Page 76 of Bonded Chaos

Furious tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

“How could I ever forget? You collared me like a fucking animal.”

I wrapped my fingers around the cool metal that adorned my throat. “Whenever I see this, I am reminded of how little you think of me.”

My breath was coming in short, sharp gasps, and I was losing the battle to keep my tears at bay.

“She called me your pet, Ryker.”

I’d meant to fire the words at him so he would feel them like a physical blow, but my emotions had taken over, and they escaped me on a broken sob.

Ryker’s eyes hardened, and he stared down at me as though I were a puzzle he needed to solve. But a flicker of some emotion, something dark, crossed his features, and then he lifted his thumb to catch the tears sliding down my cheek. Unable to bear the weight of his penetrating gaze any longer, I turned away from him, burying my face in the pillows.

“Celeste overstepped, Cadence, and I will ensure she knows just how badly she fucked up,” he murmured.

He didn’t get it. How could he? He’d never experienced the loss of anything as precious as his autonomy.

I wasn’t crying because Celeste had threatened my life. My tears flowed because he had finally broken me, and the man was too arrogant to understand the difference.

“What am I to you, Ryker?” I murmured, cutting through the tense silence.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you are betrothed to Celeste, and you intend to marry her, no? She will be your queen, she will bear your heirs, and she will stand at your side when it is time for you to sit on the throne. Where will that leave me? Your dirty little secret? Your mistress,concubine, what? Do you have so little regard for me you would rob me of my future for your own selfish desires?”

When he didn’t answer, I turned to look at him.

Ryker studied me for the longest moment before he released a resigned sigh.

“It’s not that simple, Cadence.”

“Of course it is,” I scoffed.

Ryker’s eyes narrowed, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. He pushed off me and resumed his place against the headboard.

“There are things at play that you aren’t aware of, Cadence. Celeste’s family maintains a position of power in the Unseelie Court, and they contribute many resources to the kingdom’s coffers. Disavowing her right now would be extremely unwise.”

I barked out a laugh. The sound was harsh as it reverberated throughout the room.

“So, you keep her close while I’m to suffer the consequences?” I lifted my chin, my voice hard as I stared him down. “How very noble of you, Ryker. You get the benefits of power, the stability of her family’s resources, and me.”

“Mind your tone, Cadence,” Ryker warned, his voice dangerously low, but I refused to concede.

“What will you do?” I challenged. “Kill me? If I am to suffer the life you so graciously offer me, I think I would prefer the freedom of death than remaining in your vile company for a second longer.”

Ryker jumped from the bed, his shoulders heaving as he ground his teeth together. Then he closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath. When he opened them again, pain, or remorse perhaps, stared back at me. For a moment, he looked almost vulnerable, as if my words had cut straight to his core.

Then his usual mask of coldness fell into place, and he retreated behind the walls he wore like armor.

“This is about survival, Cadence. I will not jeopardize that for your petty jealousies.”

“Jealousy,” I breathed. “You think this is about jealousy?”

My voice rose as indignant fury washed through me once more.

“This is about my life, Ryker. You’ve stolen my future from me! And you don’t even have the decency to treat me with respect. You collared me, so I can’t leave, yet you parade another woman around in front of the masses. You have made sure I am dependent on you for everything, keeping me at your mercy while you entertain yourself with your cruel games.”

My chin quivered, and I cursed myself for showing any weakness. I didn’t know how to make him understand. Ryker had never been denied anything in his life, including me.

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