Page 118 of Bonded Chaos

“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.”

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