45. Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Five
Ryker
K ya’s anger pulsed through the bond as she stood before me with her fighting leathers and weapons in the sparring ring inside the training area.
Even without feeling her rage through the bond, I knew that she was furious.
Her body was red hot in only a shirt and leather pants, and she didn’t shiver when a cold blast of wind cut through.
I was able to use my fire to keep myself warm, but she wasn’t.
Despite the midday sun, the temperature was near freezing up in the mountains this time of year, as winter was nearly upon us.
I had offered to be the one to spar with Kya.
Malina had told me to bring her out here, and I was willing to be an outlet for her temper.
“No elements.” The lethal calm of her voice had me hesitating for a fleeting moment.
I had never heard her sound like that and I liked it more than I should have. My powerful, formidable mate. I was eager to see her truly fight with emotion fueling her. Not only was she a trained Roav, but she was Worthy. She had to be good to have survived the Trial.
She barely gave me the time to get into a stance before she came at me with her blades drawn. I had opted for no weapon, she wouldn’t harm me. She couldn’t. No more than I could harm her.
I had been falling for her for weeks. Her ferocity and passion, that beautiful fucking mind, her smart witty comments and stunning body, I loved it all.
Even though I didn’t know much about her, I knew who she was.
I knew her soul and her heart. It called to me.
I would voice how I felt, but now wasn’t the time.
She threw her outrage toward me, blades slashing through the air as I blocked with my arms and ducked out of the way but didn’t counter. She was stronger than she seemed and just as swift as the wind as she spun and jabbed. Over and over and over.
I had to put in quite a bit of effort blocking her, more than I had anticipated.
Maybe she would hurt me. She certainly could . Such a sharp little gem.
Taking away the risk of serious injury, I grabbed her outstretched wrists and twisted them until she was forced to drop the daggers.
I grinned at her vicious snarl, her fierceness excited me, that sound and the fire in her eyes made my cock twitch.
My hands still gripping her wrists, I held her stare and stepped closer to her as I caressed the bond to calm her overwhelmed soul.
But she wasn’t ready for that.
She took that opportunity to drive her knee into my side. Grunting and letting go of her wrist, she used her free hand to push me and swept her leg out, causing me to fall flat on my back and pulling her down on top of me. That seemed to snap her out of her enraged state.
She blinked down at me before slowly lowering her head to rest on my bare chest. I released her wrist and brushed my hand down her braid, my other wrapped around her waist. Taking the daggers from her back, I tossed them aside. Just to be safe .
Her panting breaths were cool against my hot skin as we lay on the stone in the sun. Being in this position only excited me further and I hardened underneath her. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything.
We didn’t speak for several minutes while her heart rate came down—mine having only increased. She lifted her head off my chest and reached up to cup my cheek.
“Thank you.” The edges of her lips curved into a small smile.
I bent forward to kiss her forehead. “Of course.”
“You already think it’s Vicria so why don’t you just go grab her? We could put her—” Hakoa cut off when Kya interjected.
“If it’s not her, then we could risk whoever it is lashing out. We don’t have confirmation, but we’re certain that she’s involved somehow.”
Hakoa came to my study to continue to look over the reports from the last Glaev attack in Helerie and determine where some of the forces might be best distributed. Reports were still trickling in from the Noavo and Vaavi with recounts of the events from survivors and witnesses.
“And if she’s working alone?” Hakoa asked.
“Then it won’t be an issue to stop her and stop the Glaev.” I nodded.
“You can’t kill her, you know.” Kya crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Not unless you can prove that she’s using the dark magic. She’s a Sage, their lives are protected under the laws of the Council. I won’t let you die for that vile bitch.”
But I wouldn’t be dying for her, I’d be doing it for Kya and Oryn. Not that I’d let it happen anyway. I wouldn’t allow anyone to take me away from my mate or my Nation.
Before I could respond to tell her just that, I heard the incoherent shouts of a familiar voice coming down the corridor toward my study.
I looked at Kya, who was staring at the door with a concerned look on her face. She looked up when I took her hand in mine. Hakoa lowered his head with a resigned look on his face.
“Kya, I’m sorry about this,” I said.
