Page 121 of Bonded Chaos

Riordan gave me a pained smile as he cupped my cheek in his palm.

“There was never any escaping him, sweetheart,” he murmured. “You and I both know that once Ryker got his hands on you, he’d never let you go. I promise you I am going to dowhatever I can to help you regain yourself along the way, but for now, we need to focus on keeping you safe.”

Concern tightened Riordan’s features, and a small piece of my armor fell away.

While he might be right, I stillwasn’t ready to lose myself to Ryker’s will.

Though it didn’t seem like I had much of a choice.

Riordan wrapped my hand in his as he led me back to Ryker, who was pacing in front of the altar. He gave me one last nod before he stepped aside, rejoining Malesh and Eamon.

“Are you ready, dear?” the Priest asked.

I dipped my chin, and Ryker reclaimed my hands as he stared down at me.

Letting out a controlled breath, I said, “I, Cadence Tiernan, bind myself to you, Ryker Ashborne.”

I didn’t bother with his title because the gods knew he deserved nothing further from me.

“With the gods as my witness, I vow to be your ruination and make you regret ever treating me less than I deserve.”

A groan sounded behind me, but I didn’t pull my gaze away from the Fae prince standing before me. The ghost of a smile flickered across Ryker’s face, and he nodded for the Priest to continue.

The man raised his arms and chanted in the old Fae tongue. When he was done, a golden light shone from his palms, and he placed his hands over our joined ones.

“The gods accept your vows and bind you as Husband and Wife, in this life and the next.”

A jolt of pain ran through me with his declaration before it slowly receded. Ryker pulled me close and pressed his forehead to mine.

“You’re mine, Cadence.”

Both triumph and relief colored his tone.

“Forever,” he murmured.

I closed my eyes, and a small tear streaked down my cheek at the finality of his words.

Ryker gripped my chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him. His penetrating gaze searched my face before he crashed his lips against mine.

I didn’t fight him, instead letting him devour me as I lost myself in the distraction his kiss provided.

When he pulled away, I rested my cheek against his muscular chest.

“I will never forgive you for this, Ryker,” I whispered, and I felt his body stiffen at my words.

“I don’t seek your forgiveness, Cadence, only your safety.”

He thought he was protecting me, but he was the biggest threat of all.

Ryker stepped back, his large hand once again engulfing mine.

“Come, wife. You need to rest.”

As Ryker led me out of the chamber, I replayed the events that had brought me to this moment. My mind was a riot of emotions, each fighting for dominance as I tried to quiet the noise inside my head. Ryker’s actions ignited a furious blaze within me, leaving me reeling from the chaos he created.

Above all that, however, was a tiny sliver of emotion I hadn’t dared to name until now.

I was going to have a child, Ryker’s child, and that knowledge filled me with… hope.

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