Page 93 of Bonded Chaos

“Anyway, whenever he had an… episode, he often became violent. One day, Ryker walked in on him beating me half to death.”

I gasped, and my fingers flew to my mouth. Overwhelming sorrow filled me at the thought of something so horrible happening to Riordan. His carefree, charismatic nature masked a dark past, and I’d been none the wiser.

“I was nine, Ryker was thirteen, and he didn’t hesitate to jump between us. He shielded my body with his and took whatever blows my father dished out. He didn’t so much as move to protect himself. All he cared about was protecting me.”

An icy gust of wind blasted us, and an eerie howl tore through the corridor with Riordan’s words, as though the stone walls were crying out in protest.

“When Ryker turned fifteen, he truly came into his power. He could have leveled the kingdom, bathed the land in blood, andtaken the throne from my father that day.” Riordan sucked in a sharp breath. “And every day since.”

He murmured the last part so softly I couldn’t tell if he meant for me to hear it.

Having seen Ryker’s strength, I shuddered at the thought of what he may be capable of when pushed too far.

“Why didn’t he?” The words slipped free before I could stop them.

Riordan raised his head to look at me. Sadness lingered in his eyes, shadowed by something else… regret, perhaps.

“I was at my mother’s side when she took her final breath. She gripped my tiny hand in hers and made me promise that I would take care of the kingdom and our people. My mother was a good queen, someone who loved passionately and cared deeply. She also knew her sons. Ryker had little interest in becoming king, but she knew he would become what the Unseelie Fae needed. My mother asked me to guide Ryker, to stand by him and help him, even when his pride kept him from asking.”

Riordan’s grin was infectious, and a slow smile spread across my own lips despite myself.

“So,” he continued, “I made Ryker promise me he would never do anything to compromise the kingdom. That he wouldn’t let his impulses destroy the very thing our mother fought so hard to protect.”

Riordan sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“I know Ryker is a dick and a pain to be around, but not everything he does comes from selfishness.”

“Only most things,” I teased, and Riordan rolled his eyes with dramatic effect, making me chuckle.

“A part of him still clings to the oath he swore to his baby brother,” he said sheepishly. “If you give him the chance to show you the side of him that I see, you won’t regret it.”

“Those descriptions are far too mild for Ryker,” I mused. “How about evil incarnate? Or a demon made flesh?”

Riordan barked out a laugh, then said, “You’re right, but you know what I mean.”

I smiled back at him, glad to see the earlier shadow of sadness had disappeared from his features.

“Now, are we joining the Wild Hunt or not?”

I met his eager grin with one of my own.

“Lead on.”

I swept my hand out in front of me, and Riordan stepped past me as he continued down the corridor. We walked for another ten minutes or so, taking four more turns before we reached… a wall.

I studied the tapestry that adorned the stone. A headless man stood tall, sword raised, as battle raged around him.

“Interesting choice,” I muttered.

Riordan chuckled under his breath before pushing the woven cloth aside to reveal a passageway.

“Come on.”

We stepped into a dark tunnel, and a flame appeared in Riordan’s palm.

“Fire Fae,” he grinned.

“Impressive,” I said, inclining my head. “What is this place?”

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