Page 14 of Bonded Chaos

I grabbed a bottle of wine and a goblet from the cabinet. My gaze flicked to my brother, who watched me with keen interest as I poured.

Extending the bottle toward him, I topped up his goblet before replacing the cork and stowing the wine. I took a deep gulp, as if the answers I required lay at the bottom.

The cool liquid glided across my tongue, awakening my taste buds as bursts of ripe berries comforted me. Slowly, the more complex, earthy tones of the wine followed, making me think of the woods in the fall.

I wanted to savor the moment, but I could feel the penetrating gaze of my brother boring into me.

Lowering my goblet, I met my brother’s gaze, and he took a sip of his wine as he watched me intently.

“She is my mate.”

Warm liquid splashed across my face, followed by the sound of coughing and wheezing. Riordan hunched over his knees, hisgoblet abandoned on the table as he struggled to fill his lungs with oxygen.

I should have been concerned for my brother, but all I felt was disgust.

He had spat his wine all over my face upon my admission.

Warm wine.

Made so from being in his mouth.

Disgust seemed appropriate under the circumstances.

“Are you done?” I barked.

Riordan put his hand up, signaling for me to wait a moment. When he finally recovered, he stared at me as if I were a stranger.

“Did you say mate?” he eventually managed.

“Yes, and if you’re wise, you won’t speak those words inside these walls again.”

Riordan’s wide grin instantly dropped. “You can’t let Father find out who she is to you,” he warned.

“I know,” I growled as I ran my hand through my hair.

“What’s she like?”

“I don’t know,” I murmured. “She’s never too thrilled when I’m in her company.”

Harsh laughter cut through the silence of the night as I narrowed my eyes at my brother.

“A woman who isn’t desperate to kneel before the Crown Prince. Impossible,” he mocked.

“It’s difficult to comprehend, I know.”

Riordan snorted. “What will you do with her?”

“She’s mine. I’m keeping her.”

Riordan eyed me. “I’m not saying you should give her up, Brother. I’m only wondering how you intend to balance her arrival with Celeste —”

“That is none of your concern,” I scowled, interrupting him.

Riordan raised his hands in a placating gesture. “All right, all right, forget I said anything. When do I get to meet her?”

“You don’t,” I said as I turned away from him. “Any interest in her must be kept to a minimum.”

“I could pretend she was one of my consorts,” Riordan offered.

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