Page 142 of Bonded Chaos

I exhaled, but it came out sounding more like a growl.

“The point is, the palace isn’t safe right now. I don’t trust anyone.”

“You can always leave her with me. I’m pretty sure she prefers my company anyway, and we’d have fun together. We could braid each other’s hair, share your darkest secrets, and practice cursing you,” he offered with a smile.

I stopped my pacing and turned toward my brother.

“Not a time for jokes. Noted,” he muttered under his breath.

When he returned his gaze to mine, he studied me for the longest time. “Gods, you’re scared, aren’t you?”

It wasn’t really a question, but a statement.

"I can’t recall a single occasion when you were ever afraid… until now."

I shook my head and resumed my pacing, not wanting him to see the truth of his words.

“We’ll protect her, Ryker, but not by smothering her. You’ll need to trust her enough to let her be a part of this. She’s not some fragile damsel, and you know it.”

“She’s resilient,” I agreed. “But she is reckless. Not telling me about her magic wasn’t a smart choice.”

Riordan rose from his armchair and came to stand in front of me. “Try to see it from her perspective,” he said, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “Our kingdom has hunted the Wraith Borne for decades, and you’ve led that charge.”

I glared at my brother, but he merely shrugged.

“When did you become so fucking reasonable?” I sighed.

“I’ve always been the reasonable one. Your thick head just never appreciated it.”

A laugh broke free of my chest, and I felt lighter, like some of the weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

“I’m going to get started,” Riordan announced as he moved toward his desk. “I’ll spread some misinformation about unrest in the outer regions, too. That way, if anyone’s sniffing around, they’ll have something else to chase.”

“Thank you, Riordan.”

As I headed for the door, Riordan called after me, stopping me in my tracks.

“Let Cadence out of your chambers, Ryker. Tell her what’s going on and invite her input. If you treat her like a child or asif she’s a problem you need to solve, you’re going to lose her. And a woman like Cadence, well, you’d be foolish to let her slip between your fingers.”

Without another word, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

I hated that he was right.

What I hated even more was the insidious voice in my head telling me it was already too late.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Cadence

Ryker had confined me to his chambers, disappearing without any hint of where he was going, and left me to stew in my roiling emotions.

Again.

He’d cut me off from the outside world with no means of escape, holding me prisoner until he decided my fate.

That thought churned in my mind as I paced before the locked door.

My body was rigid with tension, and the collar that adorned my throat felt tighter and tighter as the minutes ticked by. I pressed my fingers to the cool metal, and a shudder raced down my spine. The delicate twists and knots were a cruel reminder of the power Ryker held over me.

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