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Ryker took a protective step in front of me, glaring at Nikan with malice in his silver eyes. I felt him pull on the bond, as if he needed the reassurance that it was still there and Nikan’s wordshadn’t taken it away, making the bond feel tense and anxious. I moved between them and put my hands up, angry that someone would question my word and insult my mate.
Gods, these overprotective males…
“Nik, Lord Rykerismy mate. I know it for certain. Even Odarum confirmed it. And just for the record, he has prevented himself from sealing the bond, even when I asked him to. If he were so eager to eliminate me, he wouldn’t have done that.”
“Asked him to, huh?” Malina made an amused sound and quirked an eyebrow, but I ignored her and continued.
“He could have killed me on sight. Not to mention, if he truly was a threat to me, do you really think Odarum would just be standing there? Do not question our bond. And you will not harm him.” I looked down to the ground beneath us before giving him a knowing look.
With a frustrated grunt, I felt Nikan release his hold on the terra. I spun around to face Ryker and narrowed my eyes at him, his eyebrows raised as he flinched.
“And you,” I snapped. “You need to explain your reasoning for last night.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” He flicked his eyes from me to Nikan then back. “Could we speak alone?” he asked quietly.
I nodded and turned my head to look at Malina. I jutted my chin toward the tent, and she smiled and winked. She turned and grabbed Nikan’s shoulders, spinning him around and pushing on his back to get him to walk toward the tent.
“Get moving, you overbearing brute. The Worthy lovers need some privacy,” Malina chipped gleefully, bouncing on her toes.
Odarum walked away with them and dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“Overbearing indeed. And he’s your…brother?” Ryker questioned.
I turned back to him, and he was staring at the two walking away, no doubt noticing the obvious physical differences. I tried to hide my amused smile as I nodded. This wasn’t the first time that people questioned our familial ties.
He nodded slowly before looking down at me. “Is he a half-brother?”
I couldn’t hide my amusement any longer, and I chuckled. “Where we come from, blood has nothing to do with family.” I turned my head and gestured to them. “His name is Nikan. And the female is Malina, my sister.”
“And where, exactly, are you from?”
I turned my head back and found him staring at me with a small smile. I gave him a deadpan stare.
“You’re not getting out of this so easily.” I crossed my arms. “Why did you leave? Why did you come back?”
“Will you walk with me?” He turned to the side and extended his hand out in front of him.
I gave him a curt nod, and we fell into step with each other across the grassy clearing. He held his arms beside him with a straight posture, the very essence of a Lord. I took him in from the corner of my eye. In the light of day, his broad shoulders were more defined and his face was hardened, with those silver eyes taking in every detail around us without effort. He was the epitome of every description I had read of the Lord of Oryn, but I had never imagined that he would also be as attractive as he was.
“I’m sorry for leaving you last night. The way you were speaking to me was making me lose control, and I was seconds away from fucking you against a tree,” he said as we continued to walk.
The thought of us standing in the forest last night flashed through my mind and my skin began to heat. I didn’t miss his visible erection either, which only made my skin feel hotter.
He cleared his throat then continued. “I can’t seal the bond with you. Not yet at least. I returned to Oryn last night to speak with my advisor about it.”
That’s…weird.
“You flew back to Oryn to speak to your advisor about having sex with me?” I gave him a questioning look as we crested over a hill, the grass swaying through the breeze tickled my feet.
“Well, sort of, I suppose. But not like you think.” He sighed deeply. “I was approached by a Sage after the Trial and was warned to deny the bond with you, otherwise Oryn would suffer. As would we.” His voice trailed off.
“What do you mean?”
“The Sages have convened a panel with the other Worthy to decide if our mating is forbidden.”
“Forbidden? They can do that?” I gaped.
“Evidently.” Ryker shrugged.
