Page 141 of Bonded Chaos

“Complicated doesn’t begin to cover it,” I scoffed.

Leaning forward in his chair, Riordan rested his elbows on his thighs.

“What do you need me to do, Ryker?” he asked, and the sincerity in his tone made my chest tighten.

“The fact that she’s Wraith Borne doesn’t give you pause?”

“Of course not!” he scowled as he eyed me.

I had hoped my brother wouldn’t hesitate to help Cadence, but I still wanted him to know he had a choice. I would not force him to confront the ghosts of his past.

“I need access to your network. I need to find out who sent that assassin after her and if it’s connected to her magic.”

Riordan nodded in agreement. “If anyone else is aware of her power…”

“I know,” I growled. “She’ll be hunted by the Court, our father, and everyone in between.”

Riordan offered me a pained smile. “If there’s even a whisper out there, I promise you, Ryker, I’ll find it.”

“Thank you, Riordan.”

My brother angled his head as he appraised me. “Where is Cadence now?”

When I failed to respond, Riordan groaned as he ran a hand down his face.

“You locked her in your chambers again, didn’t you?”

“For her safety,” I said through gritted teeth. “I needed her to stay put until I figured out what to do. My chambers are the safest place for her right now.”

“The same place an assassin entered undetected and almost killed her?” he challenged.

I opened my mouth to argue, but fuck him, he was right.

“Besides, that’s not safety, Ryker. That’s imprisonment.”

I stiffened, my whole body bristling at his challenge.

Riordan waved a dismissive hand between us. “Let’s set aside your draconian methods for now and focus on the real problem. Do you have any idea who could have sent an assassin after her?”

“My immediate thought was Celeste, but it’s not her style.”

Riordan grunted in agreement, and I scratched at the stubble lining my chin.

“Whoever it was, they knew enough to get close,” I mused. “It wasn’t random. They understood when to attack and where.”

“Do you think they know about her magic?” he pressed.

“I didn’t even know about her magic,” I muttered, “but I guess it’s a possibility.”

Riordan’s eyes darkened, and I saw the wheels turning in his mind. “I’ll start digging.”

Unable to take being idle for a moment longer, I stood and began pacing.

“You’ll need her cooperation if you’re going to get to the bottom of this,” Riordan said, breaking the tense silence. “Locking her up won’t help you achieve that.”

“I fucking know that, Riordan. You think I enjoy locking her away?”

Riordan gave me a pointed look.

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