Page 83 of A Game of Love and Betrayal

Brynleigh turned, her eyes widening as a scream ripped from her throat.

A wave taller than all the houses in their village crested over the roofs. It was a harbinger of doom, a bringer of death, and it was coming straight for them.

“Fucking run!” Brynleigh shouted, yanking Sarai behind her.

The unnatural storm chased them through the streets. No matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t escape the screaming, the crashing of water against wood, and the destruction of one house after another.

And in the end, they weren’t fast enough.

The water was a hungry, ruthless beast as it devoured them whole.

Brynleigh opened her eyes.

Time seemed to slow as she grounded herself in the present once more. She was in the ballroom, not in the midst of a deadly storm. Her heart thudded from a memory, not from being chased by an enormous wave.

Her shadows throbbed in her veins.

Death had reigned in Chavin that midsummer’s evening. The entire town had flooded and been destroyed. Their prairie homes weren’t built to withstand the force of nature that had been Ryker’s storm.

It had raged for hours, killing everyone and destroying everything within ten miles of the town before abruptly ending. By then, Brynleigh was an orphan, and Jelisette had Made her.

Brynleigh took a deep breath and scanned the crowd. She wasn’t certain what she was looking for, but she kept searching until she met a pair of chocolate-brown eyes across the room.

The moment their eyes locked, her heart ceased beating in her chest. Shadows spun around her feet.

Time froze.

They stared at each other, the crowd between them meaningless. It didn’t matter that she’d never seen him before. It didn’t matter that he wore a mask. She knew it was him. Ryker Waterborn. Holding his gaze, she stepped towards him.

It was time.

CHAPTER 21

A Meeting for the Ages

Ryker was standing at the far end of the ballroom discussing military maneuvers with Therian when the doors opened.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the herald announced, the microphone pinned to his lapel projecting his voice, “it is my honor to present the ninth participant in this year’s Choosing, Miss Brynleigh de la Point.”

Ryker’s eyes flew to the ballroom doors. His height afforded him the ability to see over the heads of most of those gathered, giving him the perfect view of his intended bride. Like most of the men here, he was dressed to the nines. His suit and shoes were black, but he’d picked his tie for Brynleigh.

The moment she stepped into the ballroom, he knew he’d made a good choice. The crimson tie matched her stunning gown perfectly.

By the Sands, she was gorgeous.

Brynleigh paused on the threshold. Ryker’s lungs tightened as he drank in the sight of his intended. The crimson mask hid her features, but the beautiful black bat wings and the shadows curling around her legs marked her as a creature of the night.

His creature of the night.

Ryker unabashedly studied his vampire. Immortal grace and poise emanated from her, and she was impeccably put together. Silken gold hair framed her face. A crimson gown hugged her body.

And her curves. His imagination hadn’t done her justice. She was a dark goddess. The low V of her dress highlighted full breasts that were begging to be held and loved and admired. Her hips were rounded. A muscular thigh peeked through the slit in her dress.

Fucking perfection.

Ryker’s entire body tightened as pure, hot, primal need ran through him. He couldn’t wait to get her alone, to run his hands over her and claim her as his.

She stepped forward, poised and graceful. Her mouth tilted into a small smile, and her black eyes swept over the assembled group. Searching.

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