I moved my arms up and forced a hug, breathing in his presence.
“And this is for you.” Ryder pulled away and displayed a gold tiara with a similar wavelike pattern around it. He stretched the thin, flexible metal open and let it snap around my head, sending a shock of pain shooting through me. “We can’t forget this.” He pulled my left hand out and placed a ring on my finger, identical to the one I’d left in Kuroden.
Leanna looked over Ryder’s shoulder at the ring and then at me with a raised brow. It felt more like a dare to leave than anything else. But with the threat to my father, I was backed into a corner.
“Leave us,” Ryder said, not turning to look at the others in the room.
“I’d like to speak with my father first,” I protested.
“Of course you would.” He smirked. “You’ll see him in a few minutes, he’ll be waiting to walk you to me.”
Leanna held the door open and gestured for my father to pass. He turned only once and gave me the slightest shake of his head.
Ryder took a seat in the nearby chair, cleared his throat, and stared in my direction. Standing on display, I contemplated how fast I’d be able to pull the dagger from its sheath and kill him. But I would’ve needed to catch him by surprise.
“I know what you did.” Ryder let the words hang in the air.
My mind ran through the many possibilities: sleeping with a king he absolutely hated, snooping in his father’s study, bringing in the ipecac, carrying the dagger, planning to kill his father—the list went on.
If I were going to do something, it was time, and I needed to act. I did my best to saunter over to him as seductively as possible, but with the billowing layers of crinoline, the task was hopeless.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” I bit my lip and then pushed it into a pout as I stood in front of him. “Enlighten me?”
He rose, letting his body push against me. His hand moved, and I braced myself for what I was certain would be physical retribution for whatever he discovered. But he only moved to cup my cheek. Pleased with himself and the power he held over me, he smiled.
“Your friends—they’re all captured,” he continued. “My first order as king will be to recommence the executions. Perhaps I’ll go to the prison after our ceremony and handle it myself.”
I remained silent, considering my options. Even if Amalee and Col had come, there was no way they would’ve been captured. He was trying to bait me into admitting something, and I wouldn’t react.
“You can go with me and witness the event,” he paused, “considering you didn’t give your brother the courtesy of attending his execution. You should at least be there to watch your friends die. Especially the male with red hair, the one I saw you speaking with at the ball. He’s got quite a mouth on him.”
My breath caught.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?” Ryder placed a gentle kiss on my lips as tears rolled down my cheeks. “Do you think I am so stupid that a dozen members of the resistance could enter onto my grounds and I wouldn’t see?” His hand slid down my body, and I was thankful for the thick layers of skirts between us.
Killing King Sutton was suddenly the least of my worries; I needed to get to the resistance before Ryder did.
Ryder’s hand tugged up the skirts of my gown. I pulled back, but he was already fisting the material. Unable to flee, I lifted my chin as his eyes scanned over me. Ryder gripped the hilt of the dagger and yanked it from its sheath.
His blue eyes roamed over the gold-adorned hilt. “Aww, a wedding gift for me?” His brow rose. “Or to useonme?”
I let out a gasp as he flicked his wrist forward and pushed the dagger against my abdomen. The cold metal tip ripped through the fabric and bit into my skin. I urged myself not to move, to stand tall despite my shuddering breath, or the blade would sink in further.
He pulled the dagger back several breaths later. “I dare you to try it.” Ryder twirled the weapon and offered me the hilt, blade digging into the palm of his hand. A small crimson trickle of blood dripped from his palm.
My eyes shot to him and then to the dagger.
“Go ahead, brave girl,” he mocked. “Do your best. But know you’ll only get one chance. Your father and friends will be as good as dead if you fail.”
My hands trembled. How had I thought I’d be able to kill someone? What about Hunt and Fisher? I’d been so naive. Only through pure adrenaline and whatever the mating bond did to me, was I able to kill Jezelle.
“That’s what I thought.” He smirked and re-sheathed the dagger. “Perhaps later? Maybe you’ll wear it for me and Maris tonight with nothing else?” He grabbed a handkerchief from his pants pocket and wiped at his bloodied hand.
“Hunt!” Ryder called out, and the door swung open. The guard stepped in and looked at me with amusement.
“Be sure to send this to King Grave.” Ryder pulled an aqua-colored envelope from his coat pocket. “Somehow I forgot to send out his invitation.” He flicked his hand out while keeping his gaze on me as Hunt collected the envelope and retreated to the corridor.
“Convenient,” I breathed.
