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The mass of fae bristled around me in agreement with her.
“No,” I snapped.
The Raith was a gruesome ritual that stripped any and all bonds to the world. The Sages and Scholars made such a sacrifice to gain their positions, but to take away the power and status of one that was Worthy was worse than death, leaving them weak with no contribution to the world. A shameful life that I would not allow myself or my mate to endure. I wouldn’t let her succumb to that fate.
“Lord Ryker,” Zareb interjected. “If you cannot agree to either of these terms, a formal panel will be convened, consisting of the Council of Sages as well as all of the Worthy. Is this what you wish for?”
They wanted to put her through another fucking trial after having just completed one.
“I will not deny the bond of my mate. And I will not put either of us through the Raith.”
The male bowed in respect for my decision. “Very well then. The panel regarding the mating of the two Worthy will be held one month after the Nailu at the Sages Temple in Bhara. This will allow the new Worthy, victorious in the Challenge, to be sworn in as Lords or Ladies and establish their ruling.”
The grumbling crowd reluctantly dispersed and resumed their duties. I turned back to head for my tent to wait for my mate to return.
My mate.
Nailu, the Night of No Moons. It was a highly celebrated night, filled with music and dancing, all over the continent. And it was less than three months away.
Before I made it back to my tent, Vicria stepped in front of me.
“I will continue to insist that you return home. Being near your mate once she returns will not be beneficial for either of you if you can’t control yourself and try to claim her.” She placed a hand on my chest as she looked up at me from underneath her lashes. “Return now, and I could help you. Help relieve some of this tension. Seeing as your mate can’t.”
I grabbed her wrist and she winced, her eyes widening as I lightly burned her wrist, pulling it away from my chest. My nostrils flared, menace lacing my words, “You would do well to remember who I am,Sage. You do not command me. And if you dare to touch me again, I will burn your hand from yourbody.” I released her wrist, now scorched raw where I had held it.
Vicria cradled her burned wrist. Her eyes turned cold as she leaned forward and whispered, “If you do not deny the bond of the Riyite female, your Nation will suffer more than it already is.”
“What are you talking about?” My eyebrows furrowed and a pit formed in my stomach.
“I suggest you go home and find out,LordRyker.” Her lips curved into a depraved grin and she walked back up the steps of the temple.
Fury erupted in my chest at the threat to my lands and my people. I stormed off down the hill, past the encampment and into the wooded area north of the temple. I couldn’t risk that Vicria was lying just to get me to leave. That would be a mistake. My duty was to my Nation.
Damn her.
Every step was a painstaking effort as I moved away from where I knew my mate would return to. The bond was driving me to be with her no matter what. I would find her—nothing would stop me from finding her. But I had to go back.
“Theron, take me home. Now.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kya
My head was spinning, and I felt disoriented once Odarum brought us back to the Temple of the Fallen God. My legs wobbled and I stumbled, holding a hand over my mouth in an attempt to fight back the nausea. I never wanted to travel like that again.
I instantly breathed a sigh of relief as my magic returned, and I could feel the muted vibrations through the soles of my boots. The aches in my body returned but thankfully, I felt my wounds already healing. Yet something inside had an unfamiliar burn that I couldn’t place, and it wasn’t diminishing. I shook it off as a result of the Spirit Travel.
I instantly thought of Njall. I wanted to curse Kleio for taking me before I could save him. I should have known better than to get close to a contestant. To care.
After a moment, my focus came back and I realized we weren’t alone. Standing near the other side of the temple between the outer pillars was another contestant, a Worthy female with black hair, shaved on one side, and rich, dark skin. Her hair was a clear indication that she was from Ulrik, and I wondered if it would be her own Lord that she would have to challenge.
Next to her was a wolf. Its back was nearly as high as my shoulders. Covered in pure white fur, it seemed to glow in the dawning sunlight shining from the glass dome above. The wolf’s tail swished, sweeping the marble floor. Her Spirit… companion? Animal?
Now that I thought about it, I didn’t know what they were to us. I didn’t know what to call them other than animal, but that seemed too mortal of a word for Spirits.
I whispered to Odarum, “What are you to me?”
“Learn to speak through the bond.”
