Chapter 54

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Ryker

I couldn't deny that his statement piqued my curiosity, but I refused to let him know.

"Are you spending all your time in the Revenant Woods?" he inquired.

"Of course not," I scoffed. "There are many fine establishments I thoroughly enjoy visiting throughout the week."

I'd still been visiting them since I started training Ellery. I had to keep showing my face in case my father decided to check up on me, but whereas the women had little appeal to me before, they had less now.

I had no intention of fucking Ellery again. That night in the woods had been a brief… well, rather long lapse in judgment, but it wouldn't happen again. The idea of touching another woman made my skin crawl and my dick shrink.

It was a frustrating experience I hoped to one day remedy, but that would come once I finished working with Ellery and we could move on with our lives. I'd never been one to stay celibate; however, I had far more important things to deal with right now than my lack of erections for anyone but her.

I could tell by the gleam in my father's eyes he knew exactly what kind of establishments I was talking about. "So, you're still trudging through the slums."

"Don't we all?"

"I admit, it is fun to enjoy a woman lesser than us on occasion, but ever since you brought that whore into our home, you've become obsessed with them."

My teeth clamped together so fiercely they created a stabbing pain through my jaw and up to my temple. Don't react. Don't react. That's what he wants.

His eyes were shrewd as he swirled his glass, sloshing the red liquid against the sides. He was looking for me to react to his mention of Ellery, to his calling her a whore.

The idea of him saying that about her made me want to rip off his arms and shove them up his ass. I'd laugh as his fingers burst from his mouth.

The image caused me to relax a little while I continued contemplating patricide. One of these days, it would happen, but I needed to be a lot more prepared before it did.

Without an army and a way to fight my father and the others, I would only succeed in becoming a hunted man. And while I was powerful, I couldn't destroy the king, aristocrats, and their armies alone.

Now, at least, I remained a part of their inner circle—well, not completely inner as they hadn't included me in their plans to shut Tempest off from the other realms. My father had also ensured I couldn't open a portal out while he, the other aristocrats, the king, and their family members still could.

But I was still one of them; because of that, I was a far bigger threat while my plans remained hidden. The truth would come out one day, but not today. When it did, I planned to bathe in this man's blood.

He'd caused me more suffering than anyone else in my life. He'd taken my mother, tortured me, and was part of the reason I'd lost Ellery.

He would pay for it all .

"What you're doing is beneath you," he continued. "Besides, we have many, much finer establishments throughout the land. They're far more suitable to someone of your birth."

"They're all the same, Father. One hole is as good as another."

For the first time, I amused my father as his mouth twitched toward a smile. "Oh, you are right about that, but some are better trained in their roles."

If he knew how wrong he was, he wouldn't have that expression on his face. I couldn't tell him how incredibly different it was with someone you loved.

And I did love Ellery as much as I hated her. The conflicting emotions only made me despise her more.

I downed the contents of my drink in one gulp before leaning forward to refill it.

"Cartha is to be savored," my father said.

"So is a woman, but we often fuck them too fast too."

This time, my father actually chuckled, which I'd never heard from him before, at least not over something I'd said. "Too true."

I sat back in the chair and lifted my leg to cross my ankle over my knee. "Why am I here, Father?"

"I'm trying to catch up with my son. It's been a while since we last spoke."

We'd briefly seen each other during my last few check-ins but didn't talk during those visits. I preferred it that way.

"The Earl of Oakley is having a ball next month. We will both attend," my father stated.

Normally, whenever he commanded me to do anything, it irritated me and I gave him the exact opposite response, but his words piqued my curiosity. The Earl of Oakley was the man who bought Tucker's manor from the king.

The earl had purchased it while Tucker was away, fighting the Ghoul War and imprisoned by the ophidians. If I was careful and smart about it, I could find a way to ensure the earl repaid Tucker for at least some of his loss… without the arrogant man knowing it.

I couldn't just agree to go; that would make my father suspicious. "I'm sure I have plans for that day."

My father's expression darkened. "They are expecting both of us, and you will attend."

"And if I don't?"

My father smiled over the rim of his glass. This one wasn't amusement; it was cold and calculating.