Page 53 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

The other men’s conversations were the quiet backdrop to the pounding of Ryker’s heart.

“I have to see her,” he insisted.

Ryker’s muscles were rigid, and his jaw was tense from being clenched for so long. Some might say he was overreacting, but after the events of the past few days, a little overreaction might not be entirely out of place.

A vein feathered in the guard’s jaw, and his eyes flashed. “Sir, you cannot see the women. It goes against the very structure of the Choosing. You must know we cannot allow it.”

Ryker’s fists curled. The urge to acquaint this soldier with his fist was close to overwhelming.

The only thing that stopped him was the red light on the bookshelf behind the guard’s head. They were being recorded, and Ryker had no desire to deal with the aftermath of his actions if he punched the unhelpful soldier.

Footsteps clicked in the hall, and Ryker glanced over the soldier’s shoulder. Wearing white from head to toe, Matron Cassandra approached the library. She touched the guard on the arm and whispered in his ear.

When they broke apart, the guard turned back to Ryker. “You’re in luck. Miss de la Point is indisposed, but Matron Cassandra will deliver a note if you want to send her a message.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Ryker bit out.

“She’s indisposed,” the guard repeated unhelpfully.

Ryker growled. He had even more questions than before. He’d learned his lesson, though. There would be no getting information out of this soldier.

Instead, Ryker shifted and met the Matron’s gaze. “You’ll personally deliver the note?”

Cassandra pulled a black pen and a small notebook out of her pocket. “I will.”

Ryker took them, rolling the pen between his fingers as a plan formed in his mind. It was risky, but he couldn’t sit around and wait for someone to decide to update him on what was happening. He needed to take matters into his own hands.

“Very well. I’ll write one up, and then I’d like to rest.” Not a lie. He would like to rest. He just didn’t plan on doing it right now. “If Brynleigh isn’t here, I don’t want to talk to anyone else.”

Truth.

The Matron frowned. “There is no one else? It’s highly irregular?—”

“No.” His voice was firm. “She’s mine.”

Even though Brynleigh didn’t know it yet, it was true.

Both the Matron and the guard widened their eyes as if the claiming words caught them off guard. They didn’t surprise Ryker, though. They’d slipped off his tongue as easily as his own name. Now that he’d parted ways with Valentina, he was ready to make it official with his vampire.

A smile tugged on the Matron’s lips, and her eyes twinkled. “I see. Of course, Captain. You may return to your room.”

“Thank you.” He had no intention of doing such a thing, but he kept that to himself.

Instead, he took the offered pen and paper with a smile. He slipped into a wooden chair that creaked as he put his full weight on it. Hints of the ruby theme of the Choosing were scattered throughout the library—mugs, pillows, and a few red armchairs—but the room was a study in woodwork.

Everything from the bookshelves to the high ceiling and the polished planks on the floor were made of wood. It reminded him of the hunting cabin he kept outside Golden City. He’d bought it a decade ago, and after the Incident six years ago, it had become a refuge for him. He’d spent nearly as much time at the cabin as he did at his home in the city.

He hoped Brynleigh would enjoy it as much as he did.

Ryker penned the note with the speed of a man desperate for answers. He wasn’t a youngling and was well aware that writing something in a letter didn’t guarantee it would remain private. He purposefully kept his message vague. Folding it in half, he scrawled his vampire’s name on the front before handing it to the Matron.

“I’ll deliver this as soon as I’m done here,” Cassandra promised.

“Thank you.” Ryker dipped his head and made a show of departing. Nodding at the guard, Ryker slipped his hands in his pockets and nonchalantly strolled down the empty hall.

Instead of returning to his room, he ducked inside the first doorway and watched the library entrance.

He didn’t have to wait long. The Matron exited a few minutes later, humming a tune as she walked away from Ryker. She clutched his note, her hips swaying as she made her way to the end of the hall and turned left.

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