Her eyes widened slightly. “About what?”
“Him.”
The doors flew open as Mavris followed behind the upset male who burst through them, trying to calm him down. He had that same crazed look in his eyes that had taken over his once-charming face. I stood and approached him while he continued his delirious babbling.
“Father,” I greeted with a short bow of my head.
“Sorry Ryk. He just showed up. I didn’t even know he was coming,” Mavris said.
“Of course you didn’t, because I hadn’t told anyone.” My father looked like he hadn’t slept in days. I needed to talk to the healers about giving him something to help him sleep again.
His light brown hair was unkempt and longer than the last time I saw him.
His clothes were filthy on his strong body and looked too big for him.
He normally would be just as tall as Mav and myself, but with his slumped posture, he looked smaller.
The mental frailty of his mind took an enormous toll on him.
It tore at my heart to see him this way, so unlike the rugged, kind, and patient male that had raised me.
He started arguing with Mavris and I took a deep breath to calm myself. His state wasn’t his fault but he had become impossible to deal with and dangerous to those around him. It was why I had sent him to live away from the city.
I noticed Hakoa whisper to Kya briefly before he slipped out the door and left.
“—and you can’t tell me I’m wrong!” He was still yelling.
“Hi.” Kya’s voice was sweet, and she had a pleasant smile on her face when she came to stand next to me and greet my father.
“You’re the Worthy, then?” he demanded, spitting his words.
Her eyes squinted when her smile grew wider. “I’m Kya. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Kya, this is our father, Cadoc.” My lips thinned into a sad smile.
“Enough delays!” He stepped closer and grabbed Kya’s shoulders. She didn’t flinch or even try to step away from his grasp. Instead, her eyes softened. “You saw her, didn’t you?!”
“Father!” Mavris and I exclaimed in unison. I reached to take his hands off her.
“It’s alright,” Kya said gently.
“I’m sorry. I promise he won’t hurt you. He’s just…” I spoke into her mind, not wanting my father to hear.
“I know. It’s okay.” Even her thoughts were soft and understanding.
“Did I see who Cadoc?” She placed her hands on his and tenderly removed them from her shoulders.
“I know you did! Now where is she? Why didn’t you bring her back?”
Mavris dropped his head back and sighed. I didn’t blame him. We had been dealing with this for decades, but no amount of answering his questions helped when he got like this.
“Who?” she prodded.
“Who?! How could you not remember her?” He was near screaming in Kya’s face but she didn’t balk. “Her name is Leysa! She has brown wavy hair and eyes that sparkle like the moons! ”
I pressed my eyes shut. These moments were the hardest with him. His desperation was so palpable, you tasted it in the air.
“Our mother,” I told her.
“She had to have been there with you! You went into the Rip. I know you saw her. Now tell me where she is!” Father continued. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes frantically darted back and forth between Kya’s.
“Will you sit with me?” She led him to the chairs, and they sat down across from each other. Mavris leaned against the wall and dragged a hand down his face.
“Where is all this coming from?” I asked in Mavris’s mind.
“He heard from someone that the contestants went into the Rip to get to the Woltawa Forest. He’s now convinced it’s some kind of entrance to it and thinks that’s where Mother is. At least that’s what I gathered from him downstairs.”
“It’s possible but unlikely. That was a completely different situation.”
“Cadoc, there was no one inside the Rip. There was nothing there. It was devoid of light and life and time. It was the Gods who sent us to the Woltawa Forest. Otherwise, there’s nothing but death inside.”
“Did your mother go into the Rip?” she asked.
“From what we know, yes.”
“Why do you think she’s alive?” Kya spoke to my father. There was no judgment in her voice.
“The bond still lives and so does she,” Father scoffed. “She’s not dead. I would know if she was. She’s just…lost.”
He broke down and began sobbing into his hands. Mavris went over and pulled him to a stand before taking him out of the study to get him some rest in one of the rooms on the upper level.
Kya came over and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m sorry about your mother. And your father. His anguish over losing his mate…”
“I know.” I held her to me.
“I don’t want that to happen to either of us.”
“I won’t let that happen.” I kissed her head. “I promise.”