Page 84 of Bonded Chaos

Ryker tugged on my hand, and I realized I had stopped walking to take in the view. He led me down a well-worn path, and the trees grew denser as we walked. Branches arched overhead, and the small slivers of sunlight that peeked through the canopy gave the forest an ethereal appearance.

I cast a glance toward Ryker out of the corner of my eye. His usual hard demeanor had disappeared, and his features softened as he navigated the familiar path.

“Do you come here a lot?”

Ryker smiled. And not just any smile. This one was a panty-melting, I’ll-charm-you-out-of-your-first-born type of smile.

“This place,” he murmured, nostalgia lacing his voice, “is where Riordan and I escaped to as children.”

He paused and glanced over his shoulder at me. “It was our secret,” he finished with a crooked grin.

I raised an eyebrow, unable to contain my next question.

“And you’re sharing it with me?”

Ryker stopped walking and turned to face me. His hand, which had felt warm wrapped around my own, now felt searing as heat banked between us.

“I am.”

I swallowed around the lump forming in my throat.

Mercifully, Ryker spared me from having to respond as he pushed aside an overhanging branch to reveal the mouth of a cave nestled against the rocky hillside. A trail of moss wound its way over the rugged stone, and I sucked in a deep breath, relishing the scent of damp earth and fresh rain.

Ryker stepped forward, but I hesitated.

“Is it safe?” I jutted my chin toward the entrance. “Inside, I mean.”

“Perfectly,” he grinned.

His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he tugged me closer. “Trust me.”

I gave him a look that portrayed exactly how little I trusted him, and he laughed, not perturbed in the least.

“Fair,” he conceded. “But you can trust me in this.”

Excitement and apprehension warred within me, but once again, my curiosity won out, and I followed him inside.

The further we ventured, the more difficult it became to see. I found myself trusting Ryker to lead me through unscathed, and for the first time since meeting him, the thought of putting my faith in him didn’t terrify me.

We rounded a corner, and the path opened into a wide cavern. There was a narrow opening above us, and the sunlight filtered down, highlighting the space and giving it an otherworldly glow.

A small pool of water sat at the center of the cave. Gentle ripples danced across the surface and reflected off the stone walls.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, afraid that if I spoke too loudly, I’d break the spell.

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Ryker murmured.

But when I turned to him, Ryker’s gaze wasn’t on the cave or the inviting pool.

He was staring at me.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Cadence

I cleared my throat for no other reason than to escape the intensity of Ryker’s gaze.

“You said you came here to get away.” I turned in his direction and glanced up at him from under my lashes. “From what?”

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