in a breath. “No. I don’t.”
He rolled his eyes.
“If I watch him, it’s because he’s a python about to strike at any moment.”
He put his hands on his hips. “And you’re hoping to get bit, unless you already were?”
My cheeks felt warm and tingly. Were there marks on my neck? Hoped not. “No, I’m not, and no, I didn’t.”
“I think if the man wants to do you, you do him and get it out of—”
“Agree to disagree,” I said before he could continue. I didn’t know when we’d started the tradition, but that phrase was our “crying uncle.” We’d both only used it a handful of times. It did the trick because he fell silent.
Ruck exhaled so hard his hair blew up. “Fine. Agreed.” He kicked off his boots and took the spot I’d vacated on the bed.
I made my way to the door.
Right before I left, he said, “I was only trying to help.”
I stopped. “I know. I’ll stop by the tower later.”
“Bring snacks with you,” he said, settling in.
I walked away, hearing him yell, “I feel crumbs,” when I was only a few feet away.
I headed toward the path, knowing Ryker would be waiting for me. After what had happened last night, he wouldn’t seek me out, just as I wouldn’t seek him out. But he’d be there, and he knew I was going to show. I couldn’t give an explanation for either.
As expected, Ryker was waiting in the field.
“Did you talk to Knife?”
“I didn’t tell him what you suggested, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You know as well as I do you aren’t ever going to merge with him.”
“I might not have to merge with anyone, and if I do, why would I want to make you get stuck? He wants to merge.” Stuck. That word was still jammed in my head. It was as if it was glued in there with old, sticky hollyhoney and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to pry it out.
“It’s not a matter of want. The magic isn’t going to let up until it happens. It’s getting worse, and I don’t share.”
“Really? I thought you shared quite nicely.”
“It’s different. They aren’t mine. I…” Ryker looked to the side and seemed at a loss for words.
“What? Do you borrow them for a night?” I huffed into the air loudly, stealing Ruck’s move. “Yet you wonder why I’m not jumping all over the opportunity.”
Yeah, he didn’t want to share, but what about me? Was I supposed to watch him have women coming and going constantly? Not that I’d bring that up, because then it would sound like I cared. I didn’t. And it wasn’t happening anyway. I’d merge on my deathbed. I hadn’t made it this many years on my own to hand over control now.
“If I collapsed onto my knees and declared undying love, you’d know I was full of it. I didn’t think you were the type to prefer lies.”
“I’m not asking you to pretend to love me. I’m just not overjoyed to get stuck either, especially with someone who thinks I’m a necessary evil.”
“Would you feel better if I called it the best possible outcome of a bad situation? What about rock and a hard place? Is that more palatable to you?” He looked calm even as his magic was starting to shoot zigzags around me, and mine flared right back. For as much control as I might’ve gotten, when it came to him, I still had zilch.
“Wait, I got it. Why don’t we call it saving your ass? How do you stomach that?”
“I’m done.”
“Oh, you didn’t like that one either? I’ll keep thinking on it, then. Want to make sure you’re happy,” he said to my back.
I ignored him. Total ass. Why had I come this morning? I walked away and slammed right into an invisible wall.
Fucker! When had he done that? I’d been standing here, staring at him the entire time, and I hadn’t seen so much as a flick of his wrist.
I turned. “You put that down, right now.”
“I’m sorry, princess, but no. We’re practicing.”
“Put it down. I’m not doing anything with you right now.”
He settled onto the rock and crossed his arms.
I turned around, raised my hands, and focused on making him put it down. Screw him. I was beyond this. If I could break the ward around Bedlam, I could break his.
Or maybe not. This one was bad, almost as bad as the one from the other night around his couch. I slammed a fist into it.
“What did you do to this thing?”
He reached into his pocket and tossed a stone up into the air. The sun glinted off it, shining like a gem. He tossed it again. I narrowed my eyes.
No wonder I couldn’t get through the ward this time. He had an advantage. “That’s…”
“Yep.”
“I knew I felt something weird.” I’d written it off to our magic again, but I’d been wrong.
He stopped throwing. “Why didn’t you tell me you felt it?”
“Because I thought I imagined it.”
He stopped tossing. “Next time you think you imagine something, tell me anyway.”
“Sure.” Hell no. Last time I’d acted on something I thought I’d imagined, I’d stripped in front of him. I’d be keeping all feelings to myself.
He leaned back, watching me. “I’d get to it. It’s probably going to take you a while.”
“Sometimes I hate you. I don’t know why I thought there was even a shred of decency in you.”
