“Let me guess,” he said, pursing his lips. “A gift from Cadence?”
“She’s getting faster.”
Riordan studied me for a moment before a huge grin spread across his face. “She finally landed a blow, and with your own blade no less.” He let out a low whistle. “That’s got to hurt the pride.”
“Hurts less than your commentary.”
Riordan chuckled. “Testyandbleeding. Did she hit something vital or just your ego?”
“Why are you here?” I grit out between clenched teeth.
“I was coming to see if Cadence needed any help disposing of you.” His gaze darted back to my injured shoulder. “Guess I was too late.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, you can fuck off.”
Riordan’s grin dropped, and he sighed. “I can’t believe you used nullifying cuffs on her.”
“How is it any different from the collar I gave her?”
“The collar prevented her escape, but at least she had her magic. You’ve left her utterly defenseless in a den of vipers.”
“She has my protection. That is defense enough.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want your protection. Maybe she wants your trust. You can’t keep treating her like something you own, Ryker. She’s not a possession, she’s a person.”
“What she is, ismine,” I said, jabbing a finger in my chest. “You have no business interfering in my affairs, Little Brother.”
Riordan leaned back against the wall next to me and crossed his arms. “Since you seem to be denser than I gave you credit for, I’ll say this again: You need to trust Cadence enough to bring her into the fold. Think of the assassin? Her cooperation could help uncover who sent them.”
The mere mention of the fiend who tried to hurt my wife made me wish he were still alive so I could kill him myself.
Slowly. Painfully.
I could feel the weight of Riordan’s gaze, but I didn’t turn to look at him.
“Have you even bothered to ask her what she wants?”
I swallowed the snarl that threatened to rise. “She doesn’t know what she wants.”
“She seems pretty damn sure she doesn’t want this.” He motioned to the blood soaking the front of my tunic.
“What would you have me do? Let her go?” I said through gritted teeth.
Riordan tipped his head toward the ceiling as if he were searching for divine wisdom before he pinched the bridge of his nose. When he turned to face me, his lips were pressed into a thin line.
“I’d have you listen. Truly listen. I heard her back in the forest. She put her faith in you, and from where she’s standing, you let her down.”
This time, I didn’t bother to contain the snarl that worked its way up my throat. “I did that for her protection.”
“Maybe you need to stop thinking you know what’s best for her and allow her to decide.”
“She all but confirmed she would try to escape me again the moment an opportunity presented itself.”
“So, give her a reason to stay.” He shrugged.
“I will not beg.”
“Did I saybeg?The gods know you’d be terrible at it. All I’m suggesting is that you stop treating her as if she’s your prisoner.”
