Kael’s POV
I knew I should have expected Ryker to pull something dirty, but I was too focused on his words and the way he looked at Lyra, and that distraction was the only reason he managed to throw me into the wall. The impact shot through my back and ribs and for a moment the breath left my lungs, but I pushed myself up quickly, refusing to stay down in front of him. I barely made it to my feet before Ryker was already charging toward me again. His arm lifted and the strike was aimed at my head, and I knew it was too late for me to dodge.
But the hit never landed.
Lyra reached him first. She moved fast and her arms locked around his neck as she yanked him back with all the strength she had, and Ryker stumbled, dragged away from me just in time. If she had been one second slower, that
