My hound rolled over and bared her stomach. I called her a slut and curled my hands into fists.
“This isn’t you,” I said to Ryder. “Besides, your mate is waiting for you. She came all this way to see you.”
Ryder didn’t acknowledge my words. He used his hold of me to roll me onto the floor. The weight of his body made my entire being thrum with need. My lips trembled as I dragged in a shaky breath. While my hound told me that this was good, this was exactly what we wanted, I couldn’t let this happen.
Not with Bri in the other room.
I had already made enough mistakes involving Ryder. I wouldn’t make this one, too.
Pulling my fist tight to my chest, I brought my elbow up and slammed it into Ryder’s temple. He reeled back. The gold in his eyes flickered before flaring bright again. I sighed and wriggled out from under Ryder. While he cradled the side of his head, I lifted his free arm and slung it over my shoulder.
Ryder was a solid man, and it took everything I had to help him to his feet. My knees and back groaned in protest, but I couldn’t stop now. The butler lingered by the open door. I glared at him. His pleased grin didn’t make any of this better.
“Why did they feed you faery food?” I asked under my breath.
“Well,” the butler cut in. “The stormrider was displeased with the queen. He made all sorts of threats in a tone one should not raise in the presence of royalty. She thought it wise to soften the stormrider’s attitude while he stayed with us.”
“So, you fed him faery food?”
“I do whatever the queen commands.”
Though I wanted to tell the butler to eat shit, I kept my lips pressed together. I dragged Ryder out of the room, stopping only when he nuzzled and bit my ear. My stomach lifted with hundreds of fluttering butterflies.
No matter how many times I tried to tell him that his mate was waiting for him, he paid me no attention. It was as if the mention of her meant little to him. Bri seemed dedicated to Ryder, but I couldn’t see the same kind of loyalty in him. The faery food might have addled his mind.
Still, I thought mate bonds overcame all sorts of magic.
Fate thought to further confuse me, because the marks on our hands flared to life in that exact moment. I gaped at the light painting the earthen walls. I wished I knew what this meant. The marks revealed nothing about the bond tying us together.
No mates had marks like these. Besides, Ryder already had a mate. Why else would Bri drive across the country?
“Come on, Ryder,” I grumbled.
He laughed. “Cum on where?”
I just about dropped him on the ground right then and there. Instead, I gritted my teeth and pulled him down the hall. The sooner we could get out of here, the sooner we could clear his system of the faery food. I hoped that he wouldn’t develop an addiction to it.
There was so little that I knew about faery food. Maybe I would call Cerri again. It would be nice to talk to someone, too. I definitely needed to vent about this horny asshole as soon as I dropped him into his mate’s hands.
Back at the court, Bri shot up out of her seat the moment she saw us. Beryl slowly turned. She bit the tip of her tongue as she grinned. The way she looked Ryder up and down, hungry like a wolf taking in a field of sheep, left me uncomfortable.
The queen had plans, and we were doing exactly what she wanted. I hated playing into her games, but I had to get Ryder out of here. Once we were away from Beryl’s court, then I would worry about whatever tricks she had up her sleeve. I would even go back to the witch if that was what it took to get Ryder out of this deal.
Bri glanced back down at Beryl. I watched her lips form a quick apology, to which Beryl bowed her head and waved her hand, dismissing Bri. Relief hit me instantly. Released from Beryl’s company, Bri rushed up to us. I expected her to take Ryder from me, but she hesitated.
So, there was something between the two of them. Perhaps it had to do with what Ryder had done. He’d already told me that he’d killed his clan leader. The way Ryder had spun the story, I figured that he’d done it to protect everyone. At this point, I trusted Ryder. He did the right thing, no matter the consequences.
Bri swallowed. She nodded and took a step back, her gaze sliding to Beryl once more. “I’m sorry. I promised her I would stay a little longer.”
“Oh, hell no,” came out of me before I could stop it.
Bri gave a shake of her head. She pressed her keys into my free hand. “Take care of him, okay?”
I nodded, my jaw clenched. I’d gone and done it. I’d delivered another dragon shifter right into Beryl’s hands. How stupid could I be?
Bri made this decision on her own. I couldn’t fault her for trying to help, but I wanted to tell her that her trust was misplaced. Bri shouldn’t have trusted me or Beryl. I had a penchant for running headfirst into trouble, and today that trouble was Queen Beryl.
If Ryder hadn’t been drunk on faery food, he would have been pissed. I was safe, for now. When I got him sobered up, then I would have to deal with the consequences.