Chapter 23 Audryn
AUDRYN
The afternoon heat smacked me in the face. The peak of summer was always miserable, even with the coastal breeze. Most days were mild, but others were relentless. Beads of sweat dripped down my body as I walked around the stables with Fisher close behind.
Ryder was busy and only found mealtime to spend with us. His attention had shifted from Allura and Maris to solely on me; I almost felt bad for the women. Leanna too had taken more of an interest, and our interactions had become friendlier than I’d ever thought possible.
The dust clogged my nose as I shuffled over the path and continued east. I hadn’t visited the area, but when I heard the banging in the distance, my interest piqued.
A large wooden structure appeared, one side yawning and accessible with large barn doors flung open.
My stomach fluttered at the sight of what I knew had to be a workshop.
I could identify it by sound only, even though it had been more than a year since I’d stepped foot in one.
Billowing smoke spewed out of the chimney from the forge within.
I picked up the pace, and Fisher did the same; he had arduously held his position.
Though his presence was annoying, he’d kept my secret and never told Ryder he’d found me in the king’s study.
And the more time we’d spent together, the less I disliked him, despite his position.
The clanking of tools vibrated against my ears, filling them with the sweet sound of crafting something special.
Growing fruits and vegetables was one thing, but creating a beautiful piece of jewelry from scratch was entirely different.
While produce was consumed to nurture the body, jewels were worn to nurture the soul.
My hand moved to my mother’s necklace as I made my way to the open door.
An older man stood at the bench with a polishing rag in hand and the fire blazing in the forge at his back. He inspected the ring he was holding, setting down the rag and picking up a magnifier to scrutinize it further.
“Hello,” I said, stepping into the open space. Calipers, files, and soldering equipment lay neatly displayed with a variety of other tools on the surrounding benches.
“Good afternoon.” The man smiled up at me and set the magnifier down. “I don’t get many visitors out here these days.”
Fisher stepped to my side, and the man’s head tilted at the guard.
“Can’t seem to lose him.” I chuckled and held out a hand. “I’m Audryn, one of the women the prince is courting.”
“I would shake but,” the man said, wiping his hand on a cloth. “The name is Orlan. I’m the master jeweler for the Suttons.” He looked around. “My partner is usually here, but it seems she’s stepped away.”
My eyes widened at the ring in his hand. “What do you have in progress?” I stepped toward him.
The large aquamarine gem was beautiful. Cut in an oval, it was secured in a prong setting, and had to weigh at least four hundred milligrams on its own.
The gold band gleamed, inlaid with small chips of aquamarine.
It was impeccable work and something that would have taken me at least a decade of training to accomplish.
Orlan quickly set the ring into a wooden box. “Just something for Ryder.”
Fisher cleared his throat so loud it startled me.
“Prince Sutton.” The man scowled at the sandy-haired guard.
“What other projects are you working on?” I glanced around the area, fascinated by the treasure I’d stumbled upon. Other than the land, there was no place I’d rather be. I supposed it was how my father felt about libraries.
“I don’t think we should be in here, Miss Audryn,” Fisher murmured.
“Do less thinking and more shadowing, Fisher. I’m not restricted from visiting any area on the grounds.” I glared and adjusted my attention back to Orlan.
“This here is a pendant for Queen Sutton.” He picked up a round aquamarine gem, beveled within surrounding diamonds. The pendant looked as if it were a flower and sparkled as the man moved it in the light.
“They sure enjoy aquamarine,” I ribbed. “You’d think they’d be more creative having so many resources at their disposal.”
He shrugged. “Well, it is Rivale’s royal hue, but yes, it gets quite repetitious. But I try to vary the setting and cut as often as possible. Occasionally, I’m given leeway to add accent gems as well.”
My fingers ran over the glass pendant hanging from my neck, recalling the endless hours I’d spent creating the piece.
There were so many mistakes along the way that I thought I’d never get it right.
Yet when I sent off the finished necklace, the effort and time spent crafting the item felt worth it.
“May I look at your necklace?” Orlan asked.
I drew in a breath and carefully removed the item. “It belonged to my mother.”
“It’s exquisite. Who made it for her?” He grabbed the magnifier and inspected it. “The soldering is nicely done, and the flowers were flawlessly processed.”
“Thank you.” I smiled.
“This is your creation?” He raised an eyebrow. “Your design?”
I shook my head. “My teacher designed it, I only produced it. It took a long time, but I was just a novice and made a lot of mistakes.”
“Mistakes make the final version exceptional. We learn, adjust, and walk away with something better than it would have been if we’d done it right to begin with.
” He placed the necklace around my neck and clasped it together.
“It’s difficult to appreciate the finished product without all the work it took to get it there. ”
“What’s going on here?” Ryder’s voice ricocheted through the workshop. “Get out of there right this instant.”
I looked up to find Ryder, Grave, and Amalee in the open doorway. Grave’s expression was flat, while Ryder’s was full of indignation. His eyes narrowed on Orlan and then shot to Fisher, who only blew out an exasperated puff of air.
“Now, Audryn,” Ryder growled.
Putting my hands up, I didn’t move. “Promise, I’m safe. I studied under a master jeweler for years and know my way around a worksh—”
My voice trailed as my gaze settled on him. Even during a bout of anger, he was handsome. Maybe if I walked out, he’d kiss me the same as he had on the cliffs. My stomach fluttered, recalling his tongue exploring my mouth with our bodies pressed together.
“Maybe I can make you something? Perhaps something using Rivale’s hue?” I offered a smile.
“Why must you disregard my orders? I don’t want your makeshift jewelry when I have the best in all the kingdom right here!
” Ryder shouted and walked inside. He grabbed my arm so tightly I shrieked as he pulled me through the open door, causing me to stumble on the way out.
