Page 6 of Bonded Chaos

Only someone high-ranking in the Seelie Court would possess such a thing.

As I glanced around the room once more, it dawned on me that I must be in the capital, where the Seelie King and Queen held court.

But I was no closer to discovering who brought me here or why.

A faint memory drifted to the forefront of my mind.

A strong aroma.

The sound of a male voice.

My failing magic.

Fear crept up my throat, making it hard to breathe as understanding settled over me.

Someone had taken me from the apothecary.

Sinister grey eyes flashed in my mind, and something stirred inside my chest, tightening and squeezing as my pulse quickened. The thrum of my heartbeat rang out loudly in my ears, each beat heavy and insistent. A cold sweat broke out all over my body, and I raced toward the door as the primal need to escape gripped me.

My feet skidded against the floor as the chamber door swung open. A commanding figure crossed the threshold, and I sucked in a ragged breath.

A man stood before me, tall and broad. His white-blond hair, which was dark at the roots, was tied in a loose bun with a few strands falling around his face.

His strong jawline and perfectly sculpted facial features were accentuated by the rough stubble that lined his cheeks, and his sun-kissed skin was smooth, highlighting the muscular contours of his shoulders peeking out from beneath his tunic.

He looked wild, yet controlled, and he was absolutely breathtaking.

But it was his intense grey eyes that bore into me, piercing me all the way to the inner depths of my soul that held me frozen in place.

His full, sensual lips pulled up into a smirk as he stepped closer to me.

Gods, the man was so beautiful that it was almost painful to look at him.

He took another step toward me, and his smirk grew wider.

My body moved on instinct, and I stepped back, trying to create distance between myself and this… predator.

Because that’s what he was. A predator. It was clear in the way he moved. The way his muscles coiled tight as if he was readying himself to strike.

I had no idea what a man like him would want with someone like me. Or more importantly, why he had brought me back to the Seelie Palace of all places.

Whatever his intentions, they weren’t good. You didn’t kidnap someone and steal them away from their home just to chat.

“My name is Ryker,” the man said.

The deep resonance of his voice caressed me like the softest velvet. The low, rumbling tone was sensual, as if he had whispered each word against the shell of my ear. My nipples puckered under the fabric of my dress, and heat crawled its way up my neck, coloring my cheeks.

“But you may know me by another name.”

He prowled closer, and I held my breath as I waited for his next words. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach warned me that I was in trouble. That I needed to escape this beautiful Adonis before it was too late.

“Many call me the Night Cursed Prince.”

All the blood drained from my face. It was much worse than I had imagined.

The man before me was solely responsible for the most painful moments of my life.

The Prince of the Unseelie Fae.

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