16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Ryker
T he feeling was undeniable—a weak-yet-sharp throbbing in my chest that electrified my entire body, causing me to grunt as I jerked back in my seat.
After so many years, I had started to doubt it would ever happen.
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes at the overwhelming sensation.
I felt the connection snap into place like it was always meant to be there, a perfect fit to a piece of my soul that I never realized was missing.
Until now. And now that it was suddenly ingrained into everything that I was, I couldn’t imagine living without it. The bond.
My mate .
And I knew, with absolute certainty, who she was. It was one of the contestants. The precious little beauty with long brown hair and eyes a striking color of pine green.
When I saw her for the first time in the temple, I couldn’t tear my gaze from her. Her lightly freckled face and those plump pink lips had been at the forefront of my mind for days. And now I knew why.
She must have been chosen. That was the only thing that would explain the sudden surge of connection in a mating bond.
She had become bound to one of the Spirits.
That was how I was able to feel her from another realm.
It also explained why the bond was so unsure before—her fate had yet to be sealed.
Like all those born Marked of the Trial, their fates were not known until they competed.
She would return soon, and I prayed to Xareus that he did not betray me and choose my mate.
If I was forced to challenge her, I’d throw myself into the Rip willingly.
I didn’t even know the female, but the thought of having to fight someone who was now a part of me felt wrong and vile.
I had remained in my tent for days, pacing back and forth as I waited and waited for a Sage to collect me to challenge one of the Worthy.
But they never came. Perhaps Xareus hadn’t chosen anyone, and if that was the case, I wanted to leave before the Challenges began.
I had no interest in watching someone succumb to being thrown into the Rip—yet now, I needed to stay to make sure my mate survived.
The Sages forced the duelers to drink an elixir to temporarily nullify their abilities during the challenge. The goal during the challenge was simple: throw your opponent into the Rip and claim your right as Lord or Lady. Something I never wished to do again.
I grew tired of waiting for the Sages. I needed to be there when my mate returned. I needed to make sure she would survive whoever she had to challenge and hopefully it wasn’t me.
I stood from the chair in my tent and shook my head to clear my mind of her, taking a deep breath to gather myself before stepping back into the mask of a Lord—fearsome and powerful.
I threw open the flap of my tent and stepped outside.
Large tents of cloth and stone littered the grounds around the temple.
I wove my way through them to the temple steps where the Sages were standing in a line like a barrier.
No one was allowed back inside until all of the contestants—the ones who survived at least—returned. How the Sages knew was beyond me.
I placed my hands behind my back and raised my chin as a female Sage broke away from the line and met me at the bottom of the marble steps.
She was in her ceremonial robes, the thin material doing little to hide the tall slender body beneath it, and it swayed in the warm wind as she descended.
I had to fight to keep from rolling my eyes as she approached.
Of course she had to approach me.
“Lord Ryker,” Vicria greeted with a sultry tone, bowing at the waist before rising. I didn’t return the gesture. She deserved no respect from me. “I’m surprised to see that you’re still here.”
My eyebrows rose. “Why would I not still be here? I have yet to be informed that I am not due to challenge.”
The female batted her long eyelashes at me.
“My apologies, Lord Ryker.” She blushed and placed her hand on her chest. “I had assumed that you had been told.” While Sages were forbidden from taking lovers, this one was often known to disregard her vows to get her way.
I despised it, and I despised her. She was a disgrace to the Sages.
“Told me what?” My words were clipped and my lips curved into a sneer.
“Your presence is no longer required. The Gods have chosen. You will not be challenged.”
I kept the relief from my features and silently sent thanks to Xareus that he did not choose the contestant who was fated to me. Even though the Gods bestowed the mating bond, I wouldn’t have put it past them to have a pair duel to the death for the sake of entertainment.
But I couldn’t leave yet, I needed to see my mate.
“I will remain until the contestants return. Have one of the other Sages come to my tent when they have.” My voice was cold, demanding.
Vicria stepped closer, our bodies nearly touching, and I resisted the urge to retreat. “I’m afraid I must insist. Return to your home, you are no longer needed.”
“Enough.” I pushed past her and stormed my way up the temple steps, Vicria followed with a huff. “Sages.” I greeted them with a slight bow of my head.
“Lord Ryker.” A tall male, Zareb, spoke after bowing in return, “I hope you have not been waiting to be challenged. The Worthy have been chosen, and Xareus did not select a contestant. You may return to your Nation.”
“As I have told Vicria, I will stay. The bond of my mate has been enacted, a Worthy.”
Elated gasps broke out amongst the group. The mating bond was a sacred gift from the Gods, one cherished deeply by the Sages. The female beside me fumed with rage while holding her composure in front of her brethren.
“An unfortunate situation,” she shouted over the gleeful chatting of the other Sages and I couldn’t help but notice the slight scent of nervousness from her. “This could cause a great imbalance in power.”
I glared at her from the corner of my eye as she gave an innocent looking smile.
Always the manipulator.
“How do you mean?” another male asked.
“Two Worthy being mated? This is unheard of. Even if they are both from different Nations, they would be a formidable pair,” she stated, with a fake worried expression plastered across her face
Damn right we would be.
