27. Motherly Affection

CHAPTER 27

Motherly Affection

R yker's head was pounding mercilessly. This was no longer just a headache. That had come and gone an hour ago. Now, his brain was making a concerted effort to escape the confines of his skull through any means necessary.

Tertia had started yelling as soon as Ryker opened the door to greet her, and she hadn't stopped since. Her list of disappointments was longer than ever. Surprisingly—or perhaps not—she was upset about both his life choices and the fact that the rebels hadn't been stopped yet.

Apparently, Ryker was failing Tertia, the Representatives, and the Waterborn name all at once.

The only good thing was that a few minutes ago, Tertia had moved from the main apartment into the mud room.

Maybe she was planning on leaving soon.

Ryker leaned against the wall, rubbing his temples. He was fucking exhausted.

"Are you listening to me, son?" Tertia asked sharply.

"Yes, Mother," he said wearily. "You're not happy. I understand."

She hissed in a breath. The walls of the small mud room seemed to close in on them .

"No, I don't think you do. It was one thing for you to live in an apartment like a commoner with this dog ." She glared disapprovingly at Marlowe, who sat obediently at Ryker's feet. "But it was another entirely for you to Choose a vampire who turned out to be a murderer. That was one step too far, even for you."

Ryker sighed but didn't respond. Arguing would only elongate Tertia's stay.

Reaching into her pocket, his mother withdrew a silk ivory scarf. She wrapped it around her neck, daintily tucking the edges into her black coat before she raised piercing brown eyes to Ryker.

"Of all the things I thought would happen after your Choosing, this wasn't one of them." Tertia's voice was as silky as her scarf, but there was nothing maternal about the way she spoke. "You will be a Representative one day, child."

As if he could ever forget about that. The mantle of his future position had hung on his shoulders from the moment of his birth.

"No one else knows what Brynleigh planned," Ryker ground out.

He'd worked hard to keep everything under wraps. Nikhail, Victor and his team, Myrrah, and a few other Representatives were the only ones who knew the truth.

Tertia's eyes narrowed. "For now. Do you think keeping things out of the press is easy? I've had enough trouble with your sister, and now you add this to my plate. Don't you love me at all?"

"I do, Mother." Somehow, Ryker spoke the truth.

It might not have been the same kind of love he had for his father, but he cared deeply for his mother, even with all her coldness.

"Then think of how this looks."

That's what it always came down to for Tertia. All she ever cared about was the public's perception of the illustrious Waterborn family.

When she had hidden River's involvement in the Incident and helped wipe all traces of Ryker online six years ago, it wasn't out of the kindness of her heart .

Ryker wasn't even sure his mother could express emotions like most people. She loved her family, but she showed it differently from Cyrus. Ryker's father had always been there for his children, always present, ready and willing to talk. Day in and day out, he'd been available to them.

Tertia was more of the "I will provide for you, but don't come talk to me about your feelings" type of parent.

Right now, Ryker didn't feel an ounce of affection from his mother, and he wanted her to leave.

Brynleigh would be back soon, and the last thing Ryker wanted was for Tertia to still be here when that happened. This already volatile situation would become ten times worse.

"I will, Mother." Pecking Tertia on her cold cheek, Ryker steered her towards the door. "Have a good night."

She frowned, and even though Ryker towered over her by a foot, she looked down her nose at him.

"That is an impossible task when one's children are such disappointments."

What a loving mother.

Unfortunately, Tertia wasn't done.

"Why did the Obsidian Sands not see fit to bless me with offspring who understand the value of their name and know how to act properly? Instead, I got you two." Her red lips curled into a hateful sneer. "The vampire-lover and the Cursed One."

Ryker bristled at his mother's term for River. It was one thing for River to call her power a curse, but it was another for their mother to use that term.

Staying silent was no longer an option.

"River trains every single day, Mother." Ryker gripped the door, wishing he could shove the Representative out of it and force her to leave. "You know she's worked tirelessly to keep things under control."

