Page 113 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

But the problem was, it felt real. Far too fucking real.

It felt as if she’d fallen madly in love with Ryker during the Choosing, and now, she was preparing to meet her future in-laws.

Her feelings were wrong, though. She wasn’t in love with Ryker. She hated him. After this, she should take up acting. She would excel at it.

A voice crackled over the in-car speaker. “We’re pulling up to Waterborn House, sir,” said the driver.

“Thank you, Davis. Please proceed into the garage.” Ryker lifted his arm, ran his hands down his jeans, and rolled his shoulders. His face hardened almost imperceptibly, and his jaw feathered.

Within seconds, Ryker transformed from a relaxed fae into one who looked ready for a fight.

There he is.

For the first time, Brynleigh saw the warrior fae.

Other people might have been frightened by how quickly he changed, but her? Fear had no place here. Relief ran through her, coating her insides. She’d been beginning to think this part of him didn’t exist.

This was the fae who’d murdered her family. It had just taken him longer than expected to rip off the mask.

This was good.

Davis drove into a luxurious garage that resembled an airplane hangar before cutting off the engine. The door closed as the driver exited, leaving them alone.

Ryker turned to Brynleigh, his countenance pinched as he palmed the back of his neck. “Before we go in, there’s something I should warn you about.”

CHAPTER 27

I Made My Choice

“Warn me?” Brynleigh echoed Ryker’s words. “What do you want to warn me about?”

Ryker had spent the car ride debating whether or not he should have this conversation, but in the end, he decided he wanted Brynleigh to be prepared. Still, he picked his words carefully.

“My mother can be… difficult, at times.” Most of the time, if he was being honest.

Ryker loved his mother, but she’d never exactly been soft. She wanted her children to be perfect in every way. After the Incident, she’d been colder and harder than before.

Usually, Tertia directed her ire at River, but this week, she had turned her sights off her rebellious daughter and onto her son. She’d made frequent passive-aggressive comments about Brynleigh whenever they spoke. She never expressed her displeasure directly, but it wasn’t necessary.

Ryker understood his mother far better than most, and he knew she was disappointed he hadn’t picked a more “appropriate” bride like Valentina Rose.

No matter how plainly Ryker put it, Tertia refused to understand that he wasn’t interested in the fire fae. He didn’t want someone who enjoyed throwing lavish parties and attending all the social events. He’d done these things for years, fulfilling the duties that came along with being the son of a Representative, and he hated them. He didn’t want a party planner. He wanted someone who made him laugh, challenged him, and was gods-damned amazing in every way.

That someone was Brynleigh.

Ryker had explained as much to his mother multiple times during their stay at The Lily, but he still had a niggling fear that she might try something tonight. He needed to prepare Brynleigh for the fact that his mother might be… abrasive.

All fae knew how to watch their words—it was one of the first things they learned because lying wasn’t an option—but they could also speak cutting jabs like no one else. Just because Tertia might not outright insult Brynleigh—he hoped his mother would exhibit more class than that—didn’t mean she would be kind. She was the only one he was worried about. River and Cyrus would fall in love with Brynleigh as soon as they met her, just like Ryker had.

Two lines creased Brynleigh’s forehead, temporarily marring her unblemished skin. “What do you mean?”

Ryker took her hand in his and kissed the back of her palm. “I love you.”

She frowned, and he felt he was messing up all of this. “I know you do.”

It hadn’t escaped Ryker’s notice that Brynleigh had yet to return those three words. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to hear them, but he wouldn’t pry them out of her lips before she was ready. Waiting would make hearing them all the sweeter.

Ryker forced his lips to form a smile. “My sister’s going to love you, too. Dad will, too. Of that, I’m certain.”

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