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“Wha—” I didn’t even know what to say. Not only did the Sages and other Worthy know about my mating bond before I did, but they also had already called for a panel to decide if it was allowed. Which was completely unheard of. Not to mention, not a single one of them told me about it. “So, when is it?”
“Our mating trial will happen one month after Nailu. That is if we will not deny the bond or agree to the Raith, stripping both of us of all our bonds and magic.” His jaw clenched.
“You agreed to this?” I asked, completely perplexed.
“No,” he answered quickly. “Seriously? I was pissed. I didn’t agree to anything but they didn’t exactly take my opinion into consideration.”
“And what will happen if we tell them to shove their panel up their asses and go pound sand then just complete the bond anyway?”
He blew out a heavy breath. “We can’t complete the mating or risk them ordering the Nex. But I wouldneverlet that happen to you.”
Great. Just another death sentence hanging over my head.
I stopped breathing momentarily. The bond I had hoped and dreamed for had already been threatened. I shook my head.
“But what does this have to do with your Nation?”
“The Glaev,” he grumbled. “That Sage, Vicria, she told me that my Nation would suffer more than it already was. I returned to Oryn to find that her threat was valid. The Glaev had destroyed an entire village—few survived.”
“I’m sorry.”
Instinctively, and foolishly, I placed my hand on his sleeved arm. We both tensed, fighting the urges to increase that touch. I reluctantly removed my hand.
She…
I wondered if it was the same female who had warned me to stay away from the other Worthy.
“But wait, how would she know the Glaev—” I stopped abruptly.
…is not what it seems…
Kleios words rang through my head. This must have been what she was talking about and it had something to do with the Sage. But I still didn’t understand what it meant. Was the Sage controlling the Glaev somehow? Was she causing it? Or did she only know of when and where it would affect?
“Kya?” Ryker’s voice interrupted my thoughts. My name on his lips nearly made my eyes roll back. I shook my head to get back to the topic.
“Ryker, do you know how she knew about the Glaev in your land?”
“No. I have people working to find that out right now. Until her prediction, we had always thought it was a disease just likeeveryone else. But if she knew about it as it happened from across the continent, it has to be something else.”
I nodded. “You’re right. Kleio told me that the Glaev is not what it seems. I think she wants me to figure out what it is and stop it, restore the balance. That’s what we’re doing here.” I gestured around us. “We’re looking for something that could help us find out what it is exactly.”
“Let me help you. I can check back in at Voara from time to time until we get it figured out. I can’t stay away from you too long, though. The bond will drive us both crazy if we’re apart for extended periods of time.”
I hid my frown at the thought of being separated from him. I felt foolish for it, I shouldn’t have felt that way having just met him. But it was the most logical thing to do. Then, excitement coursed through me at the thought of him being with me as we traveled back to Morah and then to Dusan. My mind wandered to imaginings of huddling close on cold nights and riding together on horseback. My stomach tingled with anticipation and my core heated.
Ryker’s nostrils flared. His eyes darkened, and he leaned into me, almost pressing his body against mine.
“And when we do figure this out, together, I’ll give you exactly what you begged of me last night.” His lips nearly grazed my ear and his breath was hot on my neck. I wanted to melt at the sound of his sultry voice. “I’ve waited a very long time for my mate, and you can bet that I won’t let them take you from me now that I have you. We will get past this, show them we are no threat. Then, I will take you. I will claim what is mine. Because you aremine, Kya. I will seal the bond with you and be marked by our mating.”
Shivers ran down my spine when he trailed his eyes down my left arm—the arm that would one day bear the mark of our mating bond.
“But until then,” he continued. “I can’t claim you. I can’t risk the people that I have been deemed Worthy to protect.”
I swallowed through my panting breaths. “How would they know? What if we just don’t tell them and hide our marks? I’ve done it with my Trial mark.” Was I that desperate? Apparently. It was almost pathetic, but I couldn’t help it.
“The Sages are spiritually enhanced. Now that they know of our bond, they would sense the shift in the Spirits of two powerful Worthy being mated.”
“You think I’m powerful?”
