Read Online From Burning Ashes (Collector Series #4) by Stacey Marie Brown - Free Book Online

me, but Croygen grabbed me
first.
    “Amara, be smart for once and just shut up,”
Ryker snapped.
    But of course she wasn’t wise. “Just think,
if I didn’t turn you over, Zoey. You would never have known about
your dear, sweet, living sister. You should thank me,
actually.”
    “Oh fuck,” Croygen muttered, his arms
squeezed around me, but his hold wasn’t tight enough to keep me
back. I sprang for her like a wild animal. The power withheld from
me vibrated in its case, begging for a way out. It was probably the
only thing that kept her alive.
    I went into a haze, my fighter instincts
taking over. Amara wasn’t a damsel in distress, and she fought
back, landing slaps and punches to my face and body. But my love of
the fight gave me drive she didn’t have. I could have easily beaten
her, with more time.
    Once again, I was lifted off her like a
hissing kitten. Ryker moved me back, shoving me once again into
Croygen arms.
    “Jesus, Amara. Don’t be an idiot! Do you want
her to kill you?” Ryker shouted, stepping away. “Keep your mouth
closed for once…or leave. I’m struggling enough here.”
    I tracked Amara rolling to her side and
spitting out blood.
    “She can’t kill me,” Amara mumbled, wiping
her chin.
    “Yes, she could.” Ryker put his hands on his
hips. “I told you not to underestimate her. Even when she was pure
human, she could have put you down. Even more so now that she’s
part fae.”
    “What?” Amara rose, grimacing in pain. “What
are you talking about?”
    “Some of my magic chose to stay with her.
It’s a part of her now.” His eyes flew over to meet mine.
    “Holy shit. You killed her?” Amara bent over
her knees but stared up at Ryker in amazement.
    “Yes.”
    “But she lived.” Disappointment caked her
words. “And some of the powers stayed?” Amara straightened. “She’s
becoming one of us?”
    “Sort of. I can still feel her human side,
but the fae is also strong. Maybe equivalent to a Druid or a human
who eats fae food.” He folded his arms.
    “See? You didn’t need Regnus after all.” She
smirked and cringed, her fingers tapping at her lip.
    “Regnus.” I forgot all about the man, the
seer, whom Ryker wanted to save from Vadik. “Did you find him? Did
he escape with you guys?”
    Ryker stared at Amara. “Go ahead, Mar, tell
her.”
    “Tell me what?” My head turned to look at
them.
    Amara’s lids narrowed on Ryker, her lip
curling up. “Fine. But someone better have a hold on your little
pet there.”
    A sardonic grin inched up Ryker’s lips.
    Amara sighed deeply. “Regnus is dead.”
    I stared at her.
    “And?” Ryker prompted.
    “He’s been dead for a couple of years. I lied
and said he was alive to trap Ryker.” She propped her hands onto
her hips. “There, are you happy now?”
    “Far from it,” Ryker retorted.
    I bit my lip. “Is there anything you didn’t
lie about?”
    “Yes.” She cocked her head. “I’ve always been
perfectly honest about how I feel about you.”
    Croygen’s fingers cinched down firmly on my
arm.
    “Believe me, I thought about killing Amara
many nights, but she did get me out.” Ryker kept his glare on
Amara. “She risked her own life and took me to Elthia’s to
heal—”
    “Elthia’s?” I whirled around to face him. “As
in another ex-girlfriend who is also still in love with you?” I
normally wasn’t a jealous person, but tonight I had hit the
brink.
    Croygen’s sniggering cut the dense
silence.
    “Zoey…” Ryker spoke through his teeth.
Perspiration dampened his forehead, and his hands fisted. He seemed
to be fighting the urge to hurt me, I could see it, especially in
the tension along his shoulders. Even being this close to me had to
be difficult for him, but my temper held no sympathy.
    “No. I get it.” I tried to force back my
attitude. Didn’t work. “She’s the perfect person. She could heal
you. She’d do anything to keep you safe.” My words didn’t match the
tension in my