The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian 6)

"You should," I said in a haughty tone, then laughed softly. "I don't care who was to blame, Quinn. I just want to start all over again - and this time, I want to try and make it right. Or as right as you and I could ever be."

"And hearing that makes my old heart want to dance with joy."

I snorted softly and walked back to my side of the bed to grab my coffee. But as I did so, pain hit - pain so deep it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. The world was suddenly spinning, turning, falling, and I couldn't think and couldn't breathe. There was only pain, mind-numbing pain.

Only it wasn't mine.

It was Rhoan's.

Chapter 9

I hit the floor hard and lay there for several seconds, my breathing panicked and my heart beating a million miles a minute.

Something had to be terribly wrong with Rhoan for me to be getting this sort of reaction. And yet it didn't feel like he was in danger. Didn't feel like he was hurt in any way.

"Riley?" Quinn was suddenly next to me, his hands gliding over me, looking for wounds or hurt when there wasn't any. "Riley, what's wrong?"

"Rhoan," I gasped, somehow pushing to my hands and knees. The dizziness hit again and fear flooded me. God, what was going on? "Something has happened to him."

Quinn grabbed my waist and hauled me upright. "Can you get dressed? Where's your phone?"

"Yes, I can, and in my bag."

He spun and walked into the living room. I staggered to the bathroom and hurriedly put on my clothes. The world spun again and I grabbed the corner of the shower to keep upright. When it eased, I found my shoes then ran out to the living room.

Quinn was on my phone. "There's no answer from Rhoan, either at the apartment or on his cell phone."

"He wasn't at home. He was at Liander's - " I stopped, and horror ran through me. Oh God, had something happened to Liander?

Please, don't let it be Liander.

I grabbed the phone from Quinn and quickly dialed Liander's number. There was no answer and the answering machine didn't come on. And he always - always - turned that on when he went out.

"We need to get to Liander's."

"I'll get my pants and my keys - "

"I'll drive - "

"You can't," he said, almost savagely, from the other room. Not anger at me, but anger for me. "Not when you're getting input from whatever it is Rhoan is going through. You'll be putting your life - and others - at risk."

Keys rattled as he grabbed them, and then he was beside me again, wearing pants and carrying a jacket, but no shirt. He cupped his hand under my elbow as we walked toward the elevator. As the doors swished closed, I rang the Directorate.

Sal answered. "What now, wolf girl?"

"I need Rhoan's location immediately."

"Hang on." Keys tapped in the background, and the computer beeped. "He's on the move, heading down Epson Road."

"What's the nearest cross street?"

"He's just turned into Bangalore Road."

Heading for Liander's house, not his workshop and loft. "Tell Jack something has happened to Liander. Tell him Rhoan might need restraining."

"Will do." She hesitated. "You heading there now?"

"Yes."