Chapter 32 Audryn
AUDRYN
Perhaps it was wishful thinking or delusion, but I’d thought Col had done the impossible.
I swore I heard wyvern wings beating above the castle in the early morning hours.
I raced to the window, fully expecting to see him coming to my rescue, but found nothing but the navy sky staring back at me.
He wasn’t there to save me, and with Friday’s sun setting rapidly, I was losing hope.
I had yet to come across a single ruby. The only red jewel I’d seen was the large one embedded in Jaspar’s dagger when I slid it into the holster on my thigh before I stepped into my wedding dress.
“Turn,” Orion said, looking over the gown. He’d reduced a layer under the cascading skirts, but other than letting out the waist, there were no other changes.
“Do you know if my father made it home to collect any of his belongings?” I whispered.
“No, your house has remained dark.” His eyes shot to the door. “What’s the plan? Or are you just winging it at this point?”
I shook my head and sighed.
“Turn.”
“It’s pretty awful,” I said, facing the mirror. “Couldn’t you have done something else with your talent? Maybe cut the entire thing up?”
He smirked. “Well, your hair might actually be worse than the dress, which is kind of impressive. I wouldn’t have thought it possible.”
Leanna had sent a woman in to set my hair that morning.
With an arch on one side and another on the other, my hair was formed around wire to create the appearance of a heart sitting high atop my head.
I’d never seen such a ridiculous look. When I asked to place it into a low braid or leave it down, the woman told me no, as if my hair didn’t actually belong to me.
“Are you ready for all of this?” Orion’s eyes darted down to my thigh.
“Not really.” Tugging at my hair, I unraveled the sky-high design. “If I die, I might as well look halfway decent. Fuck wearing two things I can’t stand.”
“Well, you better make a move soon, or you’re going to have a very large audience and I—”
A knock on the door interrupted him, and Leanna walked in half a breath later, not waiting to make sure I was decent.
“You’re dismissed,” she said curtly and eyed Orion. He dipped his head and left without looking in my direction.
“It started coming out,” I lied, fiddling with my hair, “so I figured I’d let it down.” My fingers continued working, sending my locks tumbling down to loose waves.
She’d been so kind to me over the last two days that I’d nearly asked for her help to get my father out of the castle, but didn’t. If there was one thing I knew for certain, it was to never trust a Sutton.
“You’ve lasted longer than I expected.” Leanna lifted her chin and tilted her head as she inspected me from a distance.
Caught off guard, I wasn’t sure how to respond. Her tone was cold and sharp.
“I honestly thought my brother would have dismissed you after the citrus in Allura’s tea.” She pursed her lips and strolled toward me. “Even the buttercups weren’t enough for him to send you away.”
“I wasn’t responsible for that.” I shook my head and fidgeted with my necklace.
“Even taking your mother’s necklace and destroying her dress couldn’t get you to leave.” Leanna dragged her fingertips along the wall. “When you ruined his dinner party, I thought you’d surely be gone, yet now he says you’re his mate.”
I gasped at the accusation as I watched her in the mirror. “Someone poisoned me.”
“Oh, I know,” she replied and waved a hand. “The ipecac was in your bag, though. Interesting that you’d bring it into the castle with you. What was your intention with it?”
My breath caught, the corset constricting around my ribs.
“Were you going to give it to Ryder, and that’s why you didn’t report it missing? You didn’t even notify me.” The corner of one side of her mouth ticked up. “Was I not helpful enough for you?”
My mind raced, trying to make sense of the information.
She moved toward the podium, and I stepped off, backing away from her. I started mentally assessing the distance to the door and wasn’t sure I’d get to it quickly enough. There weren’t any guards to help, though they probably wouldn’t assist anyhow.
“Oh, Audryn. I don’t want to kill you,” she purred, “but I don’t want you to marry my brother either.”
“Seems we can finally agree.” I blew out a breath and allowed myself to relax a fraction.
