The Ritual

“No.” my father shakes his head quickly, taking another step toward me. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Then what was it like?” I demand.

Ryat drops his hands from behind his head and stands. “Blake …”

“No. I got this.” My father lifts his hand to my husband. I cross my arms over my chest and push my hip out, impatiently waiting. “Your mother—Valerie.” He corrects himself. “Signed you up because she wanted you to be with Matt. That was her and Kimberly’s plan. When I found out, we got into an argument. I didn’t want you to be a chosen, but it was too late. I couldn’t stop it. My only other option was to intervene. So, I gave Ryat the assignment that I did, knowing that his loyalty was with the Lords, and he wouldn’t turn it down.” He takes another step toward me, and I match it, my back hitting the door, and his face falls. “I never thought it would go this far. Please, Blakely. You have to believe me. I was just trying to save you from Matt.”

I look at Ryat, who stands behind his desk, hands shoved into the pocket of his jeans. His emerald eyes on mine give nothing away. Does he regret it? That’s my biggest fear. I know we didn’t get here by chance. It was forced. But I still fell in love with him, nonetheless. What if this is just his commitment to the Lords? What if I’m just some game he refuses to lose? A game that he will do whatever it costs.

“Give us a moment,” Ryat tells my father.

He lets out a sigh and drops his shoulders, making his way to the door, and I step out in front of it so he can exit.

Silently, I look down at my wedding ring when Ryat walks up to me and places his hands on my face, gently forcing me to look up at him. “Stop,” he orders.

I go to look away, but his hands prevent it. “I see that look on your face, Blake. I want you to know this … whatever is said out there, or whatever I do—just know that I love you.”

I nod, and tears sting my eyes.

“I mean it.” Pulling me to him, he gives me a tender kiss on my forehead. “You might have started out as an assignment, but you are my life now.” He drops his hands to my baby bump and rubs it gently. “You three are my life. And you guys will always come first. Do you understand me?”

His words make my heart race, and I swallow nervously. “I love you,” I whisper.

Giving me a tender kiss on the lips this time, he pushes open the door, and we enter the cathedral. All the Lords are present in the pews dressed in cloaks and masks. Ryat leads me to the front row, and I sit down in the same spot I had last time I witnessed him torture someone who tried to destroy my life with him.

Ryat makes his way up the stairs, and he walks over to a black sheet that hangs from the ceiling. He reaches up and yanks it down, exposing what’s behind it—Matt.

He’s got his arms tied above his head by a rope secured to the ceiling. His feet are spread wide, chained to the floor, and all he wears are his boxers.

He’s covered in blood, and I wonder just what Tyson’s been doing to torture him for the past month while Ryat recovered. It wasn’t enough to kill him, but definitely enough to fuck him up by the bruises and dried blood on him.

Ryat moves to stand behind the baptism pool and faces the congregation. “Lords, I find this to be a teaching moment for you all.” He starts. “This here is a fellow Lord who decided to betray his oath and be disloyal to us.”

Matt lifts his head and glares at the back of Ryat’s head.

“What is his penalty?” Ryat asks.

“Death!” Everyone answers at the same time, making me jump.

“Go ahead.” Matt growls, “I won’t say shit!”

A smile spread across Ryat’s face. “You don’t have to … but she will.”

The sound of a door opening and closing on the second floor fills the large space, and then I see my dad dragging Valerie onto the stage. I sit up straighter, my eyes shooting to Ryat. His eyes are already on mine. He tried to tell me I didn’t have to stay here tonight. Is this why? I thought he was trying to save me from what he was going to do to Matt, but maybe it was to protect me from the woman who I grew up thinking was my mother.

My father brings her to a stop and forces her to her knees. She whimpers behind her gag. Stepping up to her, he removes it, and she cries harder. He grips her hair and yanks her head back. “You get one chance to explain yourself,” he says calmly.