Chapter 35 Audryn
AUDRYN
Not wanting Draven blamed, I stayed in bed pretending to be ill for two days after the dinner.
It was no surprise I found Jaspar’s small glass tube missing from my bag when I checked.
I wanted to let everyone know what Maris had done, but I couldn’t very well explain that I was the one who’d brought the ipecac in to begin with.
Tendrils of steam rolled off the top of the mug Fisher offered. He’d brought me a cup of ginger tea several times a day. Whether at Ryder or Mirael’s orders, I didn’t know. But based on the prince’s absence, I suspected the guard had done so on his own.
“How are you feeling?” Fisher assessed.
“Better,” I said, taking the cup from his hand and setting it down on the table next to the sofa. The book King Grave had sent occupied the table, but I hadn’t opened it. “I’m going to braid my hair, and then I’ll be ready to head out for breakfast.”
“I brought something for you.” Fisher walked out the door and returned holding my mother’s emerald gown. “It took longer than expected, but they were able to remove the stain.” He rotated the dress to show the undamaged front of the material.
“How?” I jumped to my feet and wrapped my arms around the dress as if I could squeeze it hard enough to force my mother to appear.
I pulled back and looked closer at the fabric.
The gown was in perfect condition; perhaps in better condition than when I brought it with me.
The material was unwrinkled, with not a loose thread in sight.
Most importantly, it looked as if the incident had never happened.
He shrugged. “A good wash and a favor.”
“Thank you.” I let go of the gown and threw my arms around the guard. “Thank you for everything.”
“Okay.” He pulled away and moved to the door. “That type of behavior is inappropriate and cannot happen again.”
I scoffed and took the gown from him and went to the armoire.
I slid the hanging clothes aside and carefully secured the item on the wooden pole.
Hopefully, Maris had finally learned to leave my possessions alone, though I doubted so.
The rage I felt toward her had diminished over the last two days, but I wouldn’t let down my guard.
Ironically, my desire for Ryder had waned too. Seeing him so angry with me during dinner when all I wanted to do was make him happy was like pouring buckets of water on the burning lust I had for him.
I couldn’t understand why I’d been so desperate to please him. I’d come to the castle with one goal in mind—two. Okay, maybe three after adding Hunt to the list. But it didn’t explain why my feelings had changed so radically.
My hands finished twisting my hair, and I moved toward the door. “Ready?”
Fisher grumbled and followed me into the hall.
“Miss Audryn.” Roark’s eyes went wide. “You’re feeling better—I’m glad to see you’re up!”
I nodded. “Yes, thank you. I’m off to breakfast, I’ll try to sneak a muffin for you.” He grinned at the offer. His mouth dropped open to speak, but his words didn’t make their way out.
Our footsteps clattered along the floor as we moved to the dining hall. Since claiming to be ill, I’d only eaten broth and crackers. I was desperate for a full breakfast of meats, muffins, and pastries.
When Fisher opened the door, we found Ryder, Leanna, and Maris seated and waiting at the table. Maris’s left eye was violet and swollen, which oddly complemented the lavender dress she wore. Leanna avoided my gaze altogether.
Ryder stood and rushed to meet me halfway. “Are you well?”
I nodded, and he placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.
He offered his arm and guided me to my seat.
I'd grown used to sitting at his side, and didn't realize how I'd missed the familiarity of this chair in the days I stayed away.
Instead of joining me at the table, Ryder walked and met Fisher at the door.
Their discussion was hushed, and the guard's face gave nothing away when his eyes darted to mine.
“I wonder what that’s about.” I hummed to anyone who wanted to answer, but found silence.
“Are you well enough to eat regular food, or should I ask Draven to prepare broth?” Ryder asked, finally taking his seat next to me.
“Regular breakfast will be fine.” I searched his face, still wondering what he’d spoken to the guard about. “I’m starving.”
“Don’t overdo it with the food. I’m sure your stomach still needs time to adjust.” He took a swig from his glass.
Staff brought dishes in and, to my surprise, there was not a single piece of fish in sight. I nearly thanked Ryder for being so thoughtful, but decided against bringing up the ruined evening.
“What did I miss?” I asked while everyone quietly ate. Conversations during meals were often boring, but I’d yet to attend a single one in silence.
“I’ve been dealing with some pressing matters over the last couple of days.” Ryder bit into a muffin with plump blueberries buried inside.
“That’s right, you had a meeting with King Grave the morning after dinner, right?” I took a sip of my orange juice, enjoying the burst of bright liquid on my tongue. “I suppose everything went well since he’s no longer here.”
“He pushed the meeting to yesterday afternoon.” Ryder set his fork on his plate. “And though we have come to an agreement, I wouldn’t describe the meeting as having gone well.”
I glanced over at Leanna, but she didn’t look up. She remained focused on her plate, pushing her food around. Even Maris was avoiding the conversation.
“What happened? Is it something you’re able to talk about?” I was hesitant to ask, but perhaps there was information I could share with Jaspar.
Ryder turned to me with a serious look in his eyes as he started to explain. “Well—”
The doors to the dining hall flung open, and Grave strode in with Amalee at his side. They wore matching black leather pants and silver long-sleeved shirts. Each carried a leather jacket over an arm. The vision was menacing.
Ryder’s head snapped. “I was not expecting either of you for breakfast.” He stood as Grave walked over to the table and sat in the chair across from me. “The table was not set for either of you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Grave plucked a sausage link from the tray and took a bite. “Who needs cutlery when we can behave like the beasts we ride, right?” He threw what remained of the link into his mouth.
Amalee eyed the food and found a biscuit. She cracked it open with her fingers and placed a round sausage in the center before lifting it to the table in salute. With a tip of her chin, she raised a brow at me just before biting into her makeshift breakfast sandwich.
My eyes darted to Ryder, who was tightly fisting his glass of wine. His fingers blanched white, and it looked like the vessel might break.
“I sure hope you have a jacket for the ride.” Grave looked at me. “It’s going to be cold up there.”
“What ride?” I dropped my half-eaten biscuit onto my plate and looked around. “What am I missing?" Everyone at the table avoided my gaze, with the exception of Grave and Amalee. "Can you please tell me what’s going on?” I directed my question at Ryder.
He closed his eyes before taking a long breath and blew out a steady exhale. With another bite of his muffin, he avoided my question altogether.
“Oh,” Grave droned on, “your prince hasn’t told you about our arrangement?” The dark king grabbed a muffin from the center of the table. “This is about to get awkward real fast.”
“What is he talking about, Ryder?” I asked without correcting myself. “What don’t I know? What haven’t you told me?”
Ryder continued chewing and then sipped from his cup once more. His body shifted, and he sat up straight before turning to me. He offered a small smile and held his hands out toward me, which I hesitantly took.
“These last few weeks with you have been amazing,” Ryder said, squeezing my hands.
Amazing wasn’t the word I would’ve used to describe my stay at the castle, more like not-so-great days mixed with okay ones.
“And I know you care about the people of Rivale as much as I do and will do whatever it takes to secure their future. To secure the future of your friends and your father,” Ryder said, rubbing circles on the top of my hand with his thumb.
“Your dedication not only to your kingdom, but to me, hasn’t gone unnoticed. ”
“Do you want to do this here, Brother?” Leanna’s voice was low and held a clear warning. “Perhaps we should leave.”
He dropped my right hand and sifted through his pants pocket. “You will be my betrothed. You will be my wife, and the next Queen of Rivale upon my father’s death.”
“How romantic,” Grave groaned from across the table through a mouthful of muffin. A blueberry tumbled out. He plucked the fruit from the table and threw it back into his mouth.
Ryder pulled out a ring, and my eyes went wide, recognizing the piece. An oval aquamarine gemstone sat on top of a perfect gold band with inlaid chips of gems. It was the same ring I’d seen in Orlan’s workshop, the same workshop where Ryder pushed me to the ground.
My heart raced, and my mouth felt like every drop of moisture had been leeched from it. “I—I need some water.” My eyes darted to the table, looking for relief.
Ryder slipped the ring onto my left ring finger before releasing my hand and pushing a cup into it. “I’m sure it’s shocking to know you’ll be my wife, especially when there were so many options. But—”
“Not as shocking as when you tell her she’s coming with me,” Grave interrupted.
My eyes shot to the king. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“That’s the thing, Audryn.” Ryder grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze back to his. “It will only be for a month, but you must go"—he nodded assuringly—"to secure Rivale’s future.”
“No.” I pushed back from the table and stood. “I’m not leaving my friends, my family, or anyone else.”
My mind whirled. I’d become engaged one moment and shipped out the next, as if only a piece of cargo.
I hadn’t accepted the marriage proposal, yet there I was, wearing an enormous stone on my finger.
He didn’t even wait to see what I’d say.
Had he even asked me the question or only made a statement?
“You can’t force me to go.” I looked at Ryder, but he ignored my plea. I turned to look down at Leanna. “Tell him not to make me go—that I don’t need to go.”
The room was closing in on me, air was being pulled from my lungs. My ribs were compressing inward as panic filled my body. I stood and waited for someone to tell me it was only a cruel joke and I only needed to wait for the punchline. But it never came.
“Is it her magic you want?” Ryder’s voice interrupted. “Do you want someone with Divine magic? Is that what this is about?”
The racing of my heart nearly made me collapse.
I grabbed the back of a chair to steady myself.
Grave’s eyes scanned between Ryder and me.
For a moment, I thought he might consider letting me out of the agreement.
Tears threatened to fill my eyes and the back of my throat burned.
My stomach was still weak, and the blow of this agreement was nearly enough to make me heave.
“If it’s her magic, I’ll find someone who will give you what you want, someone who’s better than she is!
” Ryder’s voice was as frantic as I felt.
“You don’t need her when we have plenty in the land.
I will give you one of my guards who not only possesses Divine magic, but has exceptional fighting skills as well. ”
Grave huffed, but refused to acknowledge the offerings.
“A fire wielder? Air? Water?” Ryder pushed, with a trembling voice.
“Perhaps a child of those who have the same magic—they will be significantly stronger than any who possesses only one parent’s ability.
I will scour the land for a child of a mated pair!
Even I do not possess magic as strong as someone so rare. ”
Hope bloomed in my chest as he offered anything and everyone that might interest the king.
“Audryn wields land, and though she may appear proficient, she is incompetent.” Ryder threw out the insult as if I weren’t right there to hear it myself. I frowned. “She barely even makes a flower bloom. Surely, you’re looking for someone better. More capable.”
Grave refused to respond and instead kept his mouth occupied with food. Amalee’s brow creased, but she kept her gaze set on Ryder and made no move to include herself in the conversation.
“You can’t make me go,” I snapped, turning my head from Ryder to Grave. “I refuse!”