Page 60 of Bonded Chaos

The man hadcollaredme like some fucking pet for the gods’ sake.

I didn’t care about Ryker; I hated him.

Then why did my heart splinter at the reminder of his fiancée?

Could it be the bond pulling me to him?

I chastised myself for even entertaining the thought. There was no bond. Ryker was not my mate. He was an entitled asshole who took what he wanted whenever he pleased. I couldn’t lose sight of what was at stake. The man would kill me if he knew the real me.

The door creaked open behind me, and I stiffened, not yet ready for the confrontation I was certain Ryker was preparing to unleash.

I’d hoped for a moment of peace, a brief escape from the suffocating reality that had become my life.

I exhaled a resigned sigh and turned toward my nemesis. Only it wasn’t Ryker’s gorgeous face that awaited me.

Eight Fae males stepped onto the balcony, each moving with a calculated ease as they formed a loose circle around me. They were an imposing wall of amused grins and curious gazes.

A gentle breeze lifted the hem of my gown, the soft fabric flowing around my ankles, as if in reassurance. But it did nothing to alleviate the sweat beading on the back of my neck.

Dressed in their finery, the men exuded confidence and grace. But there was a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach that warned me whatever their intentions were, I’d only find trouble.

One man stepped forward. He was tall, with dark hair and a mischievous glint in his eye that lacked the warmth Riordan so often emitted. The man leaned against the railing, never takinghis gaze off me as he assessed me with a lazy charm. When his eyes returned to mine, a wolfish grin spread over his face.

“A woman as beautiful as you and I don’t even know your name.”

The man was arrogant enough to expect an answer.

Another man stepped forward. He was shorter than the first, and his smile was playful, almost flirtatious. But he stared at me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.

“You didn’t think your absence would go unnoticed, did you?”

The two men exchanged a predatory grin, and their companions chuckled behind them.

A third man watched me from a distance as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. He stayed silent, his lips curved in a smirk as if daring me to play a game where only he knew the rules.

“What’s a lovely woman like you doing out here all alone?” another man asked, drawing my attention.

I stepped back, and the cool metal of the banister pressed into the base of my spine.

The first man leered at me, his pleasure in my discomfort gleaming in the dark depths of his eyes.

A fourth man, perhaps the least threatening one of the group, stuffed his hands into his pockets as he turned his head slightly to observe me.

Cursing my cowardice, I straightened and adopted a relaxed aura as I allowed a small smile to play on my lips. Underneath the surface of my calm veneer, a raging inferno was burning as I calculated the best way to extricate myself from the situation.

“I’m still waiting.”

“How presumptuous of you.”

Laughter burst from the group, and the first man’s face flushed crimson.

Despite my discomfort, a small thrill coursed through me as I matched their audacity with my poise.

“She’s too smart to be overcome by your charms, Lucas,” a fifth man chuckled as he slapped his friend on the shoulder.

“And what are you gallant men hoping to achieve by following me out here?”

Surprised laughter broke out at my forwardness, but I didn’t miss the hint of aggression present in the sound.

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