“Yes, him.”
“Trust me, Riordan is the good brother.” I scoffed.
“Maybe that’s the case for you, but I can’t stand him. He wouldn’t shut up about how gorgeous I am and how golden my skin is, and how my hair reminds him of melted chocolate.”
Callum rolled his eyes in disgust as I stared at him. Then a very undignified laugh bubbled up my throat before I could stop it.
“It is not funny, Cadence,” Callum said, gnashing his teeth.
“No,” I giggled. “I’m sure it’s torturous to be told how wonderful you are.”
“Seriously? I tell you I am being harassed, and your response is to snicker at me. After I battled a dragon for you and everything. Ungrateful fiend.”
Callum’s tone was biting, but I caught the smile that tugged at his lips.
“All joking aside,” he whispered. “What’s our escape plan?”
“It’s not that simple, Callum.” I sighed. “You still haven’t heard the entire story, and with Ryker hovering over me, I’m not sure when we’ll get a moment alone.”
“If he so much as lays a finger on you, Cadence, I’ll kill him. I do not care if he is next in line for the Unseelie throne. I will end his life with my bare hands.”
“Don’t say things like that! The walls have ears.” I nodded toward a group of servants dusting the windows.
Callum lowered his voice. “Not that I’m advocating for you to use your magic, but why haven’t you just killed him and slipped away?”
“At first, I couldn’t risk exposure, but then he tethered me to him with magic.”
I chose not to mention the collar. It wouldn’t do anything to soothe Callum’s concerns.
“And once he discovered my magic —”
“He knows?”
Callum’s eyes were wide with terror, but he wasn’t afraid for himself. He feared only for me.
I gave a curt nod, then raised my wrists so he could see the cuffs.
“These are nullifying cuffs. They render me magicless.”
Callum skidded to a halt. His expression was blank except for the tick hammering away at his jaw. He was doing all that he could to rein in his anger, and from the way he was clenching and unclenching his fists, he was doing a poor job of it.
“Callum, don’t,” I warned, but I was already too late.
He spun around, his strides wide and purposeful as he closed the distance between him and Ryker.
“You fucking bastard,” he yelled.
And then he raised his fist and slammed it into Ryker’s face.
Chapter Eight
Ryker
Pain exploded across my cheek as Callum’s fist connected, snapping my head to the side.
“Shit.” Riordan cursed before he grabbed Callum around the middle and dragged him back.
I straightened and swiped at the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. A low, throaty chuckle escaped me, and Callum’s nostrils flared.
