All six stalls were occupied. I glanced at a ladder that led to the second story of the barn and started towards it when I noticed a narrow door at the back. Curious, I changed course and peeked outside. A smile brushed across my lips. It was a small garden, but someone had put a lot of care into it.
I stepped out, and it was like entering my own little private respite. Evergreen shrubs had been planted on either side, and they went straight to the exterior outpost wall. A large tree was at the center, its branches extending wide and creating a canopy over most of the garden. I wandered through it, noting the different plants arranged in pots. Mostly herbs and other fauna that worked well in low-light conditions.
This place must be so nice to read in during the spring and summer. I could imagine sitting at the base of the tree, curled up with a good book.
“Would you like something like this back home?”
I stiffened but didn’t turn around. “Going to build me a pretty little cage, Ryker?”
Apparently, I’d been far too optimistic in thinking I’d get an hour to myself. How had he gotten downstairs fast enough to follow me?
“Do you want me to kill your brother?” he asked casually instead of answering my question.
“What?” I whirled around and spotted him leaning against the doorframe. “Why would I want you to kill Sorin?”
Ryker cocked his head, and I could tell by his expression that he was trying to figure out why I was upset. It also occurred to me that I was getting really good at reading him, and I didn’t know how I felt about that.
“Your father, uncle, and cousin are all going to die for what they did to you, but I’ll allow you to choose your brother’s fate.”
Moonlight filtered through the trees, and a luminescent sheen rolled over Ryker’s eyes.
“And if I didn’t want you to kill any of them?” I asked, mostly because I was curious, not so much because I cared about them. Even before my imprisonment in the dungeon, my father and uncle had made my life miserable. I didn’t feel any loyalty to them, and I was well aware Ivan was hoping to take the Alpha spot one day, which meant he needed Sorin out of the way.
My brother would make a far better Alpha for the Narchis Order than any of them. Sorin and I might have our problems, but I’d never doubted his ability to be a good leader.
Ryker pushed off the wood frame and stalked towards me. I did my best to remember I couldn’t trust him and that I was mad at him for never respecting my boundaries. It was a little challenging when Bad Decision Rynn was admiring how pretty his silver hair looked in the moonlight and the way his muscles rippled as he moved. She was also very thankful that Ryker seemed incapable of buttoning up his shirts, when he bothered to wear them at all.
He came to a stop in front of me and reached out to toy with the end of my braid. His brows were furrowed, like he was still pondering my question. Finally, he said, “I’m trying not to lie to you. The only scenario where I don’t kill your family is the one where Bastian does it first.”
I frowned. “Bastian doesn’t care about me. He does care about the relations between all the Orders though, and killing the Narchis Alpha would damage that.”
One side of Ryker’s mouth kicked up into a small, lopsided smile. “Whatever you need to tell yourself. Besides, assuming you don’t want us to kill your brother, he can take the Alpha spot.”
My heart thrummed inside my chest, beating faster like it always did in Ryker’s presence. “I’m mad at you.” The words more a reminder for myself than anything.
There is no future with Ryker. He’s loyal to the Alphas, not to me. He’s irrationally possessive and way too pushy.
I thought about how he’d bring me the perfect cup of tea while I was in the library. Or how sometimes I’d find pastries outside my room for breakfast. My favorite ones that I’d get from the nearby outpost.
If it had been Bastian doing those things, I would have immediately suspected an ulterior motive. For all his faults, Ryker didn’t play those kinds of games.
That didn’t mean we had a future. At least, not one that didn’t lead to me having my heart broken.
“How mad are you at me, Princess?” His grin widened to show his sharp canines.
“Extremely,” I said a little too breathlessly.
Those wintery blue eyes studied my face like I was a work of art before slowly drifting down to my lips. “Don’t run away from me again.” He dropped my braid and tugged at the front of my shirt. “Promise.”
“Fine.” I purposefully took a small step away from him. “No more running.”
Ryker released the hold he had on my shirt, and I tried to ignore the odd twinge that hit my chest. What was another lie between us at this point? Soon enough, I’d be running somewhere even he wouldn’t be able to find me.
It took me a second to realize I was idly rubbing my chest again and that Ryker was captivated by the movement. The next thing I knew, he’d closed the distance between us and was tearing at the buttons on my shirt.
“Ryker!” I squeaked, my arms moving to cover my exposed breasts and my axe tattoo while I twisted my body, trying to see if there were any sentries patrolling this section of the wall.
With little effort, he knocked my arms aside and pressed his right hand flat against my chest, exactly where that tight feeling had been, and coincidentally also where the tattoo was. His other hand went to my hip, and he guided me back until I was against the tree. From this angle, nobody on the wall would be able to see us.
