Chapter Twenty-Five
Ryker
“No offence, Killer, but monster you is an asshole.”
Callum sneered at my brother as he crossed his arms over his chest, but Riordan only grinned back.
“You speak as if I had a part in that,” he said, gesturing to the gaping hole where Cadence stood, her breasts heaving though she remained upright.
Just as the last grains of sand had fallen, Cadence thrust her dagger into the monster’s heart, ending the threat against her and outlasting the hourglass.
Now she stood tall before the Unseelie Fae.
Defiant.
I couldn’t be prouder.
The ground trembled under my feet, and a low thrum vibrated up through my boots and into my spine. Cadence didn’t flinch as the hard earth shuddered and twisted.
She remained at the heart of the crater, framed by fractured earth and fallen trees. Then, the forest rose. Not around her but beneath her, lifting her as the enormous hole disappeared.
Shattered rock knit back together, and crumbling dirt surged upward. All signs of the once vibrant woods vanished as the ragged edges of the cavern smoothed out.
Cadence now stood on level ground, and I turned on my heel as I marched toward the tunnel that would lead me to her.
“Ryker,” Riordan hissed.
I spun around to face him and followed the direction of his outstretched arm. He pointed to our father, who sat upon his throne as if he hadn’t just lost a game of his own making. A knowing smile decorated his lips, and a sinking feeling settled in my gut.
“What is he playing at?”
Before my brother could answer, the herald spoke again. “Lady Cadence, the King wishes to express his congratulations on your victory. It was most entertaining to watch.”
The movement was barely noticeable, easy to overlook unless you were paying close attention.
But I caught it.
This time, Cadence flinched.
The thought of those spineless voyeurs watching her wrestle with her own doubts — and enjoying it — made her recoil. Her shoulders sagged as she retreated inward, making her appear small and defensive, as if the weight of their gazes stripped her bare.
She looked vulnerable.
Exposed.
And I hated them for it.
Red colored my vision, and my blood pounded inside my ears as shadows leaked from my clenched fists. I wanted to end their lives, every single one of them, here and now.
When I glanced at my brother, I found him already staring at me. His eyes were frantic, and his mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear one word he was saying.
Next to him, Callum paled, and he looked like he was going to be sick. Eamon stood abruptly, his fists clenching as he stared down into the arena. Malesh’s hand went to the pommel of his sword, and I shook my head, trying to regain my focus.
“Did you hear me, Ryker?” my brother said.
“What?”
“I said the second trial is starting now.”
My gaze darted to Cadence standing in the middle of the stadium. She no longer shrank away from the attention of the Unseelie Fae watching her. She narrowed her eyes in challenge, then squared her shoulders as if preparing for a one-woman war.
A low growl rumbled up my throat as my gaze locked with my father’s. He sat atop his throne, unable to conceal his amusement. Fury radiated off me in waves, and my shadows trailed up my arms, surging higher.
“You’re playing a very dangerous game, Father,” I said, my voice echoing around the arena like a war drum. “One wrong move, and it won’t be one you win.”
My father’s smile widened, as though he’d just been handed his victory. “This is why we must test her, Son. You coddle her too much. How will we know what she’s capable of, or if she is worthy to rule alongside you?”
The smug look on his face had me grinding my teeth together. My father tapped a single finger against the arm of his throne. “You only have yourself to blame.”
Before I could send my shadows hurtling across the arena to snap my father’s neck, a firm hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back. I glanced toward my brother, but his gaze was locked on the dais.
“Careful, Father,” Riordan said beside me. “You provoke the beast much longer, and even I won’t be able to hold him back.”
My father chuckled without mirth. “Always your brother’s keeper.” He shook his head as though he was disappointed.
That we had in common.
“I’m ready.” All eyes turned to Cadence.
She raised her chin, and the thoughts that had shaken her earlier were now buried beneath her steel resolve. She met the King’s gaze with determination burning behind her eyes.
My beautiful, fearsome, infuriating Temptress was going to get herself killed, and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do more: throttle her or fuck her. From the way my cock strained against the front of my trousers, I was guessing it was the latter.
“I am pleased to hear that, Lady Cadence,” my father said. He nodded to someone out of sight before shifting his focus back to the arena.
The now-familiar voice boomed across the vast space between us once again. “The second trial will be a test of strength. To complete the test, your task is simple: defeat your opponent and claim your victory.”
“I told you it would be a battle of sorts,” Eamon said to no one in particular. “I bet she’s not complaining about the weight of her weapons now.”
My gaze shot to him, and a guilty look flicked across his features.
“Sorry, Ryker, that was an inside thought.” He tapped the side of his head to emphasize his point.
“That doesn’t make it any better, Eamon,” I gritted out.
He merely shrugged, returning his gaze to Cadence as if this were any other training session.
The bastard had a point, though. At least she had a weapon.
A loud grinding noise echoed from the far end of the arena as a massive metal gate lifted. The sound reverberated through my bones, and even from this distance, I could see Cadence’s hand drift toward her blade.
Whatever lurked behind the bars had yet to emerge, but the stench hit us all the same — a putrid mix of rotting flesh and sulfur that made my stomach lurch.
Callum gagged beside me. “What the fuck is that smell?” he choked out, pressing his sleeve against his nose.
I didn’t answer.
Because I recognized that cocktail of death and decay.
This was no simple combat trial.
My father had unleashed something so vile and lethal that even battle-worn soldiers would hesitate to face it.
And now it was coming for my mate.
“You bastard,” I snarled, my shadows exploding from my body without permission.
His smile was all teeth and malice. “She wants the throne, she’ll have to earn it first.”
I slammed my hands against the edge of the balcony. The stonework groaned as shards broke loose beneath my grip. “You are no father of mine.” My arms trembled with the violence of my fury. “Make peace with your gods, because when this is all done, I’m coming for you.”
The smile on my father’s face faltered, but he knew better than to show any weakness to his enemies.
And that was exactly what the Unseelie Fae were: his enemies. He’d ensured as much with a reign that was cutthroat and ruthless.
“What is it? What’s coming?” Callum said, pulling my attention.
The earth quaked beneath a deafening thud, toppling spectators and rattling the foundations. Dust billowed outward in thick clouds, obscuring my view of Cadence.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I strained to see through the haze. When it cleared, my blood turned molten in my veins.
It slithered from the shroud of debris, moving with slow, deliberate purpose.
Its body was long and coiled, and as thick as the largest tree trunk.
Green and black scales shimmered in the sunlight, and the sickly yellow pallor of its underbelly gave the impression of something long dead, bloated with venom and rot.
With pupils as narrow as needles, it stared straight through Cadence as if it could see the marrow inside her bones. She froze, her breath locked in her chest as though blinking would be a fatal mistake.
The creature didn’t roar, didn’t hiss. It simply watched her, so sure of its power that it didn’t need to make a sound.
And somehow, that silence was worse.
“What the fuck is that?” Callum asked, barely above a whisper.
“Zarythian.”