Page 97 of Bonded Chaos

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. “And what do you think she’ll understand if some bastard from court stumbles across her before I do and considers her fair game?”

Riordan flinched, and I fought to control my anger. However foolish, Riordan’s intention stemmed from a desire to help Cadence feel more at home in our dark world, and I couldn’t fault him for that.

Sighing, I said, “There is a reason I keep her on such a tight leash, Riordan. I can grant her some freedom, but only when my men or I are there to protect her. Out here,” — I waved my hand toward the trees — “anything goes.”

The forest grew eerily quiet, and the sound of distant hooves faded as the hunters moved further away. But the silence only amplified the feeling that something sinister waited inside the woods. Every rustling leaf was a warning. Every whisper of the wind carried an echo of the hunt. I had to reach her before the night stole her from me.

“I’m going after her,” I declared, leaving no room for argument. “Nobody touches her, understood? If you catch even the slightest hint that a hunter is closing in on her, stop them by any means necessary.”

Malesh gave a single nod, his eyes steady and dark. “Understood.”

“What do you need me to do?” Riordan asked as he lifted his chin and straightened his shoulders.

“I need you to stay here with Malesh and Eamon. Take over my post as Warden of the Hunt. Can you do that for me?”

Riordan nodded his head in agreement. “What are you going to do?”

My body thrummed with a wicked sort of excitement as the thrill of the chase coursed through my veins. My senses became sharper, more primal, and I listened to the sounds of the forest as I tried to discern which way she may have gone. The sounds of pleasure met my ears as the revelers immersed themselves in the hunt, allowing all their dark and depraved desires to flow freely.

Cadence was out there somewhere, hidden and waiting. Anticipation coiled tight in my gut, and I swung my leg over my mount. I wouldn’t stop until she was back in my grasp.

The knowledge that she had defied my every order, every warning, just so she could throw herself among the chaos, made a shiver of desire race down my spine. Her defiance was both infuriating and arousing.

I would find her. And when I did, I would ensure that she understood the consequences of defying me.

“I’m going to hunt down my mate.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Cadence

“You just had to run headfirst into the forest, completely unprepared and ill-equipped, didn’t you, Cadence?” I berated myself as my dress snagged on another outstretched branch that almost had me kissing the dirt beneath my boots.

“I’m sure Ryker will learn his lesson when you fall and break your neck, all because you couldn’t see a godsdamned thing in this cursed forest and tripped over your own feet! Too bad you won’t be around to enjoy it.”

As if to demonstrate my point, my boot got caught in a gnarled root, and I went careening to the ground. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and I gasped as I tried to suck in oxygen so frigid it burned.

I screamed to the heavens, cursing the gods for my current predicament, even though I knew this one was entirely my fault. Nearby, a shrill squeal sounded, followed by masculine laughter that seemed to reverberate off every tree trunk as they drew closer.

“Perfect! Just announce to everyone where you are. Well done, Cadence.”

I pushed myself up from the ground, but the foliage beneath my boots was slick, and I stumbled, catching myself on a low-hanging branch.

A hiss of pain escaped me as the limb scraped against my hand. Even in the dim lighting, I could make out the blood gathering in my palm.

Focusing my attention on the sounds of the forest, I listened intently as I tried to determine if anyone was close. The couple I’d heard a moment ago had changed course, moving in the opposite direction. When no other noises met my ears, I spared some time to heal my hand.

My magic rumbled to life beneath my skin, and I sighed with relief. I wasn’t used to going so long without summoning it, and the rush of euphoria I felt was like wildfire racing through my veins, igniting every nerve until I hummed with raw, unbridled energy.

My injured palm pulsed as the torn edges of my flesh knitted themselves back together. Slowly, the blood stopped pooling asthe unseen threads of my power drew it back into my body. The skin on my hand reformed as my magic set about mending the assaulted tissue until my flesh was unblemished once more.

My legs, trembling with exhaustion moments ago, now felt strong and revitalized. Even my breath flowed easier. I retracted my earlier curses and thanked the gods for gifting me with the ability to keep myself whole and set off again with renewed vigor.

I’d only been running for a few minutes when I spotted the outline of a large fallen tree. When I reached it, I slipped beneath it as I pressed myself into the narrow crevice where the roots met the ground.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to shield me from prying eyes while I took stock of my surroundings and planned my escape route. I was bowing out of the Wild Hunt at the earliest opportunity. I craved a warm mug of tea and the comfort of Ryker’s bed more than I needed to assert myself, at least for now.

The snap of a branch nearby had me sucking in a ragged breath. The crunch of dead leaves quickly followed, and I made out the low murmur of voices. Closing my eyes, I willed myself to disappear into the shadows.

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