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He huffed a humorless laugh. “You aren’t going to be helpful to anyone if the mating bond hasn’t been initiated and you damn well know it. Would it be beneficial for you to relieve some of the…urges you’re having, with someone else?”
The low growl that emanated from my chest made him flinch.
“Forget I suggested that.” He held up his hands and took a step back.
Mavris was right. The bond would take over more and more until it would completely control me, forcing me to find my mate. I needed to be here but I also needed to find her, and quickly. She would have the chance to reject me, to deny thebond if she chose, if the Sages convinced her to do so. But it wouldn’t be easy. Denying the bond meant denying the Gods—it was damn near impossible. And if she didn’t want it, I wouldn’t force it.
My mate.
I met Mavris’s stare. “You’re right. But there’s more to it.”
Mavris listened intently, and his face fell further and further until it morphed into outrage as I told him of the panel to decide the outcome of our mating. He didn’t speak for several moments after I finished relaying the demands of the Worthy and Sages.
“This is bad. If one of you doesn’t deny the bond, do you understand what they’ll do if you don’t accept the Raith and they forbid your mating?”
“Nothing good,” I laughed humorlessly.
“They’ll order theNex.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. “I know.”
The Nex—execution by a blood wielder, and a horrendous death. I would rather throw both of us off the edge of the Rip than for either one of us to endure that excruciating end.
“Ryker,” Mavris said sternly. I opened my eyes to look at my brother. “Go find her.”
Without arguing, I pulled an emergency pack from the bottom of my wardrobe. “You’ll have to take care of things here while I’m away.” I slipped on my boots and laced them. “I’ll begin formulating preliminary treaties for the new Worthy once I confirm who they are. In the mean time, I want you to identify all of the areas that have the capacity to take refugees and compile a list. When I return, we’ll go over it and begin discussions with any that wish to relocate and provide them the assistance to do so.”
Mavris nodded and crossed his arms. He could handle it, I had no worries about that.
“Theron.”
Silence passed for a few moments before he grunted in response in my mind.
“I need you to Travel me somewhere.”
“I am busy.I will find you when I return. Do not bother me before then,” he snapped. He was always a temperamental bastard. That or he just didn’t like me.
My mate would not stay at the Rip long after she challenged—if she survived. But I would know it if she hadn’t. I would have felt it. I needed to travel quickly, and I had a means to do so. Not as fast as Theron but fast enough.
I stood and walked out of my room, heading down the long hall. Mavris bowed as I left. I rounded the corner and nearly bumped into Fahmor, one of the administrators that worked in the palace.
“Lord Ryker! So sorry. I was just looking for you. Some of the—” He stopped when I put my hand up, smiling warmly.
“Forgive me Fahmor, but I must leave.” His eyes noted the pack in my hand. “Mavris will be tending to my affairs until I return. He is in my bedchamber if you need to speak with him. I will return soon.”
He followed as I continued down the stone hallway, bright with the light from the many large windows along the walls, to the glass doors at the end, leading out to a balcony. I opened the double doors and was met with the chilled breeze from the mountains. Even in the summer months, Oryn never got hot.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his eyes wide.
I walked to the end of the balcony, where there was a gap in the stone railing and turned to face him, my heels just over the edge. At this distance, the trees on the ground below seemed like nothing more than sticks.
A dark smile crossed my lips. “Hunting,” I said, before I leaned backwards and fell over the edge.
Chapter Nineteen
Kya
“Look, the mare’s old. She doesn’t need to be making such a long journey. Let me free her and relieve her from having to carry me back to Ilrek.” I jutted out my bottom lip into a dramatic pout.
