“This is interesting,” Ryder’s voice interrupted me from behind. “Now how did this little meeting come about?”
My stomach tilted, and I didn’t dare turn to face him. As ifthings couldn’t get worse, I found shining gold handles beckoning me to them just down the corridor. I was so close to my destination, yet I’d fallen short once again.
Maris plastered a smile across her face, and her words flowed. “We were planning a surprise for you.” She walked past me, and I turned to watch as she rubbed her hand over Ryder’s chest and down toward the waistband of his pants.
His eyes darted between the two of us, but he said nothing.
“We were hoping you’d spend the evening with both of us.” Her words were syrupy. “You’ve been busy all day with the royals, and we needed attention too.” She stepped forward and traced a finger down his bare chest where two undone buttons had left him exposed. “Plus, we wanted to make sure you went to bed happy.”
“That certainly is a surprise.” He looked at me and raised a brow. “Am I to believe you’ve agreed to this?”
“Oh, she planned it,” Maris interjected, and I winced at her words. “An early wedding gift for our future king.”
“Is that true?” Ryder kept his eyes on me for confirmation.
The woman’s suggestion was preposterous. As if I’d want to share a bed with two of the people I hated the most. But, if playing the charade kept me alive until I had a chance to kill the king, I’d do what was needed.
I shrugged. “Is it all that shocking? Don’t you believe you deserve it?”
“Come here.” Ryder gestured to me. “I want to feel you both against me.”
Maris moved his hand to her skirt and pressed his fingers against her. She’d turned into a temptress I didn’t recognize, abandoning all decorum, even as castle staff roamed the halls around us. Leaning into him, she moved her mouth to his neck and started drifting her tongue over his skin. He stood expectantly, so I moved to his other side, allowing his hand to trail over me.
“Kiss me,” he demanded, with Maris still at his side. “Show me who you belong to.” He moved my hand to the front of his pants and then guided Maris’s to join. “There’s plenty here for you both.”
I nearly laughed, but I leaned in and pressed my closed lips to his mouth. His hand worked up my body to the nape of my neck. Grabbing hold of my hair, he pulled my head back. My lips parted in a gasp, leaving him the perfect opportunity for his tongue to take advantage of my pain.
He pulled away slightly and breathed, “You’re mine.”
I pushed back the emotions running through me as Col’s words echoed in my mind.You belong to nobody. I’d pretend to enjoy Ryder’s touch in order to stay safe, but I did not belong to him. And the prince would know that soon enough.
32
AUDRYN
Perhaps it was wishful thinking or delusion, but I’d thought Col had done the impossible. I swore I heard wyvern wings beating above the castle in the early morning hours. I raced to the window, fully expecting to see him coming to my rescue, but found nothing but the navy sky staring back at me. He wasn’t there to save me, and with Friday’s sun setting rapidly, I was losing hope.
I had yet to come across a single ruby. The only red jewel I’d seen was the large one embedded in Jaspar’s dagger when I slid it into the holster on my thigh before I stepped into my wedding dress.
“Turn,” Orion said, looking over the gown. He’d reduced a layer under the cascading skirts, but other than letting out the waist, there were no other changes.
“Do you know if my father made it home to collect any of his belongings?” I whispered.
“No, your house has remained dark.” His eyes shot to the door. “What’s the plan? Or are you just winging it at this point?”
I shook my head and sighed.
“Turn.”
“It’s pretty awful,” I said, facing the mirror. “Couldn’t you have done something else with your talent? Maybe cut the entire thing up?”
He smirked. “Well, your hair might actually be worse than the dress, which is kind of impressive. I wouldn’t have thought it possible.”
Leanna had sent a woman in to set my hair that morning. With an arch on one side and another on the other, my hair was formed around wire to create the appearance of a heart sitting high atop my head. I’d never seen such a ridiculous look. When I asked to place it into a low braid or leave it down, the woman told me no, as if my hair didn’t actually belong to me.
“Are you ready for all of this?” Orion’s eyes darted down to my thigh.
“Not really.” Tugging at my hair, I unraveled the sky-high design. “If I die, I might as well look halfway decent. Fuck wearing two things I can’t stand.”
