Chapter 7
7.Seven
“Hello, Victor.”
Ryder said it as we stepped into Gomez’s office, his hand wrapped firmly around my waist.
I had never seen Gomez this tense before.
“What are you doing here?” Gomez asked coldly.
“Take it easy, Victor. I came to see an old friend. At least ask us to sit.”
His eyes met mine.
Gomez’s gaze immediately landed on me, and I couldn’t miss the disgust in his expression.
“Madelyn,” he said coldly.
“Nice to see you again, Gomez.”
“What are you both doing here?” he asked, his eyes dropping to Ryder’s hand still resting on my waist. His expression changed slightly. “You married him?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me as if I had just announced that I had lost my mind.
“I know you’re desperate, Madelyn, but you should have thought about it before making such a reckless choice.”
Here goes putting me down with his fake empathy.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Ryder spoke first.
“I would advise you to tread carefully, Victor.” His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous underneath it. “You’re speaking to my wife. I suggest you speak respectfully.”
Gomez’s jaw tightened. For several seconds, neither man said anything. Then Gomez finally gestured toward the chairs. “Sit.”
Ryder pulled out a chair for me before taking the seat beside mine. I couldn’t help noticing that his hand never left my waist.
“What brings you to town?” Gomez asked. “Are you even allowed to leave that forest?” His eyes narrowed. “Stay long enough and you might unleash another curse on us all.”
My fist clenched beneath the table. This old hag.
How dare he speak to Ryder like that? I glanced at Ryder, but he looked completely unfazed.
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “You already look cursed, Gomez.” His eyes snapped toward me.
I smiled sweetly. “There’s nothing left for the forest to drain from you. Your soul is already as black as—”
“Madelyn.” Ryder’s voice stopped me.
I turned toward him. “What?”
His lips twitched slightly, as though he was fighting a smile. “Behave.”
I blinked. “Baby I’m behaving.”
“You were insulting the mayor.”
“He insulted you first.”
Gomez looked between us, clearly irritated. “You think this is funny?”
I smiled. “A little.”
Ryder shook his head, but his hand tightened slightly around my hand. Gomez leaned back in his chair, studying us.
“So this is the woman you chose? A complete failure. Useless too as an omega.”
Ryder’s expression immediately hardened. “ Watch your tongue.” He growl.
“Why now? You’ve stayed away for long.. why show up now, married to this.” He said pointing at me
The room suddenly became quiet.
I looked at Ryder. He didn’t say a word he just stared at Gomez with his jaw tightened.
“Unless,” Gomez said slowly, “this marriage isn’t what you’re claiming it is.”
My heart stopped. Ryder’s gaze turned ice cold.
“Be careful, Victor.” Gomez smiled. “I think I just found out exactly why you’re here.”
Gomez’s smile widened, and I immediately hated the look on his face.
“What exactly are you implying?” Ryder asked.
“I’m saying that you’ve never shown the slightest interest in marriage, and now you suddenly walk into my office with a wife.”
His eyes moved toward me again. “And not just any woman. Madelyn.”
I forced a smile, even though my stomach was twisting. “What’s wrong with me?”
Gomez ignored my question. “Why her?”
Ryder’s arm tightened around my waist. “Because I love her.”
I froze. Gomez froze. Even Ryder seemed to realize how easily the words had slipped from his mouth.
My heart gave an embarrassing little jump. I quickly looked up at him, but his expression remained completely calm.
Gomez scoffed. “Love?”
“Yes.” He said it so easily that for a second, I almost forgot we were pretending.
Gomez leaned back in his chair. “You expect me to believe that?”
Ryder’s gaze hardened. “I don’t care what you believe.”
“Then why come here?”
“To make sure the town knows my wife is under my protection.”
Gomez’s eyes narrowed. “Your wife.”
Ryder nodded. “Yeah my wife.”
Gomez looked at me again. “And you willingly married him? .”
I smiled. “Of course.”
“You’re not afraid of him?”he asked
I glanced at Ryder before turning back to Gomez.
“Why would I be afraid of my husband?”
Ryder’s eyes flicked toward me. I smiled sweetly and leaned closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder. “He’s actually very sweet.”
Gomez looked like he had just swallowed something bitter. “Sweet? Van Doren sweet?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Very.”
Ryder’s jaw tightened. I could feel him trying not to react. “He makes me breakfast,” I continued.
His eyes slowly turned toward me. “And he carries me when I’m tired.”
Ryder stared at me. I smiled. “And he’s very protective.”
Gomez looked between us suspiciously. “Interesting.”
I squeezed Ryder’s arm. “Isn’t he, darling?”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
My heart skipped.
Wait. Did he just call me sweetheart?
Gomez sighed. “Well, congratulations.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“But I still don’t understand why you’re here.”
Ryder leaned back slightly. “I need access to the town.”
Gomez’s expression immediately changed. “For what?”
“I have business to handle.”
“You know the rules.”
“I know the rules.” Ryder repeated.
