the purplish-blue sky. Sitting up, my head feels clouded and my mouth dry. There’s a glass of water on a tray next to my bed, and I drink it all. Bringing my soul band up, I call for Rosalie. It’s moments before she enters, and I’m already on my second glass of water, taking the medicine left for me.
“Where’s Matheas?” I say more sharply than I intended.
“King Ryker is waiting to speak with you, Your Highness.”
“Where is he?”
Rosalie swallows, fear filling her eyes.
“Please, Your Highness. I’ll call for King Ryker, let him know you’re awake.”
Slamming the glass down, I head for the door.
“Where’s King Ryker?”
“In his planning room, attending to business.”
Without shoes or slippers, I march to the planning room, my anger crashing into me like waves on a storm-covered beach. I enter the planning room to find Ryker sitting at the desk, digitally signing documents, Everett and another arms men flanking his side. When they see me, their calm expressions change, their eyes widening.
“Fiora,” Ryker says slowly, calmly, his dark eyes observing my body language as he lowers the screen in front of him. “How are you feeling?”
“Where’s Matheas? I should’ve woken up with him there.”
Flicking two fingers in the air, Ryker signals to Everett, and he moves over to the planning room door. A click sounds, and my eyes whip to Ryker, narrowing.
“Where is he?”
Ryker stands at the side of his desk but doesn’t approach me. The other, younger arms man moves farther to the left. They’re surrounding me like a wolf pack on its prey.
“He took a rover craft and flew to Iowan.”
“What?” I shout the word, but Ryker doesn’t flinch. He leans against his desk, hand rubbing over his facial hair.
“He intends to scout, contact your arms men who infiltrated Iowan, and discover the location of your father and brother.”
“Why would you allow him to do that? None of you received orders from me. I never would’ve allowed it.”
“We know, it’s why he left before you woke up. He said you would’ve given yourself over to Belore. Is that true?” His eyes narrow, awaiting my answer.
“Yes. I would’ve killed Belore the moment I had a chance.”
“Fiora, you have an entire territory of people relying on you and only you to lead them and keep your territory safe. You cannot sacrifice yourself to a man like Belore. I have no doubt you are strong, able to take a man down, but Belore wouldn’t fight you fairly. He’d have his men hold you down while he violated your body in the worst ways possible. He’d do it over and over, whipping you, cutting you, starving you until you broke, or he realized he couldn’t break you. If he felt he no longer had use for you, he’d murder you, and I know he wouldn’t show mercy. It would be a slow, painful death. How would you serve your territory in a position like that? Tell me.”
His tone is challenging, and between that and the truth of his words, my jaw clenches, my own words momentarily cut from my throat. Tears sting my eyes, and I turn to leave, but Everett’s large frame blocks the door.
“You’re not leaving my sight,” Ryker tells me, voice steadfast.
Rotating, I scowl at him. He’s no longer leaning on the desk. He’s several steps closer with his gaze dead set on me.
“Am I your prisoner now?”
“No, you’re a Queen I swore to protect, and I’m doing what I promised. I know you’re clever. I can’t trust you to be alone.”
“I want to send a message to my arms men,” I demand.
“If I approve of it.”
“You do not have a say in the matter.”
“I do, Fiora. You’re in my territory. Under my protection. I won’t let you leave, nor will I let you endanger yourself or the people of my territory. You’ll wait until we hear word from Matheas or your arms men.”
My fists ball at my sides as rage heats my chest and cheeks.
“Don’t do this, Ryker. Those are my men! You’re risking his life!” I scream.
Ryker stares me down.
“That’s why you’re truly angry, isn’t it? That Matheas is out there risking his life for you?”
At this point, I’m trembling, alone, afraid, with nothing in my control.
“He killed my mother, took my father and brother from me, has my grandmother hiding for her life,” I seethe. “Now, you let the only remaining person I love fly right into the territory of a homicidal mad man.”
Ryker steps closer until the rage in my eyes stops