Page 113 of Bonded Chaos

Turning back to Riordan, he snarled, “You know better than to touch what belongs to me, Little Brother.”

Riordan scoffed, and Ryker pressed harder against his throat.

“Sure do, you psychopathic tyrant,” he said in a strangled tone.

“Then tell me why I walked intomychambers to findmybrother holdingmymate.”

“Because,” he wheezed, “you’re an asshole, and you did something to upset her, so being the good brother that I am, I tried to comfort her.”

Riordan pushed against Ryker and he released his hold, as his younger brother sucked in large gulps of air.

Ryker crossed his arms over his chest and angled his body so that he had both of us within view.

“Cadence,” he rumbled. “Speak.”

I straightened my shoulders and mimicked his pose. “Why should I? You come in here acting like a godsdamned animal and think you can command me at your will.”

A low chuckle sounded beside Ryker, and he turned his gaze back to Riordan.

“Get out,” he barked as he jutted his chin toward the door.

Riordan glanced in my direction as though he were waiting for my approval. Ryker growled at his brother, but I ignored him and nodded at Riordan.

“All right, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to sort through your issues,” he said. “Of which there are many,” he added under his breath.

“Meet me at the training grounds,” Ryker called after him.

“Of course, My Lord. Anything you command, My Lord,” Riordan replied without looking back in our direction.

When the snick of the lock sounded, Ryker stormed toward me. “Why were you upset?” he demanded.

I raised my chin and met his steely gaze with a glare of my own.

“I owe you no explanation,” I said, unwilling to confess to this maniac that I did not know why I had been crying.

“Cadence,” he growled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You will tell me why I almost murdered my brother.”

“All right. It’s because you have a toxic sense of entitlement, and you have deluded yourself into believing that you own me.”

“There is no delusion involved. I do own you,” Ryker deadpanned.

Warmth spread across my cheeks, and I flung my arms out wide.

“You can’t own a person, Ryker!” I snapped.

Ryker smirked, and my vision turned red.

“Gods! I hate you,” I screamed. “Everything about you is obnoxious and irritating,” I ranted.

He cocked an amused brow that sent my blood boiling inside my veins.

“You know what’s wrong with you,” I said as I poked a finger into his firm chest.

The digit flared in pain, meanwhile, it appeared as though Ryker hadn’t even felt it.

“You’ve had everything handed to you on a silver platter your entire life, and now you think you’re entitled to whatever you want.”

Ryker scoffed and uncrossed his arms. “Hardly, Cadence. There are things I have endured which would make your blood run cold.”

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