The Ritual

“Where is my uniform I was wearing?” I ask him.

“Burned it,” he answers, not even bothering to look at me.

Motherfucker …

The door slides open, and we enter a hallway and move toward a closed door. Opening it up for me, he steps to the side to allow me to enter. Stepping in, I come to a halt. My legs are unable to take me any farther. My father sits in a chair with a man I don’t know next to him.

“Blakely,” he growls my name and shoots to his feet.

I spin around to leave, but Ryat shoves me farther into the room, closing the door behind him and caging me in.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” my father snaps, rounding the long table.

“Me?” I gasp, pointing a finger at my chest. “You sold me.”

He snorts. “I didn’t take a penny for you.”

I frown. “But Matt …”

“Matt was pissed because Ryat announced your marriage. He would have said anything to make you leave,” the man who remains sitting adds. He seems much calmer than my father, which makes me wonder who he is and why he’s here.

No! Matt wasn’t just convincing, things he said made sense. Like pieces of a puzzle that clicked together. But just to make sure, I spin around to face Ryat. “So you didn’t offer money for me?”

He leans up against the closed door as if to block it in case I try to bolt. Crossing his arms over his chest, he answers, “No. I did.”

My mouth falls open. I fucking knew it! “I’m not a whore, Ryat.”

He says nothing, but my father isn’t done. “I always knew Matt was a sorry piece of shit. That’s why I forced Ryat to pick you as his chosen.”

I blink. He did not just say what I thought he did. “You what …?” I look back at Ryat, and once again, he says nothing. Just stares at me like he did when I was on my ass in the hall after I ran into him. Threatening and indifferent at the same time. That playful and carefree Ryat from our wedding night long gone. Back to all business. I’m just a fucking order to him.

“But he chose to marry you,” I hear my father add.

“What?” I take a step back, so I can see them both at the same time. The back of my neck is sore, probably from when Prickett was pinning me down on the table. I’m tired of looking back and forth between my father and my husband. “You make it sound like I should be grateful,” I snap at my father. What does he expect me to do? Get on my hands and knees and thank Ryat for marrying me so I didn’t have to spend a life with Matt? Right now, I’m trying to see how Ryat is any better? Why did it have to be one or the other?

“You should,” he demands, stepping into me.

A hand grips my upper arm, and I’m yanked to the side, and I hit a hard body before Ryat places his arm around my shoulders.

My father lets out a long breath. “I’m not going to put my hands on her like my wife did.”

I blink, trying to keep up with the change of topics. “How do you know that?” Ryat had to have informed him of what happened. He’s the only other person who knows.

My father waves a hand, dismissing me. “Now that you’re back, we have shit to take care of,” he states.

“Like what?” I ask, my pulse racing. What could possibly need to be done?

“You must be initiated.”

That word has my stomach knotting. “What do you mean?” I ask slowly, pulling away from Ryat. Thankfully, he lets go of me.

“I mean, Ryat is going to be powerful—”

“Yeah, yeah, a renowned judge in New York,” I interrupt him. “But what does that have to do with me?”

The other man stands from his seat. “Who told you that?” he demands, his eyes glaring at Ryat’s over my shoulder.

“Matt,” I answer.

Silence blankets the room, making my breathing pick up. Was I not supposed to know that? If so, what will they do now that they know I do. “I haven’t told anyone,” I add quickly. “Ryat didn’t even know that I knew.”

“Is this true?” the man demands of Ryat.

“Yes,” he grinds out.

Shit! He’s mad at me even more now? Was I supposed to tell him what I knew? “Why … why is that a secret?” I come out and ask.

The man takes his seat, glaring at me now. “Anyway, the Ladies have different tiers, just as the Lords,” he goes on, totally ignoring my question. “You will be as high as you can get. A Lady always matches her Lord.”

I reach up and rub my temples, closing my eyes for a brief second. “I’m fucking tired, and a little slow from being drugged.” My eyes spring open. “So, can someone explain to me what is going on instead of talking in riddles?” I snap. What the fuck is a Lady? And what does it have to do with Ryat being a Lord?