Page 16 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ellery

“You told him before you told me?” Tears choked her voice and swam in her eyes.

“Scarlet—”

“We’ve been friends for twenty-three years. We’ve been through hell together, and I thought we told each other everything. Don’t you trust me?”

“I do!”

“But not enough to tell me this big secret about you before telling someone you’ve only known for months. You trusted him more than me .”

“No, that’s not why he knew before you!” I rushed to get out. “I told Ryker so he would believe I was the Hooded Robber and help me free my mother from the king. When I was running from him in the woods, I had to use my ability against him, so he already knew the Hooded Robber was a lightning bearer before I revealed it was me.”

“But I didn’t.”

“Scarlet, I’m sorry.”

She stared at me before turning on her heel and walking away. I didn’t move as she vanished among the tall stalks.

A small breeze rustled the corn around me; its whisper was the only sound in the increasingly humid day. I was losing everyone I loved, but this time, it was because of my actions.

I rubbed the spot over my aching heart as I resisted the urge to chase after Scarlet and beg for her understanding, but would I understand if our roles were reversed? We’d trusted each other with all our secrets… or at least she had, and I’d betrayed that trust.

I’d be pissed and heartbroken too if I was her, but over time I would forgive her. I hoped she could do the same.

She’d walked away because she needed time to process everything. As much as I hated it, I had to give her that time.

I started back through the corn and toward the manor. I still had to tell the rest of her family; they had a right to know, and it was better to hear about a female lightning bearer from me instead of a passing rider.

I didn’t think Scarlet would say anything to them until I did. She was mad at me, but she would keep my secret.

It felt like the weight of the world bore down on my shoulders as I walked, and I was so caught up in my misery that I was almost out of the field before I realized something was wrong. I emerged from between the stalks and stared up the hill, past the barn, pens, and coops, to the road I couldn’t see from here.

After we stole the king’s money, many travelers on the road were excited to spread the news of Ivan’s loss. We’d managed to free some of the rebels last night and revealed a female lightning bearer; travelers spreading word of this should clog the road.

What’s keeping them away?

On the horizon, the thick gray smoke was dissipating as whatever fueled it burned out. Is the cause of the fire keeping the travelers away, or is it something more?

A sense of foreboding crept down my spine as, in the distance, a single bird sang.