Chapter 30 Ryder
RYDER
Waiting outside Audryn’s locked room left me seething.
I threw my boot at the door, forcing the lock to give way, and the wood to fling open.
The curtains billowing from the breeze of open air sent me into a frenzy.
She’d tried to distract me with affection, but I ignored her and went straight for the window to catch whoever was having a late-night rendezvous with my bride.
All I found in the distance were the shadows of guards walking the perimeter path of the castle.
I’d spent only a matter of minutes questioning her before recognizing the conversation was futile. There was no way she’d tell me the truth, and with anger screaming through me, nothing could satisfy my suspicion. I would order every room in this castle and every inch of the grounds to be searched.
Captain Vexley responded to my side less than twenty minutes later and compiled teams to comb the area.
He offered to brief me every hour, but I refused to sit by and wait for a report.
If the person in Audryn’s room was found, I’d deal with them myself.
There would be no trial or public execution.
I would be in charge of their fate the moment my eyes landed on them.
By the time the sun crested over the horizon, we’d come up short, and there was nothing left to do but concede to the results. Either the person got away prior to Vexley’s arrival, or there was never anyone in her room to begin with. Regardless, I’d lost a night’s sleep before a crucial meeting.
Attempting to convince five kingdoms to breach a treaty was near impossible; doing so with little sleep was absurd. But if I wanted to make my mark and establish my rule, there was no better time to act.
Pushing a wet cloth over my face, I rehearsed what I’d planned to say to the royals.
Gratefully, I’d had the forethought to request they arrive early, just in case things went badly with Grave; and they had.
On our way back from Kuroden, I thought about my plans ad nauseam.
It was an uphill battle, but would be worth it in the end.
I needed them to see my brilliance; but more than that, I needed them to agree to my plan.
“Are you off to your meeting?” Maris mumbled lazily from my bed.
I stepped through the open doorway of the bathing room. “Almost.” I turned slowly for her to look me over. “What do you think?”
She bit into her lower lip as she stalked across the room, entirely nude from our afternoon activities. Fucking her had quickly become my new favorite hobby.
“Delicious.” Her mouth kissed my neck. “Are you sure you have to go? Can’t you stay in bed with me?” The whine on her lips was exactly what I needed. Compared to Audryn’s vitriol, Maris's words were a welcome change. I should’ve had Elowen bond her to me rather than Audryn.
I ran my hand down to her center and pushed two fingers in. “If you wait here, I’ll come find you when the meeting is over.”
Her brown eyes met mine, and she nodded.
“Go get back in bed.” I withdrew and smacked a hand across her ass cheek as she scampered off.
Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I straightened my jacket. With my head held high, I walked out of the room and into the corridor. My boots clacked along the floor as I hurried through the winding halls.
“Your Highness, Captain Vexley is requesting a meeting with you afterwards to go over the increased security protocols.” Hunt followed close behind. “He’s seated in the general common room, but I’ll bring him to you on your order.”
“Yes, fine,” I said.
Hunt’s demeanor had shifted to pure business over the last month, and it was almost pleasant to have him working for me. His dependability and loyalty were never in question; had I sent him to escort Audryn, she wouldn’t have been tainted by Grave’s dirty Macabre hands.
“Filth,” I muttered, thinking of how she’d smelled of the witch.
“Sir?” Hunt asked, but I ignored him.
Anger chased through my veins as I recalled not only the scent of her skin but the words she used to address him.
The bond had faded for me during our time away, but my commitment to our unification remained intact, which was more than I could say for her.
She was a traitorous bitch, and I’d be sure to make her pay with every breath that I had.
I stood in front of the doors and collected myself for a minute before giving the signal to the flanking guards.
My father would be proud of what I was about to do, but he wasn’t around to see the momentous event.
I lifted my chin and entered the room. Keeping my eyes forward, the occupants stood as I made my way to the head of the table.
“Thank you all for meeting with me.” I looked at the seven royals representing the five kingdoms.
“We are pleased to witness the joining of you and your bride,” Queen Esmond of Rynholm said.
“Mate,” I corrected. “She is my mate.”
The Queen smiled at her husband. “Do you hear that? How delightful.” He merely grunted.
I’d predicted he wouldn’t say much; he let his wife do the speaking. I gestured a hand to the attendant in the corner and sat. He poured wine into each of the glasses set on the table.
“While we appreciate the invitation, I think we are all curious about this meeting.” King Arden from Shalebridge twirled his wineglass between his thumb and forefinger.
“And where is King Grave?” Queen Arden added.