“Why can’t you follow a basic order? Must I force you to obey at every turn? ”
I looked down at his hand, still wrapped around my forearm, with his trimmed fingernails somehow digging deep into my skin. My heart raced, and for the first time, Ryder’s much bigger stature intimidated me.
Everyone around us stilled except for Grave, who quickly reached out and tore Ryder’s grip from me. “If you must put your hands on someone, let it be me. Don’t touch her again.”
My eyes shot to him as the two men faced off. Grave was just as muscular as Ryder, but a couple of inches shorter. His muscles flexed against the fabric of his silver shirt while he maintained his stare on the Prince.
“You challenge me in my kingdom? In my castle?” Ryder snapped.
“I don’t need you to involve yourself, I don’t need your charity!” I snapped at Grave. “I can take care of myself!”
His brown eyes turned black in an instant while he scanned over Ryder and me.
The depths were a deep, endless void, filling me with panic even greater than the prince’s hands had.
Amalee wordlessly stepped to Grave’s side and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
He took a breath, and his eyes faded to a chocolate brown, though I could’ve sworn they should’ve been amber.
“Your Macabre magic isn’t welcome here,” Ryder said, snarling, “and I’ll put my hands where I please!” He whirled to Fisher. “And you! Why would you allow my future betrothed to jeopardize herself around such dangerous tools?”
I stepped in front of Fisher. He might’ve been a guard, but I wouldn’t let him take the blame for my misstep. “It wasn’t his fault.” My voice trembled from the influx of adrenaline. “He tried to stop me, but I insisted.”
Ryder turned to Orlan. “You’re relieved of your services for today, without pay. Bring better judgment when you return tomorrow.”
Orlan dipped his chin, but didn’t dare move. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ryder! You can’t do that, he—” I started.
In an instant he stood over me, as if he’d grown another foot taller all at once. “You will address me as Prince Sutton and show me the respect I am owed.”
I looked up under my lashes. “Yes, Prince Sutton.” He stayed in place and gestured me down into a bow. I complied and averted my eyes to the ground.
With a firm hand on my neck, Ryder’s voice erupted, “You will learn respect if it’s the last thing I teach you. Lower yourself.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I willed them to hold fast in their troughs. My throat burned as I dipped further down. I hadn’t truly cried in front of anyone since I was a child, and I didn’t intend to start.
“On your knees,” Ryder demanded of me.
“Is this necessary?” Grave grumbled. “She understands. We all understand, no need to further your point.”
“Please stop,” I cried out in Grave’s direction or at least where I’d seen him standing last. “Please.” He didn’t need to stand up for me; his interference would only make matters worse.
Carefully, I shifted onto my knees and sank into the dirt, letting the earth press against my legs under my skirt.
The contact with the land lessened the insult a scrap, but it wasn’t enough to stop my eyes from overflowing.
I stifled a sob and dropped onto the heels of my boots, feeling the hard soles bite into me.
Humiliation filled every corner of my soul as I waited for Ryder’s dismissal. The silence was deafening, but I didn’t dare look up. I wasn’t willing to risk facing his increasing anger.
Ryder pushed me down by my neck until my forehead was flush with the dirt. The sole of his boot replaced his palm and forced me even lower. My cheek met the soil, and for a moment I thought he might place his full weight on the back of my neck.
“This is fucking ridiculous,” Grave growled. “You are nothing but a coward.”
“Just because you allow those in your kingdom to blatantly disrespect you, does not mean I will stand by and allow the same,” Ryder’s voice boomed over me.
“I refuse to stand here and watch this horseshit!” Grave’s voice echoed from my left. Out of my periphery, I watched as both his and Amalee’s boots walked past. Orlan and the guard stayed frozen as minutes passed.
“Get off the damned ground and pull yourself together,” Ryder demanded as he removed his boot from my body. “I won’t have a wife covered in filth.”
I wiped my eyes and stumbled to my feet, but my legs gave out, sending me falling forward. Fisher caught me by my arms, keeping me off the ground. Tears and dirt streaked my cheeks as I righted myself, then lifted my chin to meet Ryder’s eyes.
His face dripped with disgust. Somehow he’d gone from the affectionate man I’d shared meals with, to someone who looked at me with only contempt. And it was all because I went into the workshop—a place that had always brought me so much joy.
“In the future, I expect you to listen to me,” Ryder continued. “Your dissent ends here. Defy me again, and the consequences will be worse—especially if you cannot address me properly in front of others.”
“Yes, Prince Sutton.” I forced the words out; they were thick and heavy.
Ryder moved his hand toward my chin, and I took a single step backwards, staying just out of his reach. His strength outweighed whatever I could muster. Space would at least buy me a bit of time to run if he was considering hitting me.
He moved forward, and I stilled, my chest heaving while the proverbial warning bells alerted me to run from the danger pressing against the front of my body.
But I remained, grounding into the earth with my feet and letting magic thrum through me, just in case I needed it.
I’d risk using magic to keep myself alive, even if it cost me my life in the end.
And if Ryder felt it buzzing through the air, it was worth it for the chance to survive.
Slowly, he bent down to my ear, and I closed my eyes as I felt his breath blow past. “Never pull away from me. You are mine." His tone was caught between tenderness and loathing. "Get yourself cleaned up and be sure to use the soap I’ve given you. You’re repulsive.”
He turned quickly and stomped toward the castle. Hunt, who I hadn’t realized had escorted the prince, gave me a big, toothy grin before he stalked off with him. Fisher and Orlan avoided looking at me altogether, and I was grateful for it.
I inspected my arm, peering down at the half moon shaped nail imprints still carved into my skin. If he’d chosen my other arm, at least my tattoo could have hidden the lingering proof of the damage he’d caused, though my mind would never forget.