Page 54 of Bonded Chaos

His tone was deceptively light, and my eyes narrowed in suspicion. He lowered his sword, resting his forearm on the pommel.

Apparently, our training session was over.

A chorus of disgruntled groans came from the women watching before they resumed their day.

Sweat coated every inch of me, and Malesh handed me a waterskin. Eamon moved to my other side as all three men watched me expectantly.

“Fine,” I grumbled.

Knowing smirks spread across their faces, and I snarled before I lifted the waterskin to my lips and drank greedily.

These fuckers were far too pleased with my current predicament.

“Is the bond developing?” Malesh pressed, his tone turning serious.

The bond was growing despite Cadence’s reluctance to embrace it. Even now, I could feel it flourishing inside me as it beckoned me to her.

The bond’s pull could drive a man insane.

“It is.”

“But?” Eamon pushed.

“But… I’m no closer to convincing Cadence to accept it.”

For a moment, everyone was silent. Then deafening laughter erupted all around me.

“You thought she’d just fall into line after you forced her to stay,” Eamon teased.

When I said nothing, Eamon balked. “Gods, you did, didn’t you?”

I shrugged as I met Riordan’s concerned gaze.

“Ryker, you need to make this work,” he almost pleaded. “Not only for the power it gives you — though that’s reason enough — but because she’s a weakness.”

The thought of anyone harming Cadence to get to me, pulled a growl from my throat before I could stop it.

“You can’t protect her, and therefore yourself, if she is always trying to escape,” Riordan finished, ignoring my interruption.

“He has a point,” Malesh added.

“Let me ask you this,” Riordan said, as he gripped his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you love her?”

Love?

My feelings for Cadence were violent and unrelenting, searing my flesh and destroying everything in their wake. She was the only constant in my mind, immovable and uncompromising.

But love?

That word felt too pure, too sweet, too… mundane.

What I felt for Cadence… it was an unyielding obsession.

“How do you know if you’re in love?” I asked instead of answering.

A collective groan sounded at my question.

“Is she always on your mind?” Malesh asked.

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