The Representative scooped her tablet off an end table without her stride faltering. The steady click of her heels was a metronome that River had heard thousands of times before. It set the tone for the day, reminding her that her mother was the undisputed queen within these walls.
Glancing at a gilded floor-length mirror as she passed it, River gave herself an appreciative smile. She wore figure-hugging designer skinny jeans and a navy one-shoulder blouse that fluttered as she walked. Both her belly-button ring and her sleeve of floral tattoos were on display, a deliberate choice she’d made after visiting Isolation Lake this morning.
Tertia might be the queen, but River wasn’t some helpless commoner. She wouldn’t let her mother walk all over her. She was her own person, and she didn’t need Tertia’s approval.
Especially not when her mother hated her. Over the past few weeks, River had scoured her brain, trying to understand where the hatred stemmed from, but she was coming up empty. She had no idea what she’d done to deserve Tertia’s malice.
“There is still so much to get done before tomorrow.” Her mother marched towards her office with confidence, not once bothering to check whether her daughter was following. “Who plans a bonding with less than three months’ notice? It’s not nearly enough time to throw a proper celebration. I suppose I should’ve expected as much from thatvampire.”
Derision dripped from Tertia’s tone, but before she could add more, a low growl came from ahead of them.
“That ‘vampire’ is your daughter-in-law, Mother.” Ryker’s baritone voice swelled as he stepped into the hallway, glaring at the Representative.
Oh, thank the gods. River was always happy to see her brother, but her heart leaped in cool relief at the sight of him now. She’d been dreading having to deal with her mother all day on her own.
Ryker was dressed casually in jeans and a dark sweater. One hand was in his pocket, while the other was entangled with his wife’s.
“And we’ve talked about this. You will show my wife the utmost respect because I Chose her.” Ryker looked over at Brynleigh, lips tilting up into a soft smile. He squeezed her hand. “I love her.”
Ryker gazed at his wife as if she was his entire world. As if she was the reason he woke every day. As if she was the sole purpose of his existence.
Thiswas why they were here.
River would put up with her mother’s yelling all day without complaint, because the way her brother looked at the woman he adored made it worth it. They were meant to be, and tomorrow, they would bond in the oldest fae tradition in existence.
Ryker was happy and confident, and there was an air of lightness about him that had only grown since the Choosing. Being in love was the best thing that had ever happened to Ryker…
And it was something River could never have. A pang of yearning swept through her, so strong it nearly knocked her off her feet. In another life, she could have had that,too.
Her fingers rose to her neck, closing around the silver water drop. She’d tried to take it off several times since the party, but she couldn’t seem to make herself do it. Each time, it felt like doing so would rip her heart from her chest.
Tertia’s gaze dropped to Ryker’s and Brynleigh’s intertwined hands. Her lips twisted together, and a long moment passed before she sighed.
“I suppose you did rescue my son when he was in danger.” The Representative dipped her chin, the movement so slight that if River hadn’t been looking, she would’ve missed it. “I … appreciate that.”
Brynleigh’s black eyes—a marker of vampire kind—widened, and River felt hers do the same. That was as close to an apology as she’d ever heard her mother make. Was she sick?
The momentous occasion was so stunning that several moments passed before anyone spoke. Even Tertia looked uncomfortable.
“Um… thank you.” Brynleigh smiled tightly. “That’s nice of you to say.”
Another awkward moment passed before the Representative shook her shoulders and straightened.
“Well, that’s enough of that. We have far too much to do; we can’t dawdle. I assume you want to see your father first?” She directed the question to Ryker, who nodded. “Good. Go do that and then meet me in my office.” She scribbled on her tablet, and without looking up, she added, “River, you can?—”
“Actually, Mother, we have a few errands that need doing.” Ryker interrupted Tertia as if she weren’t the coldest fae River had ever met. “I thought Riv might want to do them.”
“I’d love to,” River agreed enthusiastically.
Her brother bit back a smile. “You don’t even know what I need you to do.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll do it.”
If she could be usefulandget away from Tertia, it would be a win-win.
“Told you she’d want to do it,” Brynleigh teased, elbowing Ryker in the side.
“You were right.” Ryker smiled indulgently at his wife before pulling out a list and a credit card from his pocket, handing them to River. “Thank you, Shortie. Text me if you have any questions. Davis is waiting out front, and he’ll take you wherever you need to go.”