“He pushed the meeting to yesterday afternoon.” Ryder set his fork on his plate. “And though we have come to an agreement, I wouldn’t describe the meeting as having gone well.”
I glanced over at Leanna, but she didn’t look up. She remained focused on her plate, pushing her food around. Even Maris was avoiding the conversation.
“What happened? Is it something you’re able to talk about?” I was hesitant to ask, but perhaps there was information I could share with Jaspar.
Ryder turned to me with a serious look in his eyes as he started to explain. “Well?—”
The doors to the dining hall flung open, and Grave strode in with Amalee at his side. They wore matching black leather pants and silver long-sleeved shirts. Each carried a leather jacket over an arm. The vision was menacing.
Ryder’s head snapped. “I was not expecting either of you for breakfast.” He stood as Grave walked over to the table and sat in the chair across from me. “The table was not set for either of you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Grave plucked a sausage link from the tray and took a bite. “Who needs cutlery when we can behave like the beasts we ride, right?” He threw what remained of the link into his mouth.
Amalee eyed the food and found a biscuit. She cracked it open with her fingers and placed a round sausage in the center before lifting it to the table in salute. With a tip of her chin, sheraised a brow at me just before biting into her makeshift breakfast sandwich.
My eyes darted to Ryder, who was tightly fisting his glass of wine. His fingers blanched white, and it looked like the vessel might break.
“I sure hope you have a jacket for the ride.” Grave looked at me. “It’s going to be cold up there.”
“What ride?” I dropped my half-eaten biscuit onto my plate and looked around. “What am I missing?" Everyone at the table avoided my gaze, with the exception of Grave and Amalee. "Can you please tell me what’s going on?” I directed my question at Ryder.
He closed his eyes before taking a long breath and blew out a steady exhale. With another bite of his muffin, he avoided my question altogether.
“Oh,” Grave droned on, “your prince hasn’t told you about our arrangement?” The dark king grabbed a muffin from the center of the table. “This is about to get awkward real fast.”
“What is he talking about, Ryder?” I asked without correcting myself. “What don’t I know? What haven’t you told me?”
Ryder continued chewing and then sipped from his cup once more. His body shifted, and he sat up straight before turning to me. He offered a small smile and held his hands out toward me, which I hesitantly took.
“These last few weeks with you have been amazing,” Ryder said, squeezing my hands.
Amazing wasn’t the word I would’ve used to describe my stay at the castle, more like not-so-great days mixed with okay ones.
“And I know you care about the people of Rivale as much as I do and will do whatever it takes to secure their future. To secure the future of your friends and your father,” Ryder said, rubbing circles on the top of my hand with his thumb. “Yourdedication not only to your kingdom, but to me, hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“Do you want to do this here, Brother?” Leanna’s voice was low and held a clear warning. “Perhaps we should leave.”
He dropped my right hand and sifted through his pants pocket. “You will be my betrothed. You will be my wife, and the next Queen of Rivale upon my father’s death.”
“How romantic,” Grave groaned from across the table through a mouthful of muffin. A blueberry tumbled out. He plucked the fruit from the table and threw it back into his mouth.
Ryder pulled out a ring, and my eyes went wide, recognizing the piece. An oval aquamarine gemstone sat on top of a perfect gold band with inlaid chips of gems. It was the same ring I’d seen in Orlan’s workshop, the same workshop where Ryder pushed me to the ground.
My heart raced, and my mouth felt like every drop of moisture had been leeched from it. “I—I need some water.” My eyes darted to the table, looking for relief.
Ryder slipped the ring onto my left ring finger before releasing my hand and pushing a cup into it. “I’m sure it’s shocking to know you’ll be my wife, especially when there were so many options. But?—”
“Not as shocking as when you tell her she’s coming with me,” Grave interrupted.
My eyes shot to the king. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“That’s the thing, Audryn.” Ryder grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze back to his. “It will only be for a month, but you must go"—he nodded assuringly—"to secure Rivale’s future.”
“No.” I pushed back from the table and stood. “I’m not leaving my friends, my family, oranyoneelse.”
My mind whirled. I’d become engaged one moment and shipped out the next, as if only a piece of cargo. I hadn’t accepted the marriage proposal, yet there I was, wearing anenormous stone on my finger. He didn’t even wait to see what I’d say. Had he even asked me the question or only made a statement?
“You can’t force me to go.” I looked at Ryder, but he ignored my plea. I turned to look down at Leanna. “Tell him not to make me go—that I don’t need to go.”
