Page 35 of Bonded Chaos

“All I meant was that Ryker often bewitched his possessions when we were children, and if I ever tried to play with them, there was always some sort of trap waiting for me. I didn’t mean to implyyouwere a possession.”

He flashed me an apologetic smile, and I felt my anger fade. Why was that one expression so damn endearing?

“What happened when you touched it?” I asked, changing topics.

“It shocked me!”

I didn’t miss the outraged indignation in Riordan’s voice.

Riordan’s face turned serious, and he placed a hand over his heart before dipping into a low bow.

“On behalf of my brother, I apologize for his unwavering stupidity.”

A chuckle bubbled up my throat, and before I knew it, I was shaking with raucous laughter. Riordan lifted his head, and his features split into a wide grin.

“I’m sorry to interrupt whatever bonding session is going on here,” a rough, masculine voice said from behind me.

I didn’t need to turn to know exactly who it was.

Gooseflesh rose on my skin, and my heart thundered against my ribcage as if it were trying to reach him.

When I turned, grey eyes locked with mine.

I had no time to be swept away by Ryker’s intense gaze, however, as he clutched an unconscious man in his arms, who was bleeding profusely.

Riordan swore under his breath before asking Ryker what had happened.

Ryker’s gaze remained fixed on me.

“You will help him.”

It wasn’t a question. He was telling me what was about to unfold.

I opened my mouth to argue, but some emotion I couldn’t quite detect flashed across Ryker’s face, and it left me feeling unsettled.

I glanced away to break the hold Ryker had over me and inhaled a deep breath.

This was something I could control, and it brought me a certain level of comfort.

I rolled my sleeves up to my elbows and gave Ryker a curt nod.

“Put him on the bed.”

Chapter Fourteen

Cadence

The scent of blood hung thick in the air, sharp and cloying.

“I need a bowl of water and some cloth,” I called as I examined the man lying inert on Ryker’s bed.

“I’ll get it,” Riordan answered before he sprinted from the room.

“What was he hit with?”

Careful not to jostle the injury, I peeled the crimson-stained fabric from the man’s side.

“An arrow,” Ryker rumbled.

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