Page 36

Cadence

A fragile sense of peace had settled between me and Ryker since our trip to the cave. Despite my calm exterior, however, there was a war raging inside me. And it was one that I was losing.

The more I tried to hold on to my anger for Ryker, the more I felt it slipping away.

I hadn’t informed him I’d sensed the first stirrings of the bond, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he already knew. I was unable to ask him about it, though. Doing so would make it too real, undeniable.

Now, as I peered down at the courtyard, I wondered if that peace was about to shatter.

“You’re being unreasonable, Ryker,” I huffed.

“The Wild Hunt is no place for you, Cadence.”

“And why is that?”

“There are men there, and… it just isn’t.”

He grabbed the nape of his neck as if the action would soothe his irritation. He wasn’t easily riled, and my curiosity only grew.

“What is it you don’t want me to witness?”

“More like what I won’t stand for anyone else to see,” he muttered.

“What was that?”

Ryker blew out a long breath. “As the Crown Prince, it is my duty to lead the Wild Hunt. I’ll be unable to focus knowing you’re out there... and that others will be participating.”

I didn’t know what he meant, but I wasn’t above begging.

“Please, Ryker. You said you wanted to prove to me that I could trust you. Locking me away again doesn’t achieve that.”

That was clearly the wrong thing to say.

Ryker’s expression hardened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. His presence filled the room in a way it hadn’t before. He appeared larger now, more imposing.

He strode across his chambers, his dark gaze fixed upon me, and I couldn’t help but retreat a few steps.

That didn’t deter Ryker, though. He kept on coming until he had me pinned against the wall, his towering frame caging me in as his hand reached up to caress my cheek.

The gesture could be mistaken as gentle, loving, even.

But I recognized it for what it was.

The calm before the storm.

Ryker’s thumb and forefinger tightened around my chin, and he angled my face until his steel-grey eyes locked with mine.

“Do not try to play me, Cadence,” he warned. “You won’t win.”

“Ryker,” I protested, but he cut me off.

“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood me.”

I glared at him, letting him see my displeasure for himself.

As angry as I may have been, however, that didn’t stop the gentle throbbing that had started up in my core at his domineering tone.

He exuded power, and gods help me, that was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen on a man.

My lust was going to get me killed. I had grown too complacent, and I needed to remember what was at stake here.

“So let me be abundantly clear,” he purred. “Everything I shared with you inside that cave was true, but I am still the one in control. I order, and you obey.”

A shiver raced down my spine, and I tried my best to suppress it. The knowing smirk that curved Ryker’s lips told me I’d done a poor job.

Frustration and desire swirled within me. My secrets weren’t safe around this man. Hell, I wasn’t safe around this man.

“I said that I would prove you could trust me to take care of you, that I would keep you safe. This is me keeping that promise.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. When his tongue darted out and swiped at my bottom lip, demanding entrance, I opened for him. Ryker kissed me with a punishing force, as though his tongue alone could make me submit to him.

Before he could pull away from me, I bit down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste exploded across my tongue, and I let my satisfied smirk lift the corner of my mouth.

Ryker lifted a finger to his brutalized lip and brushed the crimson substance aside with his thumb. His eyes darkened, but not from rage.

A low, raspy chuckle escaped him, and I felt it all the way to my toes.

“Behave yourself, Cadence,” he warned before he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead.

He pushed off the wall and stepped back. “I’ll return in a few hours.”

Without another word, he left the room.

I moved to face the window as I watched the preparations continue to unfold in the courtyard beneath me. Men were saddling horses, loading them with various weapons and furs, while the women inspected their footwear and stashed small drinking skins about their person.

Not for the first time, I wondered what the Wild Hunt entailed.

A familiar mane of white-blond hair came into view as Ryker stepped into the courtyard. Malesh moved toward him as he led a large obsidian warhorse by the reins. Ryker took the proffered reins from Malesh’s outstretched hand and swung into the saddle.

As if sensing my eyes on him, Ryker twisted in his seat and glanced up at me. Mirth sparkled in his gaze, and he winked at me.

I rolled my eyes in response, but I was secretly pleased I still held his attention.

My gaze darted to another familiar head of hair, and I scowled as my eyes locked with Celeste’s. She gave me a victorious grin and a condescending wave as she headed toward Ryker. When she reached him, she placed her small palm on his forearm. I didn’t get the chance to see Ryker’s response as a deep masculine voice sounded from behind me.

“That’s a very short leash you allow him to keep you on, sweetheart.”

I spun around, my fingers flying to the base of my throat as I screamed. Riordan shushed me as he waved his hands in my direction.

“You don’t want him storming back in here, do you? It would ruin all the fun I have planned for us.”

“Riordan, what the hell are you doing lurking in Ryker’s chambers?” I panted when I finally regained the capacity to speak.

“From what I saw earlier, they’re as much your chambers now as they are his.”

He made a sickening kissing sound, and I cringed.

“Stalking is unbecoming, Riordan.”

He snorted. “Have you mentioned that to Ryker? Because in case you forgot, he’s the one with the problem.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Tell me what you’re doing here,” I demanded. “And next time, announce yourself like a normal person. Better still, use the cursed door.”

Riordan shook his head and chuckled as if I were being ridiculous. A broad grin spread across his face, and he threw his arms wide.

“I have come to rescue you from your tower, dear Maiden,” he said with an exaggerated bow.

He lifted his gaze to mine, and the teasing glint I saw in his eyes told me that whatever his plans were, they would most certainly lead to trouble.

“The Wild Hunt awaits, My Lady.”

Oh, Ryker would not be pleased.

And that thought only heightened my anticipation.