Page 146 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Brynleigh should have told Jelisette the truth about River’s involvement in the storm as soon as she learned about it. Maybe that could’ve saved Ryker’s life. Maybe she could’ve stopped Zanri.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

There were so many maybes, so many things she could have done, but none of them would save her from this fate.

Her mind ran in circles as she replayed the past few months repeatedly in her mind. She recalled the joy she’d felt when she first entered the Choosing. It was a terrible contrast to the pain coursing through her now.

She’d accomplished her goal. Captain Ryker Waterborn was dead. The Brynleigh from a few months ago would’ve been celebrating this news. But now?

She was wrecked.

For the first time in her entire life, Brynleigh had found someone who truly understood her.

And he was…

Gone.

She ran through every single scenario in her mind. Every interaction, every word, every moment they were together, searching for something she could’ve altered.

Time slipped on and on.

Her fangs ached, and her stomach hollowed.

Eventually, she realized she was hungry. How long had it been since she’d last had blood? She wasn’t certain.

And then she felt it.

The air in the dungeon shifted. A cold breeze blew past her. Goosebumps pebbled on her arms.

Footsteps rang out, getting louder by the second.

And stupidly—so fucking stupidly that if she weren’t broken, she’d have laughed at herself for being such an idiot—a spark of hope came to life in Brynleigh’s stomach.

“Ryker?” she called out, her voice raspy from disuse. “Is that you?”

A bitter, malicious laugh that sounded like nightmares brought to life came from beyond her cell. It sent shivers down her spine.

“No.” The voice was as melodic as it was deep and deadly. “He’s gone.”

It felt like she fell from the top of a high-rise as her stomach plummeted. She heard herself cry out and felt her heart shatter once more as a tall, black-haired fae approached her cell.

Two onyx manacles and a silver muzzle hung from his black-gloved fingertips. He wore fighting leathers, and though he had no visible weapon, she got the sense he could kill her in a heartbeat.

Swallowing at the sight of the fae, she pressed her back against the wall. Silver and vampires did not mix. Brynleigh wasn’t entirely sure what the muzzle would do to her, but she didn’t want to find out.

Violence glinted in the soldier’s eyes as they swept over her. “You’re in a lot of trouble.”

“Please, I didn’t do this.” She shook her head, and more tears gathered in her eyes. This whole situation was her fault, but she didn’t kill Ryker.

He laughed wickedly. “Oh, this will be fun.”

Moving the muzzle to his left hand, he pulled a bag out of his pocket. Reaching in, he withdrew a shimmering black powder and blew it in her direction.

As soon as it hit Brynleigh’s skin, fire erupted inside her.

He stepped into the cell, a malicious grin carved into his face.

And Brynleigh screamed.

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