Page 67 of Bonded Chaos

I curled my palms into fists as I inwardly cursed my stupidity for playing right into his game.

“Careful, Father,” I warned. “Lest you forget what you stand to lose.”

Namely, your head.

“Oh, I know exactly what’s at stake here, Ryker,” he smirked. “And so do you.”

“I hope you’re not threatening me, Father. That would be extremely unwise.”

My father chuckled without mirth. “There’s no need for threats, my son.”

He leaned forward and steepled his fingers under his chin.

“As long as you obey my commands, you don’t have to worry. No harm will come to your pretty little mate.”

A low growl erupted from my throat, and I stalked toward him.

“What makes you think I won’t end your reign here and now for even entertaining the idea?”

My father smirked up at me.

“This kingdom has your loyalty, Ryker, though they don’t know it. But I do.”

My father gripped the armrests of his throne, and his voice became hard and cold.

“I know the lengths you’ve gone to in protecting the Unseelie. Killing me now would only plunge the kingdom into civil war. I’m betting on the fact that you don’t want that.”

I wanted to throw my head back and laugh at his foolishness. He had no idea what motivated me. I had gone to extreme lengths to defend the kingdom, but not for the Unseelie Fae, as he so arrogantly assumed.

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Father. It might just be worth it.”

He lifted his shoulder in a half-shrug, calling my bluff.

Silence stretched between us, and the longer I didn’t tear him limb from limb, the more confident my father became.

“I don’t care if that woman is your mate. Youwillmarry Celeste, and soon.”

“You will live to regret this day, Father,” I sneered.

“Perhaps,” he mused. “But today is not that day.”

I studied the man before me, searching for the father he had once been.

But that man was no longer living.

He had died right alongside my mother.

I turned on my heel and marched out of the throne room. I’d painted a target on Cadence’s back, and I would need to do everything in my power to keep her safe.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ryker

I paced the dimly lit library. Shadows flickered along the wall, and the light cast by the sconces made them appear monstrous, malevolent.

The familiar smell of leather-bound books and parchment did little to soothe my raging emotions. I’d been a fool today and had shown my hand to the one man who would stop at nothing to use it against me.

I ran my fingers through my hair in agitation, gripping the strands and pulling tight. My anger was a living, breathing entity inside me, and all I wanted to do was scream my wrath to the heavens above.

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