Chapter Forty-Four
Cadence
The moment I crossed the threshold of Ryker’s chambers, I saw him.
Alive. Unharmed. Smiling like a lunatic.
“Callum.”
His name left my lips on a low exhale, my relief clear in the small sound. “I was so worried about you.”
My feet moved of their own accord, eager to close the distance between us, to assure myself he was real.
“Don’t look so relieved, Little Sister. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you expected me to fail.”
“Shut up,” I said as I threw my arms around him. “Just let me be grateful that you are unharmed.”
Callum chuckled. “I saw a Water Fae. He almost drowned me.”
I reared back, staring at my brother in disbelief. “Why do you sound excited by that fact?”
“I’ve never seen a Water Fae in action. You know how their magic fascinates me.”
“Terrifies you, you mean.”
“Well, the picture Da painted was rather terrifying. Still, I was eager to see what they could do.”
“Drown you. That’s what they can do,” I deadpanned.
“I was too quick for him.” Callum winked, as if he wasn’t talking about almost dying. “You should have seen me, Cadence. I was on fire out there. I think I’ve found my calling.”
“Thieving is your calling?” I asked with a raised brow.
“Not thieving,” my brother said as he rolled his eyes. “Fighting. I have come a long way since I’ve been training with Eamon.”
Before I could respond, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Ryker rounded the corner a second later, his anger palpable. The air bent around him, as if afraid to draw too close. His features were a storm front: his nostrils flared, jaw locked, and his eyes were more obsidian than grey.
Riordan trailed after him, concern etched into his features as he twisted his lips.
Ryker dragged a hand through his hair as he surveyed the room. “You’re here, good.”
When I said nothing, he huffed out an irritated breath. “An emergency council meeting has been called. You’ll accompany me.”
My muscles locked tight before I forced them to loosen, masking it all with studied nonchalance.
“Another one?” I let false annoyance flow through my tone. “Why do you need me? None of the councilors want me there, so why bother?”
Ryker stepped into my space, the air crackling between us as our mutual irritation stripped the room of oxygen. A small twitch in his cheek told me it wasn’t a time for games.
Honestly, I wanted to attend the council meeting. I needed to know what they knew to protect my brother and the others involved in the raids.
But I couldn’t appear too eager, or Ryker would suspect something.
“Because, Cadence,” he said between clenched teeth. “You are my wife, and you will rule beside me when I take the throne.”
Not if all my plotting worked out as planned…
But I kept that thought to myself. “Fine, but I need a moment first.”
“For what?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Lady things…” Ryker arched an amused brow. “Get out of my way, you oaf!”
Riordan and Callum both chuckled under their breath, and even Ryker struggled to keep the grin from his face. He stepped aside, waving his arm toward the bathing chamber. I didn’t waste any time as I darted inside and locked the door.
As I dropped to my knees, I rifled through the stash of herbs I had been secretly collecting. On their own, they were harmless enough, but together…
If I had to endure another council meeting, I might as well make it worthwhile.
“Cadence.” Ryker’s voice sounded outside the door. “Are you finished yet?”
“If I were done, would I still be in the bathing chamber?” I bit out.
“If it gave you the chance to inconvenience me, then yes.”
I paused before conceding that it was a fair point.
I plucked the last few sprigs I needed and dropped the herbs into the pouch at my waist. Then I stood from the floor, smoothing the strands of my hair before reaching for the doorknob.
“Happy?” I said as soon as I emerged.
Ryker ran his gaze over my frame, and just one look was enough to have me squeezing my thighs together.
“Very.”
His tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip, and it took all my willpower to stop myself from climbing him like a tree. My hormones were out of control, and if I didn’t rein them in, our brothers would get a front-row seat to lifelong trauma.
I ran my hands down the folds of my skirt as I cleared my throat. “After you.”
Ryker smirked as if he knew exactly where my thoughts had wandered. I took his offered elbow, needing the support to stay upright.
Riordan fell into step beside us, and I waved goodbye to Callum as I let Ryker lead me from the room. The brothers spent the walk to the council chambers discussing the raid, and I pretended not to be interested as I ate up every word.
When we arrived, the lords had already taken their places. The three chairs nearest the King remained vacant, as was now customary.
“Ryker.” His father did not try to hide his relief at his eldest son’s arrival. “Now that you’re here, we can begin.”
Ryker led me to the front of the room and pulled out the chair beside his. Once I sat down, he took the seat to my left, with Riordan settling to my right.
The hair on the back of my neck rose as the unmistakable feeling of eyes tracking my every move washed over me. I didn’t need to raise my head to know whose attention I had captured.
Lord Barrington glared at me with unveiled hostility, and I met his gaze with a glare of my own.
“It appears your plan has failed, Your Majesty,” Fallon said, forcing us to look away. “Both traps were sprung, and you’re no closer to identifying the traitor.”
“Such strong words, Lord Thorne.” Ryker reclined in his chair, his fingers intertwining as he rested his hands on the back of his head. “They reek of desperation. Perhaps you are attempting to divert attention.”
Fallon scoffed, and Ryker narrowed his eyes. “It is you who is trying to deflect.”
Before Ryker could lose his temper and murder another of his councilors, I stood from my seat and walked toward the tray of refreshments that had been laid out.
“Drinks?” I offered as I glanced around the room.
Muttered affirmations rippled around the table, and I turned back to the pitcher, filling the tumblers. I peered over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being watched as I slipped the herbs from my pouch.
Without my pestle and mortar, I couldn’t grind them into a fine dust, but I made do. When I was done, I lifted the tray and returned to the table, setting a tumbler in front of Ryker.
He eyed it suspiciously. “What are you up to, wife?”
“Saving you from yourself,” I murmured.
Riordan tilted his head in a knowing gesture, and I grinned.
As I made my way around the lords, I placed a drink before each of them, Ryker’s watchful gaze tracking my every movement. Once everyone had been served, I returned the tray to the table and retook my seat. Lifting the tumbler to my lips, I let the cool liquid wash away the dryness in my throat.
The meeting continued much as it had begun, with accusations flying while the council members scrambled to shift the blame.
But my attention lay elsewhere.
It had been almost an hour since we’d arrived, and Lord Barrington was becoming increasingly uncomfortable by the minute. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands trembled as he mopped it up with a handkerchief.
His gaze slid around the room, unfocused, as though he didn’t know where he was. His breaths were labored, and saliva foamed at the corner of his mouth.
He stood abruptly, pushing away from the table as he clawed at his neck. Then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, convulsing on the floor.
“Lord Barrington,” the King cried, and several councilors rushed to his side.
“Eric, can you hear me?” one of them said, and I hid my grin behind my glass.
Another placed his fingers at the man’s throat, and I watched in anticipation as his face paled and his mouth dropped open. “He’s… dead.”
A chorus of shocked gasps swept through the room, the council scattering in disarray as they fumbled for a response.
When the healers looked into Lord Barrington’s death, they would blame it on declining health. The concoction I had used was undetectable, its effects mirroring the signs of a failing heart. Nothing more.
Chaos followed, and I drank it in, relishing my victory. But my elation faded when I felt Ryker’s gaze on the side of my face. I didn’t turn to look at him, but that never deterred Ryker.
He leaned in close, his nose pressing into my hair as he inhaled. His lips brushed the shell of my ear, and he whispered, “This better not have been your doing, wife.”