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 said against his lips. “You know this is not my choice, don’t you?”
Ryden stilled, and after a moment lifted his lips from hers. “It never has been, Ana,” he growled as he looked down on her. “If anyone is going to inflict this upon you, it should be me to do it first.”
Ana froze, her breath cold in her lungs. “What do you mean?”
Ryden held her gaze for a long moment, then cursed. “I want you to remain pure and only for me.”
Ana relaxed a little, smiling at him. “I will in my heart, Ryden. I am pleased that you don’t want to break our betrothal because of this.”
“Never,” he said, his eyes burning into her. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to be able to call you my wife, and I’m still waiting for that day.”
She jumped as a heavy knock fell on the door, and Ryden immediately let her go.
“Come in,” she called, fixing her dress as Ryden inched back from her, his face smoothing over as he dropped his hands to his sides.
The door opened and the king strode through.
“Father!” At the sight of him, majestic and powerful, Ana’s worries almost disappeared.
He paused at the sight of Ryden, a frown forming on his face. “I didn’t realize you had a visitor, Ana.”
She rushed to him and threw her arms around his neck, eager for his familiar feel and smell to chase away the discomfort and confusion that had dominated her since the court hearing.
“I was just wishing her well, Your Majesty,” Ryden said from behind her. “This is an upsetting situation.”
“I understand,” the king said, his hand pressing into Ana’s back as she hugged him. “So I will allow your presence in her private chambers just this once. It will not happen a second time.”
An awkward pause filled the room for a breath. “Of course, Your Majesty,” Ryden responded smoothly. “Ana, I will see you tomorrow, hopefully. I will be thinking of you hoping your heart remains with me.”
Ana nodded an offered a small smile. “Of course, Ryden. Thank you for understanding.”
As soon as he left, the king wrapped his arms around Ana and hugged her properly. “Ana,” he said, his voice heavy. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited you until now. I’ve been trying to find a way to stop this from happening.”
Ana squeezed him tightly before pulling back. “Mother came to see me,” she said quietly. “I know you can’t.”
Her father shook his head. “Not without severe damage to the crown or an uproar among the commoners.”
“Surely maintaining the royal family is more important than the commoners being upset for a while?”
Her father led her farther into her room, and sat down, gesturing for her to sit opposite him. “That is not exactly true,” he said. “The monarch rules and guides the kingdom, but if enough commoners are unhappy, they can disrupt the balance of society. That could be dangerous for us—the crown must survive at all costs, even if the current ruling family doesn’t.”