Page 112 of Bonded Chaos

Ryker had been tasked with discovering how they made it so close without detection, and with him preoccupied, my days had been spent alongside Riordan or Malesh. While I enjoyed their company, the time away from Ryker also created an ache in my chest I couldn’t quite alleviate.

The days dragged on, yet every night he would return to his chambers and fuck me with a savagery that I was beginning to crave. My body was deliciously sore, but I was starting to think his rough treatment was more than I could bear. My breasts were tender from his vicious ministrations, and the man kept me awake until the small hours so that I could hardly function the next morning.

He was insatiable, and I was ready to concede defeat.

A prickling sensation burned behind my eyes, and to my shock, I realized I was crying. Fat tears rolled down my face, and my body trembled as sobs built inside my chest. No matter how many deep breaths I inhaled, I couldn’t stop the flow as they traced their way down my cheeks.

A low creak caught my attention, and I turned to the door as Riordan entered.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” he beamed, but his expression fell when he saw me burying my face in my palms.

His footfalls were barely audible over the sound of my heaving sobs, but his gentle fingers gripped my wrists as he lowered my hands. He took one look at me and pressed me against the hard planes of his chest.

“Shh, Cadence. It’s alright. Whatever Ryker did, I’ll make sure he pays.”

A strangled laugh escaped me, but the sound only made me cry harder. Riordan rubbed his palm up and down my back in a soothing gesture as he tried in vain to calm me.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?” he murmured.

“I don’t know,” I wailed.

Riordan’s movements paused as he struggled to comprehend my words.

“Did you say you don’t know?”

I nodded against his chest, and I was horrified to see how my tears had stained his tunic.

“Then why are you crying?”

I pulled out of his grasp and quickly dabbed my eyes.

“I have no idea,” I admitted, and I tried to laugh it off, but the sound was forced.

Riordan furrowed his brows in confusion, but he merely shrugged and opened his arms wide for me to hug him once more. I didn’t hesitate as I dove into his embrace. More tears welled, and this time, I let them fall. The rhythmic beating of his heart was a welcome distraction, and I found his woodsy scent oddly calming.

“You smell good,” I murmured against his chest.

“Don’t let Ryker hear you saying that,” he chuckled.

I inhaled deeply, letting Riordan’s scent fill my lungs, and a contented sigh escaped between my lips.

“Seriously, you smell amazing.”

“Thank you… I guess,” Riordan said, confusion lacing his tone.

I settled into Riordan’s embrace and allowed his soothing touch to help me overcome whatever mental breakdown I was experiencing. His friendship was a comfort in this land of schemes and enemies.

When the door creaked for a second time, we both froze before turning to face the irate Fae prince standing in the doorway.

“It’s not what you —” Riordan began, but Ryker moved before he could finish his sentence.

In a mass of shadows and fury, Ryker crossed the floor in seconds and pulled me from Riordan’s arms. When my mind caught up with what I was seeing, Ryker had his brotherslammed against the stone wall, his forearm pressed against the base of Riordan’s throat.

“Ryker, let him go.”

Ryker turned his murderous gaze on me, his obsidian eyes twin pools of wrath.

“I’ll deal with you in a moment,” he gritted out.

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