“The dead don’t get the luxury of hate. Keep going, because when we get to Cacoy, you’re going to have to be ready to break a ward like this. He’s not as stupid as Bedlam. His stone will be better protected.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it’s what I’d do.”
I started working. “I still hate you.”
“And you’re still alive.”
Knife walked into the field a few hours later. I was coated in sweat and using the last of w
hat I had in me to break the ward that didn’t want to budge.
He was looking from my sweating form to Ryker where he sat comfortably on the stone. Knife stopped just shy of the ward, as if he felt it. “You were looking for me?”
“I want to leave early tomorrow to meet up with your man Switch,” Ryker said.
“Sure. He should be back.” Knife lifted his head, bouncing his stare back and forth. “What are you doing?”
“Practicing. Did you need something else?”
It was as clear an invite to leave as I’d ever heard.
“Isn’t there an easier way to do this?” Knife asked, probably noticing my hands fisted at my sides and the look of blood rage in my eyes.
“No, and she’s not your business,” Ryker replied.
“That hasn’t been established yet.”
“Are you saying you want to help? Because I don’t think that’s what you’re offering at all. And before you say anything else, we both know which one of us will walk away from this fight.”
“Ryker, I’m not trying to interfere. I’m just wondering if there’s an easier way to help her than the way you handle things.”
Knife knew Ryker could kill him, and he was still pushing. Had to give him credit that he still stuck to it, even if a bit more politely.
“She’s got to get stronger. You saw the mark on her back.”
“Obviously.”
“It’s growing, and fast. It’s more intricate and pronounced than even a few weeks ago. She’s Full Blood and she’s too stubborn to do the one thing that would most likely keep her alive. Do you think you’re the only one who is going to want to use her?”
“Not wanting to merge my magic is far from being stubborn,” I interjected.
Ryker paused long enough to give me a look that expressed exactly what he thought of that statement before turning back to Knife.
“You’ve been around a long time. You know what’s coming. You know what happens the stronger you get. They’ll come out of the woodwork. First it will be nice overtures, probably similar to yours, until she turns them down. Next, they’ll decide they need to band together to take her out before she gets stronger, because she’s too big of a risk. Are you going to stand in front of her when they come? Or are you going to head back to the nice, tall walls of Dorley?”
“Maybe she’ll come with me behind those nice tall walls?” Knife asked.
“Sure. Dorley will make a great cage and an even better mausoleum. I’m her only shot.”
I stepped closer to Ryker, just shy of blocking Knife from his line of sight. “If I don’t broadcast it, they might never know.”
The anger flaring in his eyes dimmed. He knew something.
“Word’s gotten out already, hasn’t it?” I asked. He should’ve just punched me in the gut. It would’ve felt better.
I had to give him credit: I didn’t know if it was an act or not, but he looked genuinely remorseful. His nod even appeared strained.
This was what had been bothering him today. This was the thing that had been driving him as if he had a demon on his back. It wasn’t what had happened with us last night. He probably hadn’t given that another thought.
“How?” I asked. “Where did you hear it from?”
“I don’t know, but word is spreading. They’re even describing your markings. It’s too late to hide.”
My head dropped, and I shook it as I stared at the ground and then off at the distance, anywhere but at him. Ryker was right. They’d come for me. Even if I got past the Debt Collector, I was doomed by my magic.
I’d never have the calm life I’d hoped for. I’d hidden for so long because I knew what happened to Wyrd Blood. I’d gotten here and some strange sense of safety had clouded my mind and nipped away at the walls I’d built. At some point I’d pushed that fate to the back of my mind and gotten lax.
I dragged in a deep breath, trying to reset myself.
“Bugs, you okay?” Knife asked from right beyond the ward.
“I’m good.” I let out a short laugh that sounded slightly hysterical even to me. “But I better get practicing.”
Knife gave me a last look. I ignored it. I turned my attention to the ward.
“If this was because of Bedlam, I’m sorry.”
I nodded but kept my back to him. I wasn’t ready for this conversation or the I-told-you-sos he deserved. He’d known what he was getting me into. Now he could help me get out of it, if that was even possible.
27
“How many more fire stones do you have left? You’ve been running a lot of chuggers lately,” Knife said from the right-hand side of the chugger cabin.
“A few. What about you?” Ryker shifted the chugger into a lower gear as we hit a muddy incline.
“A few,” Knife answered, and I felt his shoulder shrug against mine.
Bunch of liars. I could tell from their tone they were both hoarding. It had started an hour ago with food supplies, specifically apples. They’d switched to livestock after that and then moseyed on over to beeswax. At least these little bluffing games were a distraction from being crammed in from both sides in the small space. It was also better than holding on for dear life, like Burn and Sneak were probably doing as they rode in the back.
