Ryker starts to pace back and forth in front of me. It’s an uneasy feeling. As if he’s trying to figure out what he’s going to do to me. He slowly moves over to a large cabinet. I glance over the knives, lined up perfectly. His fingers glide over the handles of each one before gingerly picking up a smooth machete. I gulp down the tightness in my throat.
He stalks back towards me before pausing a few feet away. He inhales a deep breath and waves his hands around himself. “Now you’re here before me,” he starts, his eyes nearly glazing over. “I know this is right. The Gods want it to be this way.”
My face scrunches up. “You mean the Goddess, and she definitely doesn’t.”
He scoffs. “Oh, please. She doesn’t exist. It’s all nonsense. You honestly believe a woman could be the ruler of our kingdom?”
“Yes,” I say simply. “Because if they let men like you rule, there’d be nothing left.”
His hand raises, and he smacks me across the face with the hilt of the machete. My cheek burns as blood coats my taste buds.
“Keep talking, Caleb. I dare you.”
My nose wrinkles at his words.
“I’m talking about the dark Gods, the ones that told me exactly how to reach power beyond any creature on this planet. And I was blinded by the thought of needing a bloodline heir, but I think all I needed was to drain you instead. It’s the only way to get what I want. I’m certain it’ll give me immortality.”
I've never heard so much nonsense in my life. He’s gone batshit crazy.
There’s a surprising knock at the door behind me, and I tense.
“Ah—” Ryker’s expression twists into none other than excitement. “Right on time. Our guest is here.”
My blood turns ice cold. If it’s Evan, I’ll break down. I’ll lose control. I’ll be distracted.
I have no idea what he’s done with him, but Ryker having my necklace is everything I need to know. They came face-to-face, and that could mean anything. He could be dead for all I know, and the bond wouldn’t even tell me. My stomach sours at the thought, and I push down the nausea creeping up my chest.
Ryker opens the large doors, and I glance over my shoulder to find Carson strolling in. I don’t blink as he follows behind my father, completely avoiding eye contact with me.
Myhead guard. Working for Ryker.
“You bastard,” I murmur as he walks past.
“I told you that you had snakes in your pack, Caleb.”
Carson still won’t meet my eyes. I don’t know if it’s out of guilt or disgust.
“Look at me,” I hiss through my teeth.
But he doesn’t. I’m shaking with fury.
This is why our plan was a disaster.
This is why Evan almost died.
This is why I ended up here.
“How could you do this to me?”
Carson’s eyes clench shut, and after a few moments, he glances in my direction. “Because I had to.”
Ryker looks far too pleased with himself, and I can’t wait to rip out his throat. He takes a step towards me and reaches for my wrist before running the edge of the sharp blade down my arm. Crimson blood rises to the surface within a second, and I groan at the pain that slices through me.
My blood drips onto the floor as he smears his thumb over the cut, spreading it over my skin. He catches me by surprise as he raises his fingers and licks my blood off them. I stare back in horror as his eyes nearly roll back.
Who has this man become?
I’ve heard stories about the dark Gods and my grandparents’ experiments with contacting them, but they've always been a folklore story that even witches wouldn’t dream of dabbling in. But when it comes to Ryker, nothing is surprising.
