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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Ryker

Luna had opened the portal behind Scarlet’s home, and we emerged beneath the trees. We stood in their shadows while we surveyed the day. Birds sang as they flitted through the oaks overhead, but nothing else stirred as the sun beat down on the land.

I scented the air as I listened for anything stalking toward us, but I didn’t detect anything unusual nearby. When I was sure nothing was preparing to attack us, I prowled the cottage’s exterior and peered in the windows while Tucker and Luna knocked on the back door.

We made our way around the house, but when we arrived in the front, and no one answered, I paused to survey the land. There wasn’t any movement around Ellery’s manor either.

No lights shone in the windows, and nothing moved through the harvested fields. Despite the quiet day, the horses in the paddock lifted their tails over their heads, snorted loudly, and took off running.

Their hooves thundered across the ground as they fled to the far end of the paddock, away from the barn. Ruby emerged from the shadows of the building with Billy clutched against her chest; she huddled in the open doorway as the distant roar of a tornado drifted across the land.

That was why the horses were fleeing. And if there was a tornado, something was wrong, but no flashes of lightning lit the barn.

Where is Ellery?

“Tucker,” I growled.

“I’m on it.”

Waving his hands before him, he created a portal with an opening that materialized outside the barn doors. Ruby twisted toward it and pulled Billy away, vanishing into the barn again.

I didn’t wait for Tucker or Luna as I ran into the opening and out the other side. When I emerged outside the stable, Ruby stood in the shadows with her shoulders back and a sword in hand.

I suspected she’d pushed Billy into the stall behind her but didn’t see the boy. When she saw me, relief flooded her features, and she lowered the sword.

“Help her.”

The tornado swallowed her words, but I understood the movement of her lips. The sucking power of the tornado battered me as I ran past her.

Chaos ruled as the barn doors battered the walls. One broke free and flew toward me; I ducked in time to avoid having the top of my skull caved in by it.

Despite the destructive power, this wasn’t Ellery’s creation. I’d have sensed her somewhere in this wind, but I felt nothing but its brutal lashing.

A horse within one of the stalls went crazy as it spun in circles, screaming and kicking the walls as it tried to break free. Its eyes rolled as the scent of fear heightened its natural aroma.

The horse’s aroma, as well as that of hay and straw, couldn’t diminish the stench of blood. It hung heavily in the air, clogged my nostrils, and was so thick I could taste it.

Through the wind and debris, Scarlet emerged as she twisted her hand to keep the tornado in place. Her other hand rested on Ianto’s back as he knelt on the ground with his hand against his chest.

I dodged a broken piece of pitchfork as Callan came into view. He was lying on the ground with only his feet visible, and the other half of him was in a portal.

I didn’t have time to figure out what was happening; Ellery was gone, and Callan’s toes dug into the ground as he fought against being dragged inside. Sprinting forward, I didn’t hesitate before plunging into the portal.

Darkness encompassed me, but I could see Callan lying down with arms outstretched as he clung to Ellery’s ankle. I followed her ankle and up her leg to the blood soaking the waistband of her pants and shirt.

What the fuck!

Her blue-green eyes stood out starkly against her pale skin and the blood streaking her delicate features. The arm locked around her neck caused a choked sound to issue from her.

Then the arm uncoiled from her neck like a snake slithering into the shadows. Gaius’s panicked eyes rolled before he turned and vanished into the portal.

Gaius!

I should have known that piece of dog shit would make an appearance. I should have known he’d come for her, and now that he had, I would tear him to pieces.

He’d done this to her. He was touching her.

My muscles tensed as I prepared to follow him, but his unexpected release of her, and Callan still tugging on her ankle, caused Ellery to tip backward. Her chains rattled when I caught her flailing hand, pulling her to me far harder than I should have given her condition.

Chains! What the fuck is she doing in chains again?

Pulling her against me, I cradled her as Callan released her ankle and scuttled backward out of the portal. I had to get her out of here before Gaius closed it.

I couldn’t open another one and didn’t think Ellery could do so as she trembled in my hold. Bending, I swept her into my arms and lifted her.

I held Ellery as I ran toward the opening. When her head fell to my shoulder, weakness emanated from her as her blood soaked my hands.

What did that prick do to her?

I didn’t ask as we emerged to the roar of the tornado and whipping wind. When she saw us, Scarlet drew her hands together, snuffing out the funnel.

In the ensuing silence, the horse continued spinning around his stall, but he was slowing either from exhaustion or the realization he wasn’t in imminent danger.

Now that we were out of the portal and the whipping wind wasn’t battering my eardrums, the unsettling rattle of Ellery’s breath filled my ears.

I was about to say it was time to go when I spotted Mr. Fletcher lying in a pool of blood only five feet away. Scarlet scrambled over to him and rested her hand against his face as she knelt beside him.

Ruby and Billy crept closer, and though he was pale and still bleeding, Ianto climbed back to his feet. Callan hurried over to help him, and the giant draped his arm around the musician’s shoulders.

“He’s breathing,” Scarlet whispered.

I didn’t know what had happened here, but that could come later; we had to leave before more enemies arrived.

“Someone open a portal,” I commanded. “We have to get out of here.”