A Savage Debt (The Beholden Duet #1) - Zoey Ellis Page 0,12

in his own. They were warm, although slightly rough, and much larger than hers. “We have options,” he said firmly. “We can leave. Pack our things and leave right now.”

Ana’s mouth dropped open. “Leave the palace? How will that help anything?”

“You will not be in his grasp, Ana.” Ryden’s brows lowered in annoyance, as though it was obvious. “He will not be able to touch you or use you to get to your father.”

“If I run, he could chase me and kill me to get to Father instead.”

“I won’t allow that, Ana.”

“Will you have a choice? How are we supposed to survive out there?” Ana said, pulling her hand from his and gesturing to the window. “He is experienced in navigating the kingdom—they say he lives in the wildest part of the Oakenshire, that he’s survived the most hazardous environments across Allandis. How are you going to protect me from him out there?”

Ryden’s face hardened, and Ana suddenly realized that she was insulting him. She tried to find a way to rephrase her point, but she couldn’t. Because it was true. Ryden was a royal; he was not someone who lived in any kind of difficulty or who’d figured out how to survive undetected in the wilder regions of the kingdom, like this outlaw had. Running from the court was one thing, but running from that outlaw? It wasn’t logical. And Ana would not ignore such an obvious difference in experience when her life and safety was in his hands.

“Anyway,” she quickly added, uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her, “it will still cause problems for my father for not honoring the Royal Promise. The promise means he has to deliver what he says he will deliver. If I am not there, he’s breaking it.”

“I don’t give a fuck about the Royal Promise,” Ryden bellowed, making Ana jump. “It is stupid pandering like that that put us in this situation. There is no need for commoners to ever receive the promise of a king, in any circumstance. It should have been abolished years ago.”

Ana gave him a faint smile. “Unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can do about that now.”

“It could still be abolished,” Ryden ground out, clenching his fist in annoyance. “But no one in the court is willing to do it. They all feel it would be unwise to enact a new policy in light of this situation.”

Ana nodded, sighing. She expected as much.

“There is one other thing we can do.”

Ana shot him a quizzical look.

“I could bond with you,” Ryden said, seriousness on his face. “Right now, I could bond with you and that may deter him.”

Ana drew her lip between her teeth, worrying it as she thought. Bonding usually only took place at a wedding or during an Omega’s heat. “Do you think it will take?”

“It can’t hurt to try.”

“Did you bring it up with the court?”

Ryden’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t see any reason to.”

Ana glanced up at him. “I don’t think being bonded will dissuade him.” She knew it wouldn’t—at all. The outlaw was only interested in one thing, and whether she was bonded or not, he would still have her.

Ryden thought for a long moment.

“And remember, you will feel everything that I feel when I am with him,” Ana said slowly.

Ryden’s nose wrinkled. Clearly he hadn’t thought about that. “That would be….”

It was clear he found the idea repulsive, and Ana didn’t really blame him. Who would want to be subject to that?

Ryden exhaled a harsh breath and turned away, marching across the room before turning back, anger on his face. “This outlaw is taking everything from me, and I won’t allow it! He is trying to ruin us, and ruin our chances for a successful reign by injecting himself between us.”

“Mother said that his intention is to ruin father.”

“Yes,” Ryden said firmly. “And us.” He moved closer to Ana. “I have waited a long time for you, Ana.” He stroked her cheek, his eyes on hers, before slipping his hand to the back of her neck. “And now all that waiting has gone to waste. This bastard is going benefit from my restraint. I won’t let him.”

Ana stared at him, nerves rising in her stomach at the sudden change of his scent. “What are you talking about?”

Ryden’s hand tightened at her neck and he pulled her toward him, crushing her lips with his. Ana instinctively pushed against him before relaxing slightly. Even though this felt wrong, he was still her betrothed.

“Ryden,” she