“How much longer until we get to Switch?” I could’ve guessed in walking time, but this was only my third drive ever.
“Not long,” they both answered. They glanced over me and at each other, both feeling some squashed toes.
I reached down to the bag at my feet and pulled my stash of berries out. I was going to need more nourishment to withstand the rest of this ride.
Ryker glanced at the bag in front of me, and then the purple berry in my hand. “Where did you get those?”
“I picked them from a bush.” There was a whole cluster of Bamber bushes that grew right outside the border of his land, right beyond where his ward was. I hadn’t thought of it at the time I’d picked them. I’d been too excited to find them because the Bamberberries had the sweetest flavor you’d ever tasted.
Ryker didn’t need to tell me why he was so fixated on the berries. It was because I’d crossed his ward and he hadn’t known. Turned out a friendship with Knife was beneficial for me as well. I popped another berry in my mouth, waiting to see if Ryker would pop a vein. I couldn’t very well let them go to waste.
“How long did it take for you to walk through Burn’s ward without him sensing it?” he asked, guessing at whom I might’ve practiced with first.
He’d find out, too, even if he had to drag this out. Fuck me. I’d just wanted a snack.
“It wasn’t Burn,” I answered, hoping he’d put down the saw and get to the ax. The slow go was more torture. I guessed I could’ve picked up the ax myself and told him, but I’d never been into self-mutilation.
“Sneak?” Ryker’s jaw clicked to the side.
I felt Knife shifting, the heat building in the cab.
“Nope,” I said, leaving only the man to my right.
“Are you going to be too tired to make the trip, or is Ruck’s floor more comfortable than it looks?” Ryker asked. I wasn’t sure if Knife picked up on the jab, but I certainly did.
I’d known Ryker would figure out I’d been sleeping at Ruck’s. It wasn’t a big deal. I’d wanted him to know initially, but the way he’d just laid it out there? As if that was the only place I would be sleeping? Like I wouldn’t really sleep with Knife because I wanted him or something? The gloves were coming off.
“I’ll be fine. How you feeling, Knife? Did you get a nap in after we finished? I know we went at it last night for a really long time.” We had, too. I’d practiced getting through Knife’s ward until the morning sun had come up, and gotten Bamberberries to boot.
“I’ll be fine,” Knife said, but he was tugging on his collar and looked like he was about to gasp for air. Another few seconds passed, and I knew he wasn’t going to make it.
Knife pulled on his shirt again. “I didn’t sleep wit
h her. Can you cut that shit out?”
Ryker’s magic reeled back, and he stopped the chugger with a smile. “Sorry about that. Hadn’t realized. Sometimes it gets away from me.”
I popped a couple more berries in my mouth so that I wouldn’t curse aloud.
We hopped out of the cab, and I made a point of jumping down on Knife’s side. It was petty, but all I had at the moment.
Burn and Sneak jumped out of the back. Burn opened his mouth, and I would’ve sworn it was to bitch, and then he set eyes on a sweaty Knife. His mouth shut as he tapped Sneak, and then pointed to an unknowing Knife. They both turned their backs to take in the landscape, with only a few muffled laughs making it over to us. I slung my bag over my shoulder and followed the direction Knife was walking.
If I hadn’t been looking for it, I never would’ve seen the lean-to covered in branches surrounded by Icky Itchy bushes. One brush against the blue leaves and you’d not only itch for a month solid, but you could pass on that itch to anyone who touched you. Then there was the smell that came with the sores, a mixture of vomit and decomposing animals left in the sun. We all kept our distance, afraid of a stray leaf blowing near.
“He lives there?” I took a swig of my water.
“If you’re the only Wyrd Blood around that can pop in and out without brushing against a blue ball bush—I mean an Icky Itchy, it makes sense,” Knife explained.
I smirked. I might be limited in sexual experience, but my best friend was a guy. Those sores would seriously crimp anyone’s sex life for a while.
Knife stepped closer but still a few feet short. “It’s perfect for him. Not even a horde of Chewers would go in there.”
The last time I’d heard or uttered that word had been when I’d retold the story of how Sinsy had died to Marra. I felt eyes graze over me from several different directions. I took another swig of water, pretending that they weren’t.
“You sure he’s coming back?” Ryker asked, moving the conversation along. If I were the suspicious type, I might’ve thought he’d done it for me. But I knew him better.
Knife looked around. “He’s around somewhere. He’s been here for fifty years and will probably be here two hundred more.”
Full Blood (Wyrd Blood Book 2) Page 17