Page 37 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Taking a long drag of his liquor-laced coffee, Ryker rubbed his temples. “If I were with you, I’d probably wake up early and make you breakfast with all your favorite foods.”

“Mhmm, I like the sound of that,” Valentina hummed.

He figured she would. “After that, I’d take you shopping and let you buy whatever you wanted.”

Ryker’s mother, Tertia, and his sister, River, had expensive tastes and often went shopping together. It was one of the only times they weren’t fighting. Although he hadn’t joined them since the storm, Ryker often heard about their expensive escapades during family dinners.

He was certain Valentina would get along with them. She seemed like the type of woman with expensive taste who spoke eloquently and would enjoy the finer things in life. If Ryker picked Valentina, she would fit into the life his mother wanted him to live.

But was it the life he wanted?

A sigh of delight filled his ears. “Ryker, baby, you know the way to my heart.”

It wasn’t that difficult. The more Ryker talked to the fae, the more he realized the only two things she cared about were herself and money. Not that there was anything inherently wrong with either of those, but evidently, incompatibilities were rising between them.

Before Ryker could delve into his plans for dinner—he would take Valentina to an upscale restaurant with a chef’s table, where they could watch their food being made in person—his headset dinged.

“Your date will be over in sixty seconds, Captain Waterborn,” Celeste said.

A rush of something that could only be described as relief ran through Ryker. It caught him off-guard. He’d never felt this way after a date with Valentina before.

Raking a hand through his hair, Ryker groaned. This process was far more arduous than he’d ever expected. He never thought that the Choosing would leave him with such complicated feelings.

“Ryker?” Valentina’s voice held an edge of sharpness, and he jolted. She must have been calling him. Irritated, she asked, “Did you hear me?”

By the Black Sands, he hadn’t been paying attention at all. However, thanks to his mother and sister, he knew enough about the feminine condition to know that admitting to that particular flaw wouldn’t go over well.

Instead, he said, “This conversation was enlightening, Valentina.”

She paused, then sighed, “I hope we can talk again soon.”

Ryker didn’t answer. He couldn’t lie to her and say the conversation had been nice. It had begun that way, but now, his stomach was in knots. Would Valentina be a good partner for him? He was having some serious doubts. If he Chose her, he’d always be doing something. Always be on display. With Valentina as his wife, Ryker would have no hope of privacy and quiet.

He wasn’t certain he could live with that.

He could practically hear her frowning through the headphones. “Ryker?—”

Strands of violin music swallowed the remainder of her words, freeing him from having to deal with the rest of that conversation.

Thanking all the gods for their perfect timing, Ryker rose from the couch and strode to the bar. On his way there, he counted the number of guards. They’d doubled during his date. Not only that but their faces were pinched with worry.

Ryker ordered another coffee, frowning as he scanned the room. Something was off. He could feel it in his gut.

Taking his drink, he made his way over to the red hammock.

“Celeste?” He summoned the AI.

“Yes, Captain?”

“There are more guards here than normal.” He placed the coffee on a red coaster.

The AI said, “If you say so, sir.”

“I can count, so yes, I know there are double. Why are there more guards here?”

A strange clicking sound came through the headphones, but there was no response. Ryker’s lips slanted down. Had she misheard him?

He repeated the question.

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