“Then you know you’re not welcome here.”
Ryder’s eyes turned cold. “I’m aware.”
Gomez folded his hands on the desk. “Then why should I allow you to stay?”
Ryder smiled faintly. “Because whether you like it or not, Victor, I’m back. And if you don’t want what happened ten years ago to repeat itself, then you do what I say.”
The room fell silent. Gomez sat up straight, the color slowly draining from his face. “You’re lying.”
“You know me well enough to know that I don’t lie.”
I looked between them, completely lost.
What happened ten years ago?
The air in the room suddenly felt different, heavy with something I didn’t understand. Whatever Ryder had just said, it had clearly scared Gomez. “If what you’re saying is true, then we’re fucked.” Gomez rubbed a hand over his brow. “That means the ritual failed.”
Ryder didn’t say a word. My stomach tightened.
What ritual? What the hell had happened ten years ago? I wanted to ask, but one look at Ryder’s face told me this wasn’t the time.
Gomez looked at him again. “How sure are you that you can stop it from happening?”
“I can.” Ryder’s voice was calm, almost too calm for the how intense the room felt. “But I need access to the town, and you know that because of the curse, I can’t leave the forest at will.”
Gomez stared at him for a long moment. Finally, he sighed. “Fine.”
Ryder didn’t say a word . “Do whatever you need to do,” Gomez continued. “But do it fast.” He glanced toward the window, his expression growing darker.
“We have two weeks until the full moon.”
Two weeks. The words sent a strange chill down my spine. I looked at Ryder. His eyes were still on Gomez.
“What happens on the full moon?” I asked before I could stop myself. Both men looked at me. Gomez’s expression changed instantly.
Ryder’s eyes grew guarded.
I swallowed. “What?”
Gomez looked at Ryder. “She doesn’t know?”
Ryder remained silent. My brows pulled together. “Know what?”
Gomez slowly leaned back in his chair. “You should probably ask your husband.”
I turned toward Ryder. “Husband?” He looked at me for a moment before standing.
“We’re leaving.”
I stared at him. “That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“But I have questions,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice.
“You’ll get answers.”
“When?”
“When you’re ready for them.”
I frowned. “I’m ready now.”
Ryder reached for my hand. “You’re not.”
I stared at our joined hands, then back at him.
For some reason, I had a feeling that whatever happened ten years ago wasn’t just connected to the witches of Saylan. It was connected to Ryder.
We stepped out of Gomez’s office, and the moment the door closed behind us, I pulled my hand away from Ryder’s.
“What the hell was that?” He kept walking “Ryder.”
Nothing. I hurried after him. “You can’t just walk away after that.”
“I can.”
I stopped for a second, staring at his back. “You’re seriously going to ignore me?” He finally stopped and looked over his shoulder.
“You asked what happened ten years ago. You’re not ready for the answer.”
“How would you know?”
“Because you’re still trying to understand what happened yesterday.”
I tilted my head, trying to understand.. “That doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to know.”
“You will.”
“When?”
“When it’s safe.”
I stared at him, annoyed. “You know, for someone who expects me to pretend to be your wife, you’re really terrible at communicating.”
His eyebrow lifted. “This is serious.”
“So am I.”
I crossed my arms. “If I’m going to stand beside you in front of everyone, I need to know what I’m getting myself into.”
His expression changed slightly. “You want to know what you’re getting yourself into?”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer. “You’re getting yourself into something that could get you killed.”
I swallowed. “That’s comforting.”
“This is no joke, Madelyn.” He stared at me for a moment before reaching for my hand again. “Come on, let’s go.”
“To where?”
“Home.”
The ride home was quiet. Ryder barely said anything, his eyes focused on the road while I sat beside him, replaying everything Gomez had said in my head.
About a ritual that failed. Something about three days until the full moon and whatever happened ten years ago was coming back.
I wanted to ask Ryder about it, but something told me not to. For once, I decided to keep my mouth shut. Thirty minutes later, we were back at the mansion.
Blackthorn came to a stop in front of the house, and Ryder turned off the engine. I waited for him to say something about what had happened in town, but he simply opened his door and stepped out.
I followed him inside. He didn’t say a word until we reached the staircase.
“Go upstairs and freshen up. Dinner is at six.”
I stared at him. “That’s it?”
He glanced back at me. “What else do you want?”
“An explanation would be nice.”
“You’ll get one.”
“When?”
He held my gaze for a moment. “When I have one worth giving.”
I frowned, but before I could argue, he turned and walked away. I watched him disappear down the hallway. Something was bothering him.
I could tell. Ryder might be good at hiding his emotions, but I was starting to notice the little things. The way his jaw tightened. The way his eyes changed when Gomez mentioned the ritual.
The way he’d gone completely silent on the drive home. Whatever happened ten years ago had scared even him. And that scared me more than anything. I slowly climbed the stairs, but before I reached my room, I stopped.
Two weeks until the full moon. I had no idea what was coming.