Shalebridge, Pontara, and Rynholm all bordered Kuroden and would be the most difficult kingdoms to convince to make a move against Grave. The Ardens, in particular, seemed especially fond of him.
I sipped from my glass as my eyes roamed over everyone.
“I’ve asked you all here to discuss a matter of significance,” I said, ignoring the inquiry.
“There is a danger brewing within Crofea, and we must address it together. Each of our kingdoms are at risk if we continue to ignore it. We must act now.” I'd rehearsed the lines until they rolled off my tongue with ease.
Queen Hayes of Pontara narrowed her eyes at me.
“Kuroden holds all the crude, and since we all need the resource, we must work together.” I took another sip. “It’s bestowed by the land itself, yet a witch controls it.”
“Half witch,” Queen Arden responded coolly. “Descended from a Grant.”
“A witch nonetheless.” King Ashton from Otea gestured a wave. “Continue, Son.”
I didn’t correct him for speaking to me as though I were a child, and not a future king.
In a matter of days, land willing, I would be sworn in to rule Rivale and would finally have Divine magic to do so.
I’d already considered handling executions differently, providing me a venue to display my newest ability.
“We should all be concerned with Grave’s affiliation, both to the Alden Islands and Oras.” I sipped as casually as possible, hoping someone would fill in the silence.
“He has publicly renounced both,” Queen Arden chimed in. “Do you have information to suggest he’s aligned with them?”
“Does he need information to suggest otherwise? Was Grave’s father not enough to establish his allegiance with the witches?” King Toraval of Lirendor interjected. He was my best possible ally at the table.
“No, it certainly is not,” Queen Hayes snapped. “And should this meeting not be held in his presence? He deserves a chance to defend himself.”
“And let his sister erode every one of us?” King Toraval scoffed. “I think not.”
The table erupted in conversation, voices chattering over one another, while I sat back and took in as much as possible.
The royals of Rynholm remained quiet, expectedly neutral, since they shared a border with every kingdom in Crofea.
Queen Arden and Queen Hayes were on Grave’s side with King Arden sitting back and observing the interaction.
King Toraval and King Ashton were heatedly agreeing that Grave was a risk to everyone and something needed to be done.
“We are within our treaty’s terms!” Queen Hayes stood, slamming her hands down on the table. “Do we not expect more than this? If any of you were ruling Kuroden, would you want your kingdom’s future spoken about so casually?”
“Agreed.” Queen Arden glared at me. If she could’ve harmed me with her kingdom’s magic she probably would have, but she was only a healer. She couldn’t cure me to death.
“What are you suggesting?” King Toraval dipped his chin at me.
I took a moment and pretended I was deep in contemplation.
“None of us wish ill will to King Grave.” My lips pursed.
“Perhaps we should allow him to live with his true family. Give him the opportunity to take his evil creatures to the Oras.” I shrugged.
“And then we split the resources of Kuroden equally. Rename the land.”
King Toraval and Ashton nodded pensively.
“No,” Queen Arden said. King Arden’s hand moved to rest on top of hers.
In a low voice, King Arden spoke. “We will need a few days to consider.” Shock filled the Queen’s face, and she sank into her seat a moment later, her chest heaving.
Queen Hayes’s stare snapped across the table at him. “There’s nothing more I need to hear. Pontara will not take part in such a gross breach of a treaty; it is in good standing. Grave has done nothing to provoke this type of behavior.”
Asking Hayes to breach a treaty was risky, especially when I needed assistance to retrieve the barrels lost at sea. But with any luck, I’d have a mountain full of crude at my disposal and wouldn’t need her water-shifting abilities anyhow.
“I would like to hear more. But tentatively, Lirendor is on board.” King Toraval tilted his head.
King Ashton nodded. “As is Otea.”
Queen Esmond shook her head. “I’m sorry, but Rynholm will not take a side in what is sure to be an all-out war.”
“Won’t you though?” I smirked. “We will all take sides, whether we want to or not. It would be best for you to choose your side now, rather than have it decided for you.”
The room fell silent.
If a royal refused to align with me, they stood in opposition, and I would do what was needed.
Each of the kingdoms relied on one another for various reasons, whether for trade or security, but the majority relied heavily on Kuroden and Rivale.
Mine was the largest, and Grave’s kingdom was the only one able to produce crude and most gemstones.
Each would be forced to choose a side, but if they were wise, they’d stand with me.
“It’s been a long day, and I’m sure all of you are weary from your travels.
Let’s reconvene on Saturday. Relax, overindulge in food and wine tomorrow, then we will continue this conversation Saturday.
” I looked around the table. “Let us celebrate a unification. Both within my family and among our kingdoms.”