“Then leave.” Her eyelashes fluttered. “Go with King Grave. We both know that’s where you truly want to be.
He’s quite fun in bed, isn’t he?” She walked languidly around the podium, drawing in close to me.
“I’ve heard the guards whispering—what they saw while they were there. What my brother saw and still ignored.”
“And you’re going to help me leave?” I asked and stepped to the right. “You’re going to make sure my father and I get out of here safely?”
“No, of course not.” She chuckled sweetly. “You’ll have to do that all on your own. But I wouldn’t stop you. Now my brother—well, he’s the one you’ll need to worry about.”
The door clicked, and I flinched, my head snapping to the open doorway. Leanna kept her eyes on me, completely unbothered by the intrusion.
My father limped in, cane in hand. I’d never seen him dressed so handsomely, his attire looking similar to Benton’s when he had escorted me to the ball. Even through the beauty of his clothes, his discontentment was written across his face.
“You’re still here?” I wrapped my arms around him, unable to ask if he’d spoken to Jaspar. Leanna and Ryder had done an impeccable job of keeping us apart. We weren’t afforded even one moment alone together.
Holding on tight and not letting go of the hug, he whispered, “Don’t go through with it. We can leave.”
I pulled back, but he only stared.
“Hello, Bride.” Ryder called from the doorway, and moved into the room.
He looked stunningly beautiful. He wore mostly white aside from the long draping aqua cloak dragging behind him with swirling gold embroidery. A large aquamarine gemstone sat on either side of his collar, clasping the cloak closed. A golden crown with a wavelike pattern topped his dark hair.
He leaned in and hugged me, but I didn’t hug him back.
“Act as if you’re happy to see me or your father will be disciplined for your inappropriate behavior,” the prince admonished through gritted teeth.
I moved my arms up and forced a hug, breathing in his presence.
“And this is for you.” Ryder pulled away and displayed a gold tiara with a similar wavelike pattern around it.
He stretched the thin, flexible metal open and let it snap around my head, sending a shock of pain shooting through me.
“We can’t forget this.” He pulled my left hand out and placed a ring on my finger, identical to the one I’d left in Kuroden.
Leanna looked over Ryder’s shoulder at the ring and then at me with a raised brow. It felt more like a dare to leave than anything else. But with the threat to my father, I was backed into a corner.
“Leave us,” Ryder said, not turning to look at the others in the room.
“I’d like to speak with my father first,” I protested.
“Of course you would.” He smirked. “You’ll see him in a few minutes, he’ll be waiting to walk you to me.”
Leanna held the door open and gestured for my father to pass. He turned only once and gave me the slightest shake of his head.
Ryder took a seat in the nearby chair, cleared his throat, and stared in my direction. Standing on display, I contemplated how fast I’d be able to pull the dagger from its sheath and kill him. But I would’ve needed to catch him by surprise.
“I know what you did.” Ryder let the words hang in the air.
My mind ran through the many possibilities: sleeping with a king he absolutely hated, snooping in his father’s study, bringing in the ipecac, carrying the dagger, planning to kill his father—the list went on.
If I were going to do something, it was time, and I needed to act. I did my best to saunter over to him as seductively as possible, but with the billowing layers of crinoline, the task was hopeless.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” I bit my lip and then pushed it into a pout as I stood in front of him. “Enlighten me?”
He rose, letting his body push against me. His hand moved, and I braced myself for what I was certain would be physical retribution for whatever he discovered. But he only moved to cup my cheek. Pleased with himself and the power he held over me, he smiled.
“Your friends—they’re all captured,” he continued. “My first order as king will be to recommence the executions. Perhaps I’ll go to the prison after our ceremony and handle it myself.”
I remained silent, considering my options. Even if Amalee and Col had come, there was no way they would’ve been captured. He was trying to bait me into admitting something, and I wouldn’t react.
“You can go with me and witness the event,” he paused, “considering you didn’t give your brother the courtesy of attending his execution.
