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He leaned back and stared into my eyes. “Very.”
He stepped away, and I noticed only then that he had surrounded us with his shadows, sheltering our bodies away from the rest of the world so that these moments were just for us. My heart swelled when he smiled at me.
I smiled back, and his eyes seemed to flicker with a faint glow for a fleeting moment.
“We’re going to have to find a way to repress our physical temptations in the mean time. And I’d like to get to know a bit more about the one I’m bound to,” he said.
“Agreed.” I nodded. Though I knew much more about him than he did me. I’d have to be careful with my words if he started asking about my past.
Ryker drew his shadows back as we began to walk through the trees back to camp. It took a significant effort to not touch him, reach for him.
When we made it back to camp, Nikan glared at Ryker with distrust—I understood his apprehension. Nikan didn’t speak once as he pushed down our tent and readied the horses.
Odarum was gone and I reached out to him.
“Where are you? We are leaving for Ilrek.”
“I will find you.”Was all he supplied.
I made a sound of frustration.
Of course.
Two horses, four people. There was no way that Nikan and Ryker would ride together, and there was no chance I’d allow another female, even my sister, to ride with my mate. Without saying anything, Nikan mounted his horse and Malina followed, biting back a smile with a wink towards me.
“If our skin touches again…” he said, shaking his head.
I nodded, understanding, though unhappy with it. “As much as I’d like to essentially sit in your lap all the way back to Ilrek, it’s probably best if we don’t.”
Part of me wanted him with me while the other part still didn’t trust him fully. Nikan wasn’t wrong. And now I knew that his entire Nation was at risk. If I could have saved Atara by denying a mating bond, I would have.
“Yeah… Besides, I’ve been gone from Oryn too long. As much as I’d like for you to sit in my lap for the next few days,” he said with a wink. “I need to return. I still have a Nation to run.” He remained silent for several moments, staring at me with confliction in his eyes.
“I’ll meet you in Ilrek then,” he sighed. He stepped away from me and I mounted the horse.
Settled in the saddle, I watched as he manifested his wings and took to the skies without another word, and tracked him until I couldn’t see him anymore. The bond began to burn as he left. I was torn between what I desired and what was right—whatever that was.
I’d be bound to him for an eternity. The Gods demanded it. They wanted two Worthy mated. Between the mating panel and the Glaev, and the fact that the Gods deemed Ryker Worthy of protecting his Nation… Also, if we mated, perhaps I could convince him to open his borders to the Ataran people and finally give them a home.
Granting one demand meant denying the other.
“What do you want from us?” I whispered to the Gods, before I followed Nikan and Malina into the forest, heading back to Ilrek.
Chapter Thirty
Ryker
Iwasn’t going to make it. I was going to die. It had been two days since I last saw Kya, since I was last near her, and I felt like the bond was going to burn my very soul.
While in Oryn, I dedicated all of my time and efforts to the matters that needed my attention. It helped keep my mind distracted. Once everything was settled and more manageable for Mavris to handle, I was finally able to go back to her.
Even if it was just for a short while. I couldn’t continue to follow her around the continent. Not while I needed to be here. But at the very least, I could get away for a couple of days at a time.
Theron hadn’t been able to travel me to her so once again, I flew hard and fast into Riyah letting the bond guide me to her.
She was only a few hours away from Ilrek when I saw her sitting atop her horse riding through the trees. I know I had said that I would see her in the city, but I couldn’t wait that long.
I remained a short distance away, observing her as she chatted with the other two. She had a lightness about her that sucked me in and held my attention. The sounds of her soft, breathy laugh while talking with her sister caused my lips to turn upward involuntarily, as if contagious. Infectious.