The temperature in the room plummeted as Tertia straightened her spine.

"Your sister trains because she knows I will not tolerate another blemish against the Waterborn name. Untamed, wild magic will not reside beneath my roof. Not when your father could be injured."

It took every ounce of restraint Ryker had accumulated in his entire life not to snarl at his mother.

"She's your daughter ."

Did familial bonds mean nothing to her?

Sometimes, Ryker wished Cyrus wasn't the parent who had contracted the Stillness. It was a horrible thought and would probably land Ryker in the pits of hell, but it was the truth.

Tertia narrowed her eyes, and the look in them would have made a lesser fae run for the hills.

"I'm well aware of that fact, Ryker, thank you. One does not simply forget they've given birth. It's a rather painful experience." She sniffed. "Some days, I wonder if procreating was even worth the effort of carrying on the Waterborn name."

Ryker growled.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Mother ." He nudged the door, hoping Tertia would get the hint. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Or not. He'd rather swim naked in the icy Black Sea for hours.

Thank all the gods, with a final huff and glare, Tertia left.

When the elevator doors closed, Ryker slumped against the wall. He ran his hand through his hair, shut his eyes, and groaned. That was, without a doubt, one of the most miserable conversations he'd ever had the displeasure of having with his mother.

He wasn't sure how long he remained there before a wet nose pressed against his hand.

Marlowe's black tail thumped enthusiastically, and he looked up at Ryker with wide, anticipation-filled eyes.

"Want to go outside, Marlie?" Ryker scratched the dog behind the ears.

Woof .

"You've got it."

A run was a good idea. Fresh air would clear his head, and hopefully, Brynleigh would be back by the time he returned .

He texted her to let her know he was taking out the dog and would be back soon. He ran his face under cold water, shook off the last remnants of his mother's visit, and changed into black running shorts and a pale blue T-shirt. It was cold outside, but he'd warm up quickly once he started moving.

Hooking Marlowe onto the leash, Ryker closed the door behind him. They jogged down the stairs, avoiding the elevator and the lobby in case Tertia was still lingering. He didn't even know why she had bothered to come to his apartment. He'd gotten her message loud and clear from the numerous emails, texts, and voicemails she'd left him over the last few weeks.

The only good thing about this was that, for once, River wasn't taking the brunt of their mother's anger.

Gray clouds hid the stars from view as Ryker and Marlowe slipped out the side door. The cool air pricked at his skin, and he shivered. A heavy mist hung in the air, warning of impending rain. His magic swirled as if it wanted to come out and play.

Another time.

The water fae slid wireless headphones into his ears, connected them to his phone, and dialed his sister's number.

As soon as it started ringing, he took off running down Center Street towards Eleyta Park. He and Marlowe always ran this familiar, comforting path. Three parks were within equal distance of Ryker's apartment, but he preferred this one. The trail was fenced, there was a small pond where dogs could swim, and pets were allowed off-leash.

He wasn't worried about waking up his sister—she was a night owl. Sure enough, she picked up on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Mom was here," Ryker informed her, his voice steady despite the pounding of his feet on the sidewalk.

"Ah." She sucked in a sharp breath. "I'm sure that was…"

"Delightful, as always." Ryker turned the corner, staying beneath the streetlights as Eleyta Park came into view at the end of the road. "But it's okay, she left. How are you?"

"I'm… alright. "

It was evident by her tone that she wasn't telling him the whole story.

"You can tell me," he gently prodded. "Is it Dad?"

By the Black Sands, he hoped their father was alright. If the deities that ruled this continent cared about them, they would allow Cyrus to live. Their family couldn't handle another catastrophe right now.

"No, he's stable, and the meds are working." River exhaled. "I've just been… worried. I don't know. I have a bad feeling."

Ryker slowed. "What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it. It's not my magic," she hurried to say. "But I feel… uneasy. Like something is coming."

Ryker frowned. "Maybe it's nothing."

"Maybe." But it didn't sound like River agreed with him. "I'll mention it in my prayers tomorrow. I think Dyna is helping Dad."