“That does not guarantee an imbalance.” I didn’t bother hiding the annoyance from my voice.
Vicria ignored me as she continued. “We’ve all heard the rumors of Lord Rykers insatiable greed, and I don’t need to remind you of the Battle of Red Waters, named for his bloodlust.”
Absurd. That battle was won before it ever began and it wouldn’t have even begun if not for the tyrannical appetite of Hamal and his ignorance of just how far I would go to protect my Nation.
Ulrik’s blatant disregard of our peace laws brought it upon themselves when they attacked my borders from the sea.
“What’s to say that he would not seal the bond and use this female to overrule another Nation, or all of them? If they mated ,” Vicria spat the word as if it were rancid. “They could be unstoppable.”
The group of Sages began quietly muttering to themselves. Vicria swept out her arm, gesturing to the tents of the other Lords and Ladies.
“Do you not think they would feel threatened by this union of power?” She continued to feign innocence and righteousness. I wanted to beat her face in, but I would not be sentenced to death over that low-life excuse for a Sage.
“This needs to be discussed, immediately.” Zareb stepped forward. He turned to one of the Sages next to him. “Call the Lords and Ladies. This matter must be handled before the Worthy return.”
Chaos erupted outside the temple after the Lords and Ladies were summoned and informed of the situation. I remained still, refusing to engage in this ridiculous debacle.
She’s my mate and I will have her. No Sage or Worthy will stop me.
Practically in unison, the Lords and Ladies collectively demanded that I deny the sacred bond, arguing back and forth on how to deal with the situation. I finally grew tired of listening to their bickering about my mating bond.
“The Gods granted this bond. My mate has been fated to me. I will not deny them, nor her. I can guarantee that I have no interest in seizing other Nations.”
The shouting grew louder, Sages and Worthy alike pressing for retribution for my denial of their proposal and voicing their distrust. Vicria smiled maliciously as she stepped into the center of the horde circled around me. I narrowed my eyes. She was the one who was not to be trusted.
“I believe that there can be an alternate solution, one in which the two Worthy may be together without contest.” The crowd quieted, giving her their full attention with wary looks.
She turned to face me. “Undergo the Raith. Forfeit your wielding, your magic, your bonds, and your Worthy status. Both of you. You and your mate would no longer be a threat.”
My teeth clenched. I fought to keep my magic contained as it begged to eliminate the true threat standing before me.
What is her problem?
The mass of fae bristled around me in agreement with her.
“No,” I snapped.
The Raith was a gruesome ritual that stripped any and all bonds to the world.
The Sages and Scholars made such a sacrifice to gain their positions, but to take away the power and status of one that was Worthy was worse than death, leaving them weak with no contribution to the world.
A shameful life that I would not allow myself or my mate to endure.
I wouldn’t let her succumb to that fate.
“Lord Ryker,” Zareb interjected. “If you cannot agree to either of these terms, a formal panel will be convened, consisting of the Council of Sages as well as all of the Worthy. Is this what you wish for?”
They wanted to put her through another fucking trial after having just completed one.
“I will not deny the bond of my mate. And I will not put either of us through the Raith.”
The male bowed in respect for my decision.
“Very well then. The panel regarding the mating of the two Worthy will be held one month after the Nailu at the Sages Temple in Bhara. This will allow the new Worthy, victorious in the Challenge, to be sworn in as Lords or Ladies and establish their ruling.”
The grumbling crowd reluctantly dispersed and resumed their duties. I turned back to head for my tent to wait for my mate to return.
My mate .
Nailu, the Night of No Moons. It was a highly celebrated night, filled with music and dancing, all over the continent. And it was less than three months away.
Before I made it back to my tent, Vicria stepped in front of me.
“I will continue to insist that you return home. Being near your mate once she returns will not be beneficial for either of you if you can’t control yourself and try to claim her.
” She placed a hand on my chest as she looked up at me from underneath her lashes.
“Return now, and I could help you. Help relieve some of this tension. Seeing as your mate can’t. ”
I grabbed her wrist and she winced, her eyes widening as I lightly burned her wrist, pulling it away from my chest. My nostrils flared, menace lacing my words, “You would do well to remember who I am, Sage . You do not command me. And if you dare to touch me again, I will burn your hand from your body.” I released her wrist, now scorched raw where I had held it.
Vicria cradled her burned wrist. Her eyes turned cold as she leaned forward and whispered, “If you do not deny the bond of the Riyite female, your Nation will suffer more than it already is.”
“What are you talking about?” My eyebrows furrowed and a pit formed in my stomach.
“I suggest you go home and find out, Lord Ryker.” Her lips curved into a depraved grin and she walked back up the steps of the temple.
Fury erupted in my chest at the threat to my lands and my people. I stormed off down the hill, past the encampment and into the wooded area north of the temple. I couldn’t risk that Vicria was lying just to get me to leave. That would be a mistake. My duty was to my Nation.
Damn her.
Every step was a painstaking effort as I moved away from where I knew my mate would return to. The bond was driving me to be with her no matter what. I would find her—nothing would stop me from finding her. But I had to go back.
“Theron, take me home. Now . ”