Page 39 of Bonded Chaos

Lost in the spring’s beauty, I’d forgotten about the men trailing me. I turned to appraise him, and a wicked grin spread across my face. Malesh groaned as if he already knew what was coming next.

“Eyes downcast.”

His panicked tone made me chuckle, but their obvious discomfort did not dissuade me. The spring was so inviting that it felt wrong not to bask in nature’s beauty.

I wasted no time as I kicked off my boots and slid my dress from my shoulders until it pooled in a soft heap on the ground. When I reached for my undergarments, I hesitated, debating whether or not to remove them, knowing Ryker would lose his mind if he learned I was naked in front of his men.

Then I reminded myself that Ryker was a bastard, and I didn’t care what he thought about my choices. He could do with some discomfort in his life. The gods knew he had more than earned it.

I slipped out of my panties and stepped toward the spring. The smooth stones were cold against my feet as I slowly waded into the water. A shiver raced through me as it reached my knees, then my thighs.

I took a deep breath before diving forward until I was fully submerged beneath the cool liquid. When I broke the surface, my wet strands clung to my skin as droplets streamed down my cheeks.

I tipped my head toward the heavens as I let the sun warm my face. Swimming to the center of the pool, I rolled onto my back and allowed the gentle current to move me as I floated on the surface. The weightlessness of my body was freeing. For a moment, I could forget everything and allow my mind to escape.

I laughed softly to myself, and the sound echoed in the stillness.

I didn’t know how long I lay there, letting the water lap at my bare skin as it loosened my tight, achy muscles.

The feeling of unseen eyes raked over me, and I dipped beneath the water. Not that it would do much to conceal my nakedness, given its pristine state.

I glanced toward the shore, and my eyes clashed with murderous, grey ones.

Ryker stood before his men, his corded arms crossed over his broad chest as he clenched his jaw tight. I fought the urge to slink away from the fuming prince. He had no right to be upset. I would make the most of my gilded prison, irrespective of his fragile feelings.

“Come here, Cadence. Now.”

His voice rumbled over my flesh with a ferocity that was more tantalizing than it was intimidating, and gods damn it, my nipples pebbled.

I waded toward the shore and raised my chin before striding out of the water, making no effort to conceal my nakedness.

Ryker’s gaze darkened as he took me in, and then, remembering we had an audience, he growled, “If you value breathing, you will keep your eyes off my mate.”

The violence that dripped from his tone should have terrified me, but it didn’t.

Instead, my core throbbed, and liquid fire pooled at the apex of my thighs.

Ryker stormed toward me, and I heard him mutter, “I cannot kill my men. I cannot kill my men. I cannot kill my men.”

His large hands reached for me, and he pulled my damp body against his chest. Ryker’s warm breath fanned across the shell of my ear, and he whispered, “Oh, sweet Cadence. You are in so much trouble.”

Before I could respond, dark shadows formed around us, and then everything disappeared.

Chapter Sixteen

Cadence

My feet hit solid ground, and I fell forward as I struggled to right myself.

Traversing Ryker’s shadows had been a disconcerting experience, and I felt the need to hold myself together as thoughI had somehow broken apart and then reformed on the other side.

Of course, Ryker had no such qualms. He moved with a predator’s grace, not the least bit ruffled by our journey.

I glanced around, realizing that I now stood in the middle of Ryker’s bedchamber.

Naked.

A shudder ran through me as I tried to cover myself, and when I met Ryker’s steel-grey eyes, a malicious glint stared back at me.

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