Katelyn stepped forward, her voice soft and honeyed as she wove her thoughts directly into my mind. “Riana, my beloved Danny has passed suddenly from sickness. I was grief-stricken, and I asked Roderic to accompany me. Do not be angry with us.”
Her words were gentle, yet her eyes gleamed with a subtle, unspoken claim, as if to declare, “With me, he will never leave.”
“Oh, your mate is ever so devoted,” I murmured, my expression cold, betraying nothing.
Roderic’s brow furrowed, tension coiling in his mind. “Riana, can you be reasonable? Danny’s passing has grieved Katelyn deeply, and yet you taunt her still?”
His eagerness to defend her struck me, and I cast him a glance sharp as a fang.
Without another word, I pressed lightly against his shoulder, shoving him aside, and turned away. My steps were calm, controlled, but the fire in my chest roared beneath.
Roderic paused, a flicker of daze in his eyes. It was the first time I had seen him and Katelyn together without cries or flares of despair. I left the grove quietly, deliberately.
Only moments later, Roderic’s presence brushed against my mind, soft and lingering. “Is it only because I did not bring Aeliana home? Why hold such anger against me still? Why dwell on pettiness?”
He had erred, yet I bore the weight of blame.
“All of it is my fault,” I said, voice sharp and distant, not sparing him a glance.
A flicker of surprise crossed Roderic’s mind at my indifference. His tone softened, conciliatory, almost humble. “Danny’s passing struck Katelyn hard. I feared she might falter alone, and I hurried to her. Is Aeliana angry with me? I will make it right when I return. She is obedient—she will forgive me, yes?”
If he had opened his senses to our pack, he would have felt the emptiness where Aeliana should have been. But his thoughts clung solely to Katelyn, blind to all else.
“You have no chance left,” I said, turning again, my mind closed to him.
Roderic’s hand caught my arm, firm, pleading. “Why no chance? Very well, I will fetch Aeliana from her lessons each day. Do not bear anger so long against me.”
His willingness to bend for the first time flickered in my senses. Had Aeliana survived the attack, perhaps I could have softened. But that path was forever barred now.
“Let us set the time and end this bond swiftly,” I said, wrenching free from his grip. My steps carried me forward, unhesitating, never once looking back.
Behind me, Roderic lingered, the awareness of loss creeping into him. His frown deepened, and he sent word to his servant. “Maelis, bring the finest doll to my daughter. Bid her persuade her mother that she should not seethe against me.”
