“Protect me? You mean control me.”
“Call it what you will. The result remains the same.”
“And if I refuse to play along with this charade of happy families?”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Then you’ll discover just how limiting your current accommodations can become.”
My pulse hammered against my ribs. “You won’t be able to keep me here forever.”
“Forever is a long time, Cadence. Why don’t we start with today?”
I didn’t bother to respond. The brief madness that had convinced me I could reason with him dissipated.
I knew all I needed to know about Ryker Ashborne, Crown Prince of the Unseelie Fae.
He was a murderer.
My captor.
My enemy.
And if I let him, he would be my undoing.
Chapter Sixteen
Cadence
“Who is this woman?” Callum asked, tension lacing his tone. “And how do we know we can trust her?”
Callum’s concern sparked between us like lightning, and I could hardly blame him. What I was proposing was tantamount to treason, and the penalty was always the same.
Death.
“Have faith, Callum. I would never put you at risk unless I believed this could work.”
My brother expelled a sharp breath, but he didn’t argue further.
Ever since the Wraith Borne attack, Eamon had been shadowing my every move. Anything more than a whisper was too risky, and Callum knew it.
Eamon teased and bumbled, always one to play the fool, but his keen amber eyes missed nothing. It had been over a week since the attack, but Ryker refused to let me out of his sight without Eamon accompanying me. My protests had fallen on deaf ears, and Eamon’s constant shadow had certainly fettered our plans.
But today would be different.
It had to be.
Beyond the high walls that surrounded the training yard stood a modest home, half-hidden by climbing honeysuckle. I ascended the two creaking steps, my boots stirring a fine layer of dirt, and rapped on the door. A waft of vanilla and warm dough hit me, and my mouth salivated in response.
When the door swung open, Melania was standing in the doorway, her blond hair tumbling to her shoulders, and her cheeks coated with flour. She wore a simple navy tunic and black trousers. Behind her, I glimpsed copper pots gleaming in the morning light.
“Cadence!” she said, beaming.
“Hello, Melania. I hope we’re not intruding.”
She waved me in, her gaze skimming over my shoulder until it settled on Callum. “And who is this handsome fellow?” She cooed, arching a brow in playful appraisal.
“Don’t let Malesh hear you say that,” Eamon said as he brushed past me and engulfed Melania in a tight hug.
“Refrain from opening your big mouth, and there won’t be anything to worry about.” She grabbed the towel draped over her shoulder and smacked Eamon with it.
