Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
His insult was like a bite from a snake. “You know me, Ryker. You know that’s not how I am.”
“But I also know the kind of blood that runs in our veins. We’re conquerors. Thieves. Rapists. Liars. Maybe you aren’t as good as you think.”
The insinuation hurt. “That’s our past but not our future. My only desire is to make this world a better place. For me to do that, I need your help. I need your loyalty. I need to know that you’re doing this while I’m away.”
He directed his look toward the window, which was now closed. The curtains no longer flapped in the breeze. The room was already stale. “I want this world to be a better place too…so I’m in.”
I knew he would be.
“But I already lost Mom, and I’m not going to lose him too.”
“I already negotiated his safety, Ryker.”
“I don’t want Effie to be found and killed. I don’t want her family to be killed. I don’t want anyone else to win the lottery.”
“I know you don’t—because you have a big heart.”
He dropped his hands from his hips and regarded me. That look of anger slowly faded, slowly turned into the softness of a sunset. “Let’s get you out of here.”
23
HUNTLEY
I waited in town at the designated spot. A torch burned above me, illuminating my silhouette so she’d be able to find me. I saw their dots at the top of the hill, and they became bigger the closer they came. Ivory was covered in a cloak and a shawl so none of the guards would suspect she was anything more than a lay Ryker had paid for.
I was uneasy throughout the separation, afraid something would go wrong and one of the guards would see through her disguise. Or worse, Ryker would change his mind and drag her to his father. Then I’d have a tough time seeing her again.
Now any time she wasn’t in my grasp, I was plagued with the kind of anxiety I’d never known.
I was afraid I would lose her again.
They drew close, their visages visible in the torchlight.
She removed her shawl and showed her face, her bright green eyes, her fair cheeks.
One look at Ryker told me he knew exactly who I was.
Not Mastodon—but Ivory’s husband.
It was all in his eyes, which were sharp like daggers. He sized me up as an opponent, marked me as an enemy without giving a great speech before a battle. His stance on our marriage was perfectly clear in his silence.
It was the exact reaction I expected.
Ryker finally spoke. “I’ll fetch you a fresh horse.”
“Thank you.” Ivory placed her hand on his shoulder.
He quickly twisted away and disappeared.
My eyes took her in, watched every little reaction as it moved over her beautiful face. Her eyes crinkled in the corners, her lips pursed together to swallow a painful retort. She watched him depart before she turned back to me. “I told him.”
“I can see that.”
“I tried to make him understand…but he couldn’t.”
“Don’t blame him.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“How can he understand what he hasn’t experienced? He doesn’t know our journey.”
“He feels betrayed.”
“Because he was betrayed. You married the man who intends to take all of this away.”
Her eyes slashed at me with anger. “You aren’t making me feel better.”
“Wasn’t trying to.”
She looked where Ryker had gone, trying to see him in the dark. “Asshole.”
“I’m giving it to you straight. That’s my job.”
“Well, that’s not what I need right now.” She continued to look away, all the anxiety riddling her expression.
“Once he gets to know me, gets to know our world, he’ll feel differently.”
She turned back to me, her expression cautious. “Are you just saying that?”
“My job is to give it to you straight, isn’t it?”
She held my gaze for a while before she turned back to Ryker.
He returned with a saddled horse, guiding it by the reins. “I know a way you can slip out of the city.”
We followed him, moving down the cobblestone alleyways until we reached the edge of the city. It was dark up ahead, so dark we wouldn’t be able to see much. But if we didn’t leave now, we’d be spotted during daylight.
Ryker handed the reins to Ivory. “Be careful, alright?”
She nodded. “Tell Effie I said goodbye.”
“I will.”
“What’s your plan with her?”
He gave a loud sigh. “No idea. But we’ll figure it out.”
“I told you she would forgive you.”
His eyes dropped.
“I hope you can forgive me someday.”
His eyes stayed down for a while, like it was too hard to look at her.
She moved into his chest and hugged him.
His response was immediate, and he gripped her hard. “Please be careful.”
“I will.” She was the first to pull away. “See you soon.”
He gave a nod before he turned his gaze on me. There was cold indifference there, no longer the hatred he’d possessed earlier. “Take care of my sister.” He could have said a lot of other things, but there was only one thing he really cared about.