Everything between them always came down to choices. It was a fucking cosmic joke.
After what felt like a lifetime, she held out her wrist, and snapped.
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
Thank all the gods. Neither choice was good, but this was the better path.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Ryker slid the bracelet onto her wrist. He was careful not to touch her skin as he shut the clasp.
Blue sparks rose, the air crackled, and the bracelet fused together.
An accusatory glare that would’ve killed a lesser man crossed her face.
“What the fuck was that?”
“The bracelet is enchanted,” he informed her. “You can’t take it off. No matter where you go in the Republic of Balance, I’ll be able to find you. This is not up for debate. It was part of the deal I made for you.”
Myrrah had insisted upon it. To say that Brynleigh was a flight risk was a damnedunderstatement.
“I see.” Somehow, her voice was even harder than before. “Are we done here?”
She looked at him like she hated him, like she wasn’t the one who had tried to kill him, and his insides twisted into knots.
Ryker still couldn’t believe this was happening, still couldn’t believethiswas their life.
So much for fucking happily ever after. How could he have ever thought they’d get a fairy tale ending to their story? He’d been a fool.
Happy endings were for people whose relationships weren’t built on a foundation of murder, lies, and deception.
Drained by this entire conversation, he raked his hands through his hair and sighed.
“Yes. We’re done.”
Everything else could wait.
“Thank Isvana.” She rose to her feet, a tremor still present in her legs.
Ryker forced himself not to notice the shaking in her hands, the paleness of her skin, or the bruises that still bloomed on her flesh.
He remained seated as she made her way to the bedroom, waiting until he heard the shower running before rising to his feet.
This entire situation was a gods-damned disaster.
As luck would have it—andto be clear, he was not feeling lucky at all—things rapidly deteriorated from there.
While Brynleigh showered, he put a few bags of blood in the bedroom for her, along with her suitcase. He wasn’t a monster, no matter what she believed. Then he grabbed some food, made another coffee, sat at the kitchen table, and pulled out his phone.
It had been vibrating nearly non-stop since early this morning.
Sighing, he unlocked the device and stared at the notifications. He had two dozen unread emails. He tapped on the first one, the subject line simply titledUrgent.
Captain Waterborn,
What is this I hear about Brynleigh Waterborn, formally Brynleigh de la Point, being removed from The Pit? The vampire has proven ties to the Black Night.
Under whose authority were you acting?
An immediate response is required.