River's faith in the goddess of life and healing was sweet, but Ryker thought the medicine and round-the-clock care were the reasons their father was improving. He didn't say that, though. He didn't want to break his sister's spirit, especially since he knew how much she cared for the fae religion.

"How's school?" he asked instead.

"Good." River made a sound of amusement. "I can't wait to be done, though. It feels like I've been learning forever. I want to help people. I can't wait to start my internship next year."

He smiled and led Marlowe across the street. "I know you do, River. You'll be an amazing doctor."

She hitched a breath. "Do you think so?"

Even though Ryker couldn't see his sister, he imagined she was drawing her lip ring through her teeth.

"I know it. You'll be an incredible addition to any medical team. I'm so proud of you."

If Tertia refused to say the words, Ryker would say them twice as often.

"I hope so. This week, we learned how to treat Alphas and Omegas…" River continued, telling Ryker all about the werewolf medicine they covered this week in her classes.

He listened intently and asked a few questions as he entered the park. He passed three more runners before reaching the enclosed dog run.

Unlocking the gate, he slipped inside with Marlowe. The dog bounded with excited energy. Ryker unhooked the leash, and Marlowe raced away, a series of joyful barks filling the air.

Ryker followed, chuckling at his dog's enthusiasm. This was exactly what he needed.

He fell into a steady run, the ground absorbing the sound of his footfalls as he pumped his arms and legs. Running had always cleared Ryker's mind, and the stress from his mother's visit diminished with every passing minute.

"How was training this morning?" Ryker asked when River took a breath.

They never outright spoke of the Incident, and now that Ryker knew Brynleigh's family had died at his sister's hand…

Well, the situation was fucking complicated.

He knew one thing for certain: he would never tell River how Brynleigh had lost her family. She already felt enough guilt for what she'd done without having to put a face on the grief and devastation she'd caused.

"It went well. I've got my magic under control." River inhaled. "And actually…"

"Yes?" he prompted.

"I think I'm going to Mature soon." He could hear the smile in her voice. "I can feel it. My power is growing, but it doesn't seem as wild as before. It feels like I can control it better. Does that make sense?"

Hope sparked in Ryker's chest, and a grin spread across his face. "It does make sense, and that's fucking amazing news."

He felt lighter than ever as he ran down the trail.

Like most species that called the Republic of Balance their home, fae Matured in their twenties. Not only did Maturation extend lifetimes, but it also increased power and control. When River was fully Mature, managing her magic would be easier than ever. While Ryker would never stop worrying about his sister entirely, this was a boon they desperately needed.

After ensuring that she would tell him the moment she Matured, their conversation shifted toward the tattoos River wanted to get after graduation. She had an entire sleeve planned, and Ryker was pretty certain that, given enough time, his sister would cover every available inch of skin in ink.

Their mother hated tattoos, but Ryker was sure that was just a coincidence.

By the time River finished describing the floral design she planned on getting on her lower back, the mist had picked up and turned into a steady rain. Ryker bid his sister farewell, reminding her how much he loved her and how proud he was of her before hanging up.

Switching to the upbeat playlist he usually played while he ran, Ryker whistled for Marlowe.

Moments later, the dog bounded out of the forest, his black fur plastered to his sides and his tongue lolling out of his mouth. His front paws were brown and caked in dirt, and Ryker knew that somewhere in the park, a hole the size of Marlowe's head now existed.

"Gods above, you sure know how to make a mess, don't you?" He scratched the dog behind the ears.

Marlowe barked in agreement, his tail wagging. He looked delighted by the mess he'd made.

Chuckling, Ryker reached within himself and drew out some water. It flowed from his hands and ran over the pup in gentle streams, washing the mud away until black, silky fur was the only thing that remained.

"There, good as new." Ryker released his magic, attached the leash, and led Marlowe out of the park. "Come on, boy. Let's go see if your mom is home."

And if Brynleigh was hurt, Jelisette de la Point would pay.