Page 56 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Before, they’d been nothing but dreams. But now…

Now he knew.

In the same way that Ryker knew the sky was blue, the grass was green, and his magic was strong, he knew she was meant to be his. They would be partners in every single way. Not just in marriage but also in life. She was the other half that would complete him.

His soul recognized hers.

He’d heard of this happening—not between fae and vampires, but fae with other fae. Unbreakable bonds forged between two beings were blessed by the gods and extremely rare. Ryker didn’t think that was happening to him—he didn’t know if a fae could form a mating bond with a vampire—but he was sure she was meant to be his. He wanted to shout, to reach through the grate and pull her towards him, to pick her up and embrace her until the end of time.

But he wasn’t supposed to be here.

Ryker’s gut twisted. What the fuck was he doing? Participants of the Choosing weren’t supposed to see each other until the Masked Ball. If Brynleigh knew he was here, would she report him for breaking the rules? Would she leave?

He gasped, his stomach contorting in on itself at the thought. Fucking hell. He couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t risk it.

Brynleigh rolled onto her back, and he could see the steady rise and fall of her chest. Not only that, but the doctor didn’t seem concerned with the vampire’s health. Maybe they were keeping her here until the sun set, and it would be safe for her to join the others?

He hoped that was the case. If she weren’t back tomorrow, then Ryker would return. He’d raise hell to see this woman again. For now, he would retreat to the mansion and act like everything was normal.

He slid the grate back and replaced the screws. Pressing his palm against the wall, he breathed in deeply. Beneath the clinical, bleach-like quality in the air were traces of the night, shadows, and… something that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Whatever it was, he wanted more.

Soon, he promised himself.

Ryker slipped out of the cabin and discreetly returned to the main house. This time, he didn’t notice the cold at all. He returned to his room and cranked the shower as hot as possible. As the hot water rained down on him, he dreamed of that silky blonde hair and how she would feel in his arms.

He promised himself this wasn’t the only time he would see her. He wouldn’t allow it.

CHAPTER 15

Young Love

Thunderstorms and bergamot.

At first, the scent was faint. Barely there. Brynleigh had caught a whiff of the unique fragrance on the note when the Matron delivered it. After that, she’d fallen asleep, holding the paper to her chest.

And when she woke?

The smell was everywhere. It had infiltrated the air, seeping into the particles themselves.

It was him.

Ryker had been here. His scent lingered even now, growing fainter but still present. She wanted to bathe in it. It was the best thing she’d ever smelled.

She’d looked around for him, but nothing was out of place.

He’d left.

What had he been doing here? Had he somehow discovered her secret and come to kill her, too?

Brynleigh ran her fingers over her pendant, mulling over the possibility that she’d been found out. It was unlikely that he knew who she was. After all, she’d taken on Jelisette’s surname after the storm. Not only that, but the destruction of Chavin hadn’t exactly been plastered all over the news.

Like everything else related to Brynleigh’s family’s demise, the untimely flood and the resulting deaths had been buried by the Waterborn’s political influence. A fluke of nature, the few people who reported on it had said. Others speculated it was an act of Nontia, the goddess of the sea. No one cared. Not really.

A week after the flood, another event stole the spotlight, and the media forgot about Chavin.

Not Brynleigh, though.

She was the sole survivor from that night. Although, technically, she hadn’t survived either. Vampires, in the truest sense of the word, had to die to become their immortal selves. Had she not been Made, she would not be here.

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