Page 30 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Ryker

“It’s quite amazing that the two lightning bearers in this realm have found each other, even if one of them is an aristocratic douchebag,” Ianto said as he stopped a few feet away.

The crowd tensed but tittered nervously as I glowered at the giant. I’d been right; I didn’t like what the man had to say.

When I didn’t immediately fry him, the crowd relaxed a little, though I was contemplating sending a lightning bolt up his ass. Ianto’s warm brown eyes twinkled with amusement as he grinned at me. In the glow of the torches set out around the encampment, shadows danced across his brown skin.

“And to have them together, in love… or at least I’m pretty sure they are,” Ianto continued.

I frowned at his words; what was he playing at? He knew what Ellery meant to me.

When I looked at the crowd again, excitement ran through them as they studied us. They weren’t sure what to make of us as we stood together with my hand on her shoulder.

I thought I’d made it clear what she meant to me, but there was a time when she wasn’t here, and there had been several fights between us. They could also think we were just fucking; it didn’t have to be love.

And while immortals rarely cared who screwed who, love was a deeper emotional bond that many respected.

I pulled Ellery closer. “Of course we are.”

When she rested her hand on my chest, gasps and ripples of excitement ran through the crowd. Luna and Callan stared at us before exchanging a look. Ianto’s smile grew while Tucker nodded.

“That can’t get out,” