Page 80 of Bonded Chaos

“May the gods have mercy,” Riordan muttered under his breath. “You must court the woman, Ryker. Let her get to know you. Show her there is more to you than the disagreeable asshole you’ve presented her with so far… despite how tiny that fraction of your personality may be.”

“Even when you mutter, Riordan, I can still hear you.”

“Lords and ladies, behold! The mancanlisten.”

“You’re lucky you are my brother, or else I would have killed you eons ago.”

“A thank you would suffice.”

“Thank you,” I deadpanned.

“You’re welcome,” my brother beamed. “Just don’t fuck it up!”

Riordan clapped me on the shoulder, then turned and strode down the hall, disappearing into the shadows from which he’d emerged.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for the task ahead.

I could do this.

I could court my mate.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Cadence

A knock at the door pulled me from my misery. I’d burrowed beneath the covers of Ryker’s impossibly comfortable bed, and I was content to stay there.

A second knock sounded, and I released a resigned sigh. The sooner I handled whoever was at the door, the sooner I could return to my pity party.

“Come in.”

I didn’t bother getting out of bed. If their visit was so urgent, they could deal with my current bedraggled state.

The door creaked open, revealing a woman I’d never seen before. She was tall and slender, with pale skin and even paler hair, which she had pulled back into a tight braid. Her clothing was simple, her dress a muted shade of green. It was the kind of practical attire that marked her as a servant of the palace.

She moved further into the room with soft steps and practiced grace. In her hands, she carried a small silver tray with a glass vial resting in the center.

“Good morning, My Lady,” she greeted. “My name is Odette, and I have come to deliver your daily fertility tonic.”

Her sweet, reassuring tone contrasted sharply with her alert gaze, making me uneasy. I kept my eyes fixed on her as she lowered the tray to the nightstand.

“Scarlette is usually the one who brings me my treatment.”

Odette straightened and gave me an encouraging smile. “I am the Matron of the healers who work within the palace. Normally, I’d have another healer or maid bring your tonic, but I like to check in on my patients myself now and then.”

She picked up the glass vial and offered it to me. Her eyes flicked over me with a hint of something I couldn’t quite place.

I shifted my position on the bed so that I was upright and leaning against the headboard.

“Thank you,” I said as I took the small bottle.

I studied the amber liquid inside it before removing the stopper. A familiar herbal scent wafted from it, but it did little to appease my suspicions.

I wouldn’t put it past Celeste to try to poison me at the first opportunity. But Odette didn’t know I was a healer, capable of identifying countless toxins even in my sleep.

Deciding this was the perfect time to see if Celeste was so bold, I feigned ignorance and played along.

“Should I look for anything specific?”

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