You should at least be there to watch your friends die.
Especially the male with red hair, the one I saw you speaking with at the ball. He’s got quite a mouth on him.”
My breath caught.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?” Ryder placed a gentle kiss on my lips as tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Do you think I am so stupid that a dozen members of the resistance could enter onto my grounds and I wouldn’t see?
” His hand slid down my body, and I was thankful for the thick layers of skirts between us.
Killing King Sutton was suddenly the least of my worries; I needed to get to the resistance before Ryder did.
Ryder’s hand tugged up the skirts of my gown. I pulled back, but he was already fisting the material. Unable to flee, I lifted my chin as his eyes scanned over me. Ryder gripped the hilt of the dagger and yanked it from its sheath.
His blue eyes roamed over the gold-adorned hilt. “Aww, a wedding gift for me?” His brow rose. “Or to use on me?”
I let out a gasp as he flicked his wrist forward and pushed the dagger against my abdomen. The cold metal tip ripped through the fabric and bit into my skin. I urged myself not to move, to stand tall despite my shuddering breath, or the blade would sink in further.
He pulled the dagger back several breaths later. “I dare you to try it.” Ryder twirled the weapon and offered me the hilt, blade digging into the palm of his hand. A small crimson trickle of blood dripped from his palm.
My eyes shot to him and then to the dagger.
“Go ahead, brave girl,” he mocked. “Do your best. But know you’ll only get one chance. Your father and friends will be as good as dead if you fail.”
My hands trembled. How had I thought I’d be able to kill someone? What about Hunt and Fisher? I’d been so naive. Only through pure adrenaline and whatever the mating bond did to me, was I able to kill Jezelle.
“That’s what I thought.” He smirked and re-sheathed the dagger. “Perhaps later? Maybe you’ll wear it for me and Maris tonight with nothing else?” He grabbed a handkerchief from his pants pocket and wiped at his bloodied hand.
“Hunt!” Ryder called out, and the door swung open. The guard stepped in and looked at me with amusement.
“Be sure to send this to King Grave.” Ryder pulled an aqua-colored envelope from his coat pocket. “Somehow I forgot to send out his invitation.” He flicked his hand out while keeping his gaze on me as Hunt collected the envelope and retreated to the corridor.
“Convenient,” I breathed.
“Sometimes I’m forgetful,” he sighed. “I’ll be sure to be more thoughtful in the future.”
“I’m sure you will.” I looked away.
“Oh, one last thing.” Ryder dropped his cloak, letting the garment fall to the floor. His coat followed suit a moment later.
I watched with heated eyes as he undid his shirt, adding it to the pile of clothes at his feet.
The fire inside me welled as my eyes roamed over his muscled abs and down to his waistband.
My mind and body worked in tandem as the flames built, and all I wanted to do was touch him, though the desire to kill him burned a close second.
“I love the way you look at me.” He smiled coyly. “If only your mouth matched your eyes. Perhaps I will have Elowen remedy that for me.”
I shot my gaze down.
“Don’t look away, I wouldn’t want you to miss this.” He turned, exposing his back to me.
The Rivale sigil was inked in black and gray across his skin.
The outline of a large shield contained the rough waves of the ocean, a pair of armored helmets on either side, and a rose in the center.
A sword stood vertically outside each helmet.
It was beautifully done, despite Ryder’s swollen red skin.
“I know it’s customary to have the sigil inked after I take the throne, but my father’s nearly dead.” He turned and put on his shirt, carefully buttoning it up. “I’ve also spoken to the healer, and she’ll start working at removing the ink on your arm in the morning.”
I didn’t bother arguing with him; there was no point in it.
He finished buttoning his shirt, put on his coat, and pulled the cloak around himself. “Clasp this for your king.”
With shaking hands, it took several attempts for me to successfully connect the clasps around his neck.
“Eager to get started, I see.” He gestured his arm out. “Let me get you to your father so we can begin.”