Page 147 of Bonded Chaos

I turned away from my brother, my hands trembling as I gripped the armchair.

“There is no reality in this life or the next where Cadence isn’t mine. I don’t care if she hates me,” I said, my voice straining. “All that matters is that she’s alive. So long as she is safe, she can hate me to her heart’s content.”

When Riordan remained silent, I turned to face him. His gaze was trained on me, and his eyes were full of pity.

I didn’t want his fucking pity. I wanted my mate.

“Then we need to move,” he said, sensing my thoughts.

Riordan stalked toward the door, but paused. “What will you do when we bring her back?”

I clenched my jaw at his unspoken accusation. “She is safest with me, Riordan.”

“She’s safest when she trusts you, and right now, you’re giving her every reason to keep running.”

He didn’t spare me a second glance as he strode from the room.

My shadows writhed, feeding off my agitation. Riordan was right, but that knowledge did nothing to quell the incessant urge I felt to bind Cadence to me in any way I could. A primal drive pushed me to possess her, control her, and keep her by my side forever.

I suddenly understood what it might feel like to lose your mate. How your mind would descend into madness until only a rotten soul remained.

I gained a newfound understanding of what my father endured, though I could never forgive him for what he’d done.

As I strode from my chambers with renewed purpose, I was once again consumed by a single focus.

Find Cadence and return her to where she belongs.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Cadence

My breathing was ragged as I ran through the forest, reminding me once more that my stamina needed improvement. Regret clenched my chest at the thought of never training withMalesh again. The stoic warrior had grown on me despite his disinterest in the spoken word.

A twig snapped in the distance, and the sound of heavy boots trampling through the undergrowth reached me. Blood pounded in my ears, and my heart slammed against my ribcage frantically.

I knew exactly who was pursuing me. I could feel Ryker closing in around me through the bond.

“We have to move faster,” Eleanor hissed as she dragged me through the trees. “They are gaining on us.”

My lungs burned with every inhale, and my legs trembled under the unrelenting pace. We weren’t going to outrun Ryker. It was only a matter of time before he caught us.

“You go. I’ll create a diversion so you can escape,” I said.

“After all the effort I exerted to free you, not a chance.”

The tip of my boot got hooked on an exposed root, and I stumbled. I would have fallen if not for Eleanor’s quick reflexes. She gripped my upper arm and yanked me upright with surprising strength.

“I don’t understand how he’s still tracking us. The binding of the collar was broken.”

“It’s the bond,” I heaved out between ragged breaths.

Eleanor stopped abruptly, and I slammed into her.

“What did you just say?”

She flattened her lips into a grimace, and her tone sent a wave of unease crashing into me.

“He is my mate,” I whispered, and I realized it was the first time I had acknowledged it out loud.

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