Page 47

Cadence

Once I’d finished dispelling my breakfast, I dragged myself back to bed. I performed a cursory evaluation of my body and was relieved when I detected no poison in my system. I still didn’t understand why I was feeling so unwell, but I figured I could make a proper assessment after my nap.

I was so damned tired.

My plans were rudely interrupted when the door to Ryker’s chambers burst open. It hit the stone wall and rattled on its hinges from the force of the collision.

I sat bolt upright, calling my magic to my fingertips as I prepared to defend myself.

“Cadence,” Ryker growled, and I let my hands fall to the bed.

“Gods, Ryker, you scared me half to death.”

I fell back on the mattress, throwing an arm over my eyes as I blocked out the oppressive daylight. My stomach had settled somewhat, but there was an underlying queasiness that I was eager to sleep off.

Apparently, Ryker wasn’t content to leave me be.

His rough fingers tightened around my wrist as he pulled my arm away from my face. The weight of his presence filled the room as he gazed down at me, and his steel-grey eyes were swimming with some emotion I couldn’t identify.

“How are you feeling, Cadence?” he rumbled.

His question caught me off guard, and my eyes narrowed as I studied him.

“I’m a little under the weather, actually. How did you know I wasn’t well?”

“The bond,” he said with a shrug.

I blinked at him, not understanding what he meant. Then realization slammed into me, and I gasped.

“You felt me through the bond?”

Ryker nodded but didn’t elaborate.

“Gods, there is no going back now, is there?”

Ryker curled his upper lip, and I realized I had spoken the last part out loud.

“There was never any going back, Cadence,” he snarled. “Especially when you are carrying my heir.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt my whole body tense as my heart slammed against my ribcage.

“What did you say?”

“You’re pregnant, Cadence.”

My mouth opened and closed as I tried to form words, but nothing came out. Ryker leaned over me, his hands wrapping around my shoulders as he pulled me to my feet.

“Do not deny it,” he warned.

I was spared from responding when the door was thrown open once more, and Riordan stormed inside.

“Tell me what you did!” he demanded, and it took me a moment to realize he was talking to Ryker.

I stumbled back as my legs trembled, threatening to send me careening to the floor. The brothers continued to bicker, but I heard none of it. Pulling on my magic, I delved into every corner of my body as I searched for any sign that something was amiss.

Nausea still swirled in my stomach, but the feeling was less intense than it had been earlier. My breasts were tender, and a little swollen, and I had a higher temperature than normal. Not enough to be considered a fever, but enough to notice. Then, there was my heightened sense of smell. The way Riordan’s woodsy scent had been all-consuming, despite never really noticing it before.

I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. Focusing on my abdomen, I sent out small tendrils of power, searching for any sign that Ryker might be right.

Then I felt it.

The slight flutter of something pressing against my magic. It raced up the thread of my power as if reaching for me. My eyes flew open, and the room spun around me.

“Oh gods,” I breathed, reaching out for the bed frame to steady myself. “This isn’t possible.”

“Cadence?” Ryker asked, his brows furrowing. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s true.”

How had I missed the signs? I was a godsdamned healer, and I failed to heed every single message my body had sent me.

“Sweetheart,” Riordan said gently.

Ryker snarled at his brother and pushed him away.

“Fuck off, Ryker, this isn’t about you,” Riordan snapped.

Ryker ignored his younger brother and extended his hand to me. When I recoiled, his jaw tightened, but he let his hand drop.

“Get dressed, Cadence,” he barked.

“W-what?”

“I said get dressed. You have five minutes before I drag you out of here in what you’re wearing, vomit and all.”

I glanced down at my dress, only now noticing the damp patch I’d rather not name.

“Ryker!” Riordan protested, but his brother simply dragged him out of the room after him.

I changed quickly as I tried not to let panic overwhelm me. As much as Ryker and I had settled into a peaceful coexistence, I had never given up on my plans to break free from him. I wanted my old life back. I longed to go home and see my family, to resume my work at the apothecary.

With the bond strengthening and now this… I felt desperation clawing at my throat.

How would I ever escape him now?

I didn’t have time to fall apart, though. Ryker, true to his word, barged into his chambers exactly five minutes later. He’d changed his clothes, swapping out his training garb for one of his more formal tunics and trousers.

Unease crept over me. Where was he taking me?

His gaze raked over my body, assessing me from head to toe. He nodded, seemingly pleased with what he saw.

Ryker marched toward me, threading his fingers through mine.

“Where are we going?” I demanded, but the stubborn man remained silent.

As we crossed the threshold of his chambers, I was met with a wall of muscle. Riordan, Malesh, and Eamon stood guard just outside the door, and serious expressions adorned each of their faces.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and my senses were immediately alert.

“What’s going on?” I asked, unable to hide the tremor in my voice.

“Come, Cadence,” Ryker said as he tugged me along behind him.

“Ryker, wait,” Riordan called after us, but Ryker didn’t slow his strides.

We moved through the palace in silence as I continued to steal glances at Ryker from under my lashes. His footsteps were unhurried, and his expression betrayed no hint of what he was feeling.

When we stopped outside a set of unfamiliar doors, I peered up at Ryker in confusion. He pushed the heavy wooden panes aside and pulled me inside. The air was thick with incense, and the marble floors glowed faintly, illuminated by the sconces lining the walls. I could make out runes carved deep into the stone, the Fae symbols for eternity and prosperity, catching my attention.

The sound of a throat clearing startled me, and I looked up to see a man who I assumed was one of the High Priests, standing before an altar.

“Prince Ryker,” he said, sounding unsure. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

I peered over my shoulder at the others who had followed us inside, but none of them would meet my eye.

“Tell me what is going on, Ryker, or so help me —”

My words died on my tongue as Ryker announced, “You will marry us.”

His tone brooked no argument, and the Priest swallowed hard.

“Your Highness,” he began, but Ryker held up a hand to silence him.

“Right now.”

My shock gave way to anger, and I wrenched myself free of Ryker’s grasp.

“Are you insane?” I hissed. “I’m not marrying you.”

Ryker spun toward me. His movements were so fast that I almost missed them. His hand darted forward, wrapping around my throat as he pulled me to him.

“This is not up for discussion, Cadence,” he snarled. “You will take my name, my protection, and my power. You will become my wife, and once it is done, there is not a single person inside this kingdom who would dare harm you,” — his gaze flicked to my flat stomach and then back to me — “or our child.”

“I won’t do it,” I said, my resolve strengthening. “And you can’t force me to do this. Fae law is absolute. The binding won’t be true if I do not consent.”

Ryker smirked and stepped closer, invading my space.

“Ryker,” Riordan warned, but the man before me gave no indication that he had even heard his brother.

Ryker’s warm breath tickled the side of my neck as he leaned in close to my ear.

“Fight me on this, and I will return to the Seelie Kingdom. While I’m there, I will make sure that I call on your parents in their brownstone house that’s nestled only two streets back from your apothecary.”

I inhaled sharply, but Ryker wasn’t done.

“Then I’ll be sure to visit your brother, Callum, right?”

My palms landed on Ryker’s chest, and I shoved him, but he didn’t budge. His calloused hands wrapped around my wrists as a wicked grin spread across his face.

Dread settled in my stomach. “How?” I whispered.

“You don’t live this long in my world without always staying one step ahead of your opponent at all times.”

Tears filled my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“You truly are a monster,” I choked out.

“ Your monster. And I won’t risk your life, or the life of our child, for your pride, Temptress.”

Turning to the Priest, he nodded his head. “You may begin.”