The Ritual

“I gave you just enough information to make you curious.”

Tears start to sting my eyes at how stupid I was. Not a goddamn thing was by chance. It was all a fucking game. Piece by piece, he played me.

He smirks. “You were starving, Blake.” My heart sinks at his words. “Matt turned you down for so long that I didn’t have to give you much to keep you begging for more.”

The first tear runs down my cheek, and he watches it. Then he looks away, pulling his lip back with disgust. “You’re not the only stupid one here, Blake,” he adds. “I began to feel something for you.” He snorts at that confession. “Because you looked good in a fucking dress. I thought, what is wrong with your wife loving you? That maybe we’d have a chance after all.”

I hate that my pulse quickens at that thought. That he could actually love me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. For someone to love me for me. Accept me. I thought he had, but it was part of his game.

“Then you ran … and it reminded me what this really was. A job. My anger trumped anything else I had felt for the briefest of seconds.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I step toward the couch again. “Ryat …?”

“Earlier in the shower made me realize I’ve gone fucking soft on you, Blake. Know why?” He doesn’t let me answer. “Because you cried. Because another man tried to hurt you. That’s what I’m trying to protect you from. I should be your biggest threat. But instead, I’m falling in love with you.”

My heart hammers, and the blood rushes in my ears. I don’t want his words to faze me, but they do. “Ryat …”

“I’ve been taught since I was young that obedience is important.” He goes on as if he didn’t just admit to loving me. “That power and humiliation go hand and hand. I’ve watched Lords break their chosen ones or their Ladies to keep them in line. And you? You cry a few tears, and I go fucking soft.”

“I’m sorry,” I say through the knot in my throat.

“Sorry isn’t good enough!” He jumps to his feet, shouting.

“Punish me,” I offer, taking another step forward.

He stares at me with a careless look in his pretty eyes. He’s gone. I’ve lost what little ground we made last night. And I hate that my chest hurts. That I even fucking care. He just admitted to me that it was a game. “Cute.” He snorts.

“I’m serious.” I take another step, desperate to hang on to what I’ve spent the past three weeks running from. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but so have I. We’re not perfect. But he was right. I felt those same feelings at the party before Matt came and ruined everything. Before I made the decision to leave instead of trying to understand what Matt was doing.

His eyes drop to my bare legs and run up over my body, pausing on my chest before they reach mine. “I’m no longer interested.”

Panic grips my chest at his confession. “What do you want, Ryat? Want me to beg? Want to teach me a lesson?”

“No, Blake. I no longer want anything from you.” Leaning forward, he picks up the manila envelope and stands. Walking over to me, he places it in my hands, his cold eyes on mine. “Consider this your wedding gift.” With that, he grabs his leather jacket off the recliner and walks out, the slamming of the front door making me jump.

I plop down on the couch and open it with shaky hands. Pulling out the papers, I feel fresh tears sting my eyes. They’re divorce papers. My heart aches as I flip through the tabs and see he’s already signed them.

When I slam them down on the coffee table, the corner hits my ring. I read the engraving on the inside of the band—till death do us part. I slide it on my finger while my stomach knots.

How did we get here? This is what I wanted, except now it isn’t. Yes, we started out with a lie. But I’m not innocent. I only became his chosen because of Matt. Ryat was right. I ran when I should have gone to him after Matt cornered me in Ryat’s bedroom. No matter how mad or confused I felt, running from my problems wasn’t the answer. Even I knew they’d catch up with me eventually.

Leaning forward, I place my elbows on my thighs, my face in my hands, and swallow the knot lodged in my throat. Why do I care that he wants to walk away? Is it the fact that I failed? I felt what he did that night at the house of Lords party, and that’s why what Matt said hurt so much. Because I thought I was finally getting what every girl wants—love and acceptance.