Page 91 of Bonded Chaos

“I said that I would prove you could trust me to take care of you, that I would keep you safe. This is me keeping that promise.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. When his tongue darted out and swiped at my bottom lip, demanding entrance, I opened for him. Ryker kissed me with a punishing force, as though his tongue alone could make me submit to him.

Before he could pull away from me, I bit down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste exploded acrossmy tongue, and I let my satisfied smirk lift the corner of my mouth.

Ryker lifted a finger to his brutalized lip and brushed the crimson substance aside with his thumb. His eyes darkened, but not from rage.

A low, raspy chuckle escaped him, and I felt it all the way to my toes.

“Behave yourself, Cadence,” he warned before he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead.

He pushed off the wall and stepped back. “I’ll return in a few hours.”

Without another word, he left the room.

I moved to face the window as I watched the preparations continue to unfold in the courtyard beneath me. Men were saddling horses, loading them with various weapons and furs, while the women inspected their footwear and stashed small drinking skins about their person.

Not for the first time, I wondered what the Wild Hunt entailed.

A familiar mane of white-blond hair came into view as Ryker stepped into the courtyard. Malesh moved toward him as he led a large obsidian warhorse by the reins. Ryker took the proffered reins from Malesh’s outstretched hand and swung into the saddle.

As if sensing my eyes on him, Ryker twisted in his seat and glanced up at me. Mirth sparkled in his gaze, and he winked at me.

I rolled my eyes in response, but I was secretly pleased I still held his attention.

My gaze darted to another familiar head of hair, and I scowled as my eyes locked with Celeste’s. She gave me a victorious grin and a condescending wave as she headed toward Ryker. When she reached him, she placed her small palm on his forearm. Ididn’t get the chance to see Ryker’s response as a deep masculine voice sounded from behind me.

“That’s a very short leash you allow him to keep you on, sweetheart.”

I spun around, my fingers flying to the base of my throat as I screamed. Riordan shushed me as he waved his hands in my direction.

“You don’t want him storming back in here, do you? It would ruin all the fun I have planned for us.”

“Riordan, what the hell are you doing lurking in Ryker’s chambers?” I panted when I finally regained the capacity to speak.

“From what I saw earlier, they’re as much your chambers now as they are his.”

He made a sickening kissing sound, and I cringed.

“Stalking is unbecoming, Riordan.”

He snorted. “Have you mentioned that to Ryker? Because in case you forgot, he’s the one with the problem.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Tell me what you’re doing here,” I demanded. “And next time, announce yourself like a normal person. Better still, use the cursed door.”

Riordan shook his head and chuckled as if I were being ridiculous. A broad grin spread across his face, and he threw his arms wide.

“I have come to rescue you from your tower, dear Maiden,” he said with an exaggerated bow.

He lifted his gaze to mine, and the teasing glint I saw in his eyes told me that whatever his plans were, they would most certainly lead to trouble.

“The Wild Hunt awaits, My Lady.”

Oh, Ryker would not be pleased.

And that thought only heightened my anticipation.

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