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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Ellery

It felt a little weird to celebrate someone’s death, especially while Mr. Fletcher was still healing, but I didn’t voice my concerns. Things had been so hard lately; it was good to hear so much laughter.

Callan retrieved his lute, and soon his haunting music filled the air. Some men grabbed the newly arrived women and swung them into dances. I was sure they were the happiest, as men greatly outnumbered women in the camp.

“If we’re going to make so much noise, we need more guards on duty,” Tucker said as he walked away from the large fire and past us. “I’ll take care of it.”

“I don’t make noise,” Callan stopped singing to call after him. “I bring beauty to the masses.”

Tucker lifted an eyebrow as Ianto finished another tankard of ale and rose. He sauntered away before returning with a drink for me. “You deserve to celebrate too.”

I took the wooden container from him and gripped it in both hands. “I’m not the one who got us off that field or away from Gaius.”

“Yes, you are,” Scarlet said. “With help from me, of course.”

I lifted my drink to her. “Of course. I never would have succeeded in anything without my partner in crime.”

“And what about me?” Ryker murmured in my ear.

“I’d be lost without you. Without all of you.”

I lifted my mug toward Callan, who winked at me as he continued to sing. Settling against Ryker, I sipped my ale and tried not to make a face at the bitter taste before passing it to Ryker. He chuckled as he took it from me.

Soon dancers filled the clearing, and poltergeists floated in. Farley glided by to say hi before going to bob amongst the dancers with his friends. They spun in circles and flapped their hands as Callan continued to play while joining in with the dancing.

After an hour, the celebration started to ramp up, and with food in my belly and some rest, I felt a lot better. Maybe it was a little morbid to celebrate someone’s death in such a way, but I was up for the party.

“I need a bath and some fresh clothes, but though I’m a little disgusting right now, would you like to dance with me?” I asked Ryker.

“Your wound.”

“It’s healed enough for a dance.”

“Ellery….”

“Really, it is. I feel a lot better, don’t you?”

He studied me before capitulating with a bow of his head. “I do.”

I shifted away as he rose and held his hand out to me. I took it and let him help me to my feet.

Despite sitting for so long, my legs were steady beneath me, but weakness lingered in my muscles and joints. My side only stung a little, and when I pulled on the gash, it only produced a dull ache instead of a breath-stealing stab of pain. It didn’t open again or bleed.

When Ryker pulled me into his arms, strength seeped through me as I rested my head on his chest. I relished the familiar beat of his heart and the strength of his corded muscles.

He hadn’t changed either after the earlier events; I doubted he’d left my side after I passed out. But it didn’t matter that we were both battered and bloodied; all I cared about was the love he’d brought to my life.

No one liked to think about what was happening outside these woods with the aristocrats… and the duke. Reality could return tomorrow, but tonight was for rejoicing with each other.

When Callan played an upbeat song, we didn’t join in the fast-paced revelry of those surrounding us, and I was happy about it. I wanted to stay in Ryker’s arms.

As the others danced around us, I tipped my head back to look at him. I marveled at how handsome he was, with his strong jaw and deep brown hair falling in waves almost to his shoulders.

The firelight emphasized the silver flecks in his mercury-colored eyes. Love radiated from his eyes, and even before he killed Ivan to save me, I’d known there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for me.

At six foot four, he towered over my five-six height, and while I felt small in his arms, I didn’t feel weaker. He never made me feel weaker.

Rising onto my toes, I kissed him. “You killed the king for me.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

When I slid my arms around his neck, he lifted me off the ground and danced around the clearing. I kissed his neck before whispering in his ear, “I’d do anything for you too.”

“Nothing reckless.”

“And killing Ivan wasn’t reckless? Did you have any plan for what happened after that?”

“I did.”

“What was it?”

“To get to you.”

I chuckled. “That’s not much of a plan.”

“But it worked.”

“It did.”

And while we were now the most hunted amsirah in the realm, we were free to be with each other. We didn’t have to hide anymore and could openly fight those who would destroy us.

Things were going to be tough; I had no doubt about that, and today had been awful , but I felt lighter than I had in months. Amsirah danced with abandon around us; they tapped their tankards together in celebration, laughed, kissed, and ate more.

They’d all lost so much, but tonight they had a reason to celebrate, and I rejoiced in it. We’d all lost so much, yet we’d gained something more within this forest and beneath these trees.

Scarlet danced with Ianto; she laughed as he spun her around, and her face lit with pure joy. As the night wore on, Ryker reluctantly released me to dance with other partners.

I danced with many of the amsirah who’d welcomed me with open arms into their encampment. We laughed as we danced together.

As I passed from one dancer to another, I glimpsed Ryker dancing with some of the others. They all smiled as he swung them around… including him.

His father had undoubtedly put a huge bounty on his head, but I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen him look so happy. Their hesitance around him and their distrust had vanished.

They’d stopped shying away or eyeing him warily; they now welcomed him with open arms. The men thrust more ale into his hand while the women kicked up their feet and twirled around him.

By killing Ivan, he’d more than proven he was one of them. While I didn’t like seeing him dance with other women, I enjoyed their newfound trust in him and that none of them tried to get too close… just like none of the men had gotten overly close to me.

They respected our relationship, and I liked them more for it.

When Ryker reclaimed me, his smile shone from his eyes as they twinkled in the firelight. That smile was for more than me; he was happy to have finally been accepted.

He wasn’t someone who sought the approval of others, but even before he killed Ivan, he’d fought for these men and women and deserved their trust. They’d been reluctant to give it to him.

I didn’t know how long we danced, drank, and celebrated, but the stars were fading from the sky when Ryker led me away from the revelry. Almost everyone was still celebrating, but I’d had enough, and Ryker must have seen that.

He kept his arm protectively around my waist as we walked toward his tree house. “You must be exhausted,” he said.

I was, but I wasn’t ready to call it a night.

They’d cleaned me before bandaging my injury, but I still felt dirty, and my clothes were gross.

“I am, but I’d like to clean up first. I’m too filthy to sleep.

” I glanced at my dirt and bloodstained shirt.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to change into. ”

“We can fix that. Wait here.”

He left me standing beneath his tree house while he ascended the ladder. I watched his movements for any sign he was still hurt, but while he didn’t move with his normal, fluid grace, I saw no signs of his injury.

He vanished through the hatch in the floor and returned a minute later with some clothes and a bar of soap. When he reclaimed my hand, I followed him into the trees and on toward the river.