Marlowe barked in agreement, his tail wagging. He looked delighted by the mess he’d made.
Chuckling, Ryker reached within himself and drew out some water. It flowed from his hands and ran over the pup in gentle streams, washing the mud away until black, silky fur was the only thing that remained.
“There, good as new.” Ryker released his magic, attached the leash, and led Marlowe out of the park. “Come on, boy. Let’s go see if your mom is home.”
And if Brynleigh was hurt, Jelisette de la Point would pay.
CHAPTER 28
I’ll Always be Here for You
By the time Ryker and Marlowe returned to the apartment building, the rain had become a full-blown thunderstorm. They were both soaked to the bone and despite the water magic running through Ryker’s veins, he was freezing.
A hot shower was definitely in his future.
Thank the gods; his phone was waterproof. He could dump it in the Emerald Sea, and it would come out unscathed. It was one of the many technologies the fae had brought during the Great Migration.
Although it was almost midnight, Karson Yellowcrest, one of the concierges, sat bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at his post behind the front desk. The human was in his late forties or early fifties with salt-and-pepper hair, russet skin, and a kind smile.
“Hello, Captain,” Karson said. “Got caught in the rain, did you?”
Ryker ran a hand through his hair, grimacing as it came away soaked. “We certainly did.”
Marlowe shook his coat, spraying water droplets everywhere and accentuating Ryker’s point. Some people might’ve been upset by the dog’s actions, but the concierge merely chuckled.
“Any mail for me, Karson?” Ryker asked.
“Let me check.” A line furrowed the concierge’s brow as he ducked beneath his desk. A hum filled the air before he popped up. “Yep! This was delivered for you earlier today.”
Ryker crossed the lobby and took the envelope. Golden paper was crisp beneath his fingers, the Republic’s emblem was stamped on the back, and it was addressed toMr. and Mrs. Waterborn.
“Thank you.” He smiled.
“Any time, sir.” The concierge leaned over his desk and raised a brow. “By the way, when will I get to meet that lovely wife of yours? My husband and I watched the Choosing religiously, and we were cheering for you both the whole time.”
Ryker bit his lip. He didn’t want to make any assumptions about whether he and Brynleigh were ready for public appearances. It was like they were pottery that had been smashed and glued back together. They were in one piece—or at least, getting there—but a single wrong move could shatter them if they weren’t careful.
In the end, he told the concierge he would confer with Brynleigh and get back to him.
“Of course, I understand. Thank you, Captain. Either way, we’ll be watching the Reunion. We can’t wait to see all the couples together once again.”
“It will be an event to remember,” Ryker promised.
Especially if they could stop the Black Night before they hurt anyone else.
A few minutes later, Ryker and Marlowe exited the elevator and entered the apartment. Ryker kicked off his wet shoes and placed the letter on the stand he kept in the entryway for that purpose.
“Brynleigh?” He unhooked Marlowe’s leash, pushing open the door to the main apartment. “Are you here?”
No response. The apartment was too quiet. The silence pressed up against him, constricting his lungs.
Shouldn’t she be back by now?
Worry nibbled at his mind, and he grabbed a towel from thelaundry basket sitting by the door. Running it through his hair, he debated pulling up the tracking app. He wasn’t usually anxious, but as was normal when it came to Brynleigh, she turned his world on its head.
Thank all the fucking gods, by the time he finished toweling his hair, shadows pooled on the ground.
Brynleigh materialized a few feet in front of him.