Chapter 26 Audryn
AUDRYN
Adozen gryphons circled above us, their white wings stark against the fading sky. With golden bodies, long thin tails, and yellow beaks, they looked almost friendly. If it weren’t for their taloned feet, I wouldn’t have recognized the threat.
The birds descended and landed one at a time in a semicircle around us. I went to yell at the intruders for nearly crushing the garden we’d worked so hard on until I saw Prince Sutton atop the largest beast.
“King Grave.” Ryder’s voice boomed.
Sickness coursed through my body, and my legs threatened to give out.
Col moved to my side and spoke under his breath. “Go inside. I’ll handle this.”
I shook my head, but couldn’t speak.
“My beautiful bride, I see you’ve been hard at work.” Ryder eyed the garden and gestured with a hand. “It appears you have more magic than I suspected. I would hate to accuse you of lying, so I will graciously take the blame for my naivety.”
My hand moved to my mother’s necklace; it was a small comfort in such a mess of a situation. Shifting on my feet, I plastered a fake smile across my face.
“Mostly just luck is all,” I offered. A shock moved through me as my mind urged me to run to the prince. I was nearly convinced that his arms were where I belonged. “It’s different ground, so that changed things a bit.”
“Yes, that must be it,” he said, pursing his lips.
“You’re early,” Col grumbled.
“Yes. I am taking my bride home.” Ryder smirked. “She can return to fulfill our agreement later. After our wedding, perhaps.”
A low growl rumbled in Col’s chest.
The two guards next to the prince stepped forward, each resting one hand on the hilt of their swords and leaving their other hand free; no doubt ready to use whatever magic was available to them.
“Bride, come here,” Ryder requested. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’m sure you have missed me.”
“Please don’t.” Col’s whisper was only loud enough for me to hear.
We both knew it was a matter of time before I left, but I found myself conflicted. Pieces of me were pulled in every direction.
Hesitantly, I stepped forward, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Col reach for me, but he stopped himself short. His hands always carried love, never harm—and they would certainly never hold me back.
“Audryn,” Col quietly called after me—begged.
I swallowed and continued forward, keeping a smile on my face. The moment I was within reach, Ryder grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him. His mouth met mine, and I flinched as he forced his tongue between my lips. Pulling back, he scanned me with a sour look on his face.
“Shall I believe that you’ve kept your word and have not touched my bride?” Ryder’s words were daggers thrown at Col.
I turned and found Col’s still-black eyes.
Giving him a small shake of my head, I silently begged for him not to admit our involvement.
Without saying a word, he looked between Ryder and me, refusing to lie.
Amalee and Sky flanked either side of him, their darkened magic swirling in the air around us.
“You did not keep your word,” Col answered. “One month—that was the agreement. If you take her, I will not provide the crude as agreed.”
“Then don’t.” Ryder shrugged. “We’ll be fine without it. Our priorities have changed, and you can consider my side of the arrangement a gift.”
“Will you be gifting your wife to others, or am I the only recipient?” Col tilted his head, his eyes remaining inky.
“Col!” I admonished. “Please, there doesn’t need—”
Something smacked across my face in an instant. Pain soared through my cheek, and my head rang as I fell to the ground. It took me more time than it should have to realize a hand had hit me.
“Col?” Ryder shouted from above. He wrapped his hand around my neck and bent down next to my ear. “I knew you smelled of his filth, you whore!”
I looked up to see Col running toward us, but a gust of wind from a guard pushed him back. Ryder didn’t bother assessing the confrontation.
Amalee stepped forward, and I shook my head. “Please don’t.” The words were gritty as Ryder clenched his hand around my neck even tighter. He moved his hand up to my hair and pulled me up with him.
“King Grave,” Ryder started, with a fistful of my locks. “It appears my bride has forgotten to show respect. Even to you.”
Col was rigid and on the verge of losing all control.
“Darling,” Ryder’s words drawled, “show King Grave the proper respect and bow.”
“Grant,” I corrected.
“What?” His voice was low.
“King Grant,” I announced, “apologies for my ill manners.” I dipped into a shallow bow, pulling against the force of Ryder’s grasp.
“Unnecessary.” Col narrowed his eyes at Ryder. “She may call me whatever she likes." His eyes shifted to me, and a smirk formed. "Though I have several other names I prefer hearing from her lips.”
“This is my betrothed you are speaking of.” Ryder grabbed my left hand, intending to display the ring I had stopped wearing. “Where’s the ring?”
I straightened my back and flicked my chin in Col’s direction. “Perhaps it’s in King Grant’s bedroom.”
Silence hung as the men stared at one another.
“No matter, I’ll get a new one.” Ryder pushed his foot into the back of my leg, making me fall to my knees. A moment later he threw a stinging hand across my back, sending me sprawling into the gravel. I tried to rise, but a heavy boot kept me down.
“Please,” I panted.
“Who needs a ring when the land has gifted me a mate?” Ryder’s voice was too joyful for the situation.
My eyes went wide, and I looked up at Ryder, who was staring at Col. I turned just in time to see Col’s expression shift from disappointment to stone. It was all the prince needed.
“Oh, you didn’t tell our friend Grave about our mated bond?” Ryder bent down and lowered his voice. “The bond might be different … changed if you will, but it’s there. Now get off the fucking ground.”
Slowly, I moved to my feet and stared into his cold eyes, searching for any sign of a lie.
“You know that feeling deep in your stomach?” Ryder slid his hand to my waistband and behind my pants. My stomach retracted the moment I felt his touch against my bare skin.
“Don’t.” My voice cracked as if my body doubted the words I spoke.
Ryder’s free hand gripped the back of my hair and he pulled back, forcing me to arch at an uncomfortable angle. “Right here” His fingers made their way to my clit, stopping for a moment to encircle the sensitive skin.
I let out a breathy moan and silently cursed my body for betraying me.
“That feeling that makes you want to rip off your clothes.” He plunged a finger roughly inside me, causing the skin at my entrance to sting.
“It’s that feeling where you’d kill someone just to have my cock inside of you.
” He dragged his tongue over my still-scarred neck and stopped at my ear.
“Even a curly-haired female friend. What was her name?”
My eyes closed, pushing into his touch, grinding my center. “Jezelle,” I whispered, breathless and nearly overtaken from the closeness.
Orgasm threatened to find me, though I begged to keep it at bay. Seconds felt like he’d been working me for hours, and with each swirl of his finger, I teetered closer to the edge. My pulse raced, and my breath turned to throaty gasps, each pass relentlessly pushing me forward.
“That’s the bond,” Ryder breathed. “You’ll be linked to me until the day one of us dies. Though preferably you’ll go first.”
“No.” My voice stuttered as I tried to pull away from whatever my mind was reaching out for.
“I told you. You’re mine.” He chuckled and removed his fingers just as I found my release.
Unbalanced and unsatisfied, I barely had a chance to open my eyes to steady myself. Embarrassment sat heavy on my chest as I kept my eyes down and refused to look at any of the people who’d witnessed the heavy fondling.
Fisher cleared his throat loudly, drawing the prince’s attention.
“You were responsible for her safety, and you failed,” Ryder snapped at the guard. “Take a gryphon and get her into the air while I sort things out with Grave. I’ll deal with you later.”
“No,” Fisher and I protested in unison. There was no way I’d get close to that man ever again, unless it was to kill him.
Ryder looked between me and Fisher several times, contemplating the reason for our newly developed hatred. A wry smile formed on his mouth as he quickly put the pieces of the puzzle together.
“It appears my guard has handed you the information you so badly sought.” Ryder grinned. “Isn’t this an interesting development? The guard you’ve spent weeks with was the same one that severed your brother’s head from its neck.”
Rage replaced embarrassment, and I suddenly wished I had Jaspar’s dagger to drive through Fisher’s heart. I turned and looked toward the sword at Ryder’s hip.
“Aww, you want to kill him.” The prince followed my line of sight and tsked. “Well, I guess we can’t have that.” He looked past me. “Hunt, get her into the air.”
“No, she’s staying,” Col roared.
But I wasn’t, and even though there were moments I’d considered it, my time in Kuroden was always meant to be temporary. I needed to get back and face whatever awaited me. More than that, I needed to kill the king.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I yelled at Hunt as he attempted to grab my arm. I pushed him away and stomped toward the gryphon he’d dismounted. Carefully, I climbed on top of the feathered mount and tried to create as much distance as possible between us.
“Better hold on or you’ll fall and die,” Hunt said, wrapping an arm around me. “If it were up to me, I’d let you.”
“Get your hands off me or you’ll be dead before we make it back,” I huffed and looked to Col, who was already watching me. “I’m sorry,” I mouthed, right before the gryphon launched into the sky.