Page 24 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

He smiled. “Likewise. Your name is beautiful, by the way.”

She huffed a laugh, and he leaned forward, intrigued. Their date flew by far faster than his date with Hallie. Soon, Celeste was back in his ear, warning him their time was almost over.

After Esme, he met several more women in quick succession. His notebook soon filled up. By the time Celeste informed him they would have an extended break for lunch, he’d already met more than half of the twelve women.

There were a few he already knew wouldn’t be a match for him.

The energetic Yvette was kind, but they wouldn’t be properly balanced. Their date had been less of a romantic first meeting and more of an interrogation. She’d had a lot of questions for him. He’d been exhausted by the time the music returned.

The soft-voiced shifter named Isabella seemed to lack all confidence. That wouldn’t do for his wife. He needed someone strong and capable of standing up for herself. He was certain she would make someone a good partner—she was kind and smart—but it wouldn’t be him.

A third, Demetra, was another fae. He hadn’t met her before but had heard of her through the grapevine. She was powerful, which his mother would certainly approve of, but early on in their date, Demetra made an off-hand comment about one of the other women’s weight.

Right then and there, Ryker had stopped taking notes. They wouldn’t be working out. He didn’t need a partner who made snide comments about other women. He’d been polite until their date ended, but that was it.

Of all the women he’d met so far, one stood out above the rest. Valentina Rose. Ryker knew who she was, of course. It wasn’t as if hundreds of eligible fae were running through the Republic with that unique name. Her position of power wasn’t what drew him to her, but her sharpness as they spoke. From his first impression, she seemed like a worthy companion. He’d enjoy spending evenings verbally sparring with her. Their date had been the most enjoyable so far.

Lunch was in the Ruby Lounge, and it was a light, airy affair as the men gathered and shared tidbits about their dates. Most seemed to have made at least preliminary connections, and a few men were already talking about setting up second dates.

Tonight, they would submit lists to the Matrons about which women they’d like to speak with again.

Ryker didn’t contribute much to the conversation. He was focused on the two guards stationed at the entrance of the Ruby Lounge. They spoke quietly, shifting from one foot to the other. Their jaws were hard, their eyes like steel as they searched the room for threats.

Discretely angling his body towards the soldiers so he could hear better, Ryker listened intently.

“… another threat,” said the guard with a sharp nose.

“Did they catch them?”

“Yes, but… there are more…” Sharp Nose scrubbed his face. “There was a protest in the Western Region yesterday, and today, there was another riot in the North.”

“Fuck. Do you think they’ll cancel?—”

The doors opened, and Matron Cassandra entered. Instantly, the chatty soldiers split apart, their backs straightening as they returned to their stations.

Turning back to the table, Ryker shoveled mediocre pasta into his mouth. He barely tasted it, his mind working overtime to process the information he’d heard. There was always unrest in the Republic. After all, it was an enormous continent that housed millions of people.

But between the shooting yesterday and now this…

Ryker would remain on his guard.

Thank the holy Obsidian Sands, he still had his magic. Even weaponless, he was still a force to be reckoned with. Finishing his lunch, Ryker pushed back his plate and summoned a sphere of water to his palm. It gathered in a translucent orb, waiting for his next command.

He didn’t have time to play with his magic. Matron Cassandra announced the end of lunch, and they returned to the ballroom for an afternoon of dates.

Ryker replaced his headphones and headed for a red hammock closer to the entrance. When the music turned off, he was studying the night-blooming roses on the virtual wall.

Having undergone this process several times already, he knew what to expect. He crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. “Hello, my name’s Ryker. What’s yours?”

A sharp inhale was the only response.

CHAPTER 7

A Meeting to Remember

This was it. The moment Brynleigh had been waiting for ever since she learned who was responsible for her family’s murder. The man she’d been searching for was on the other side of the wall.

It had been a long day. Every time the AI connected her with a man who wasn’t Ryker, Brynleigh felt a little more deflated. She had taken cursory notes in case anyone was watching, but she hadn’t paid too much attention to the other men. She wasn’t here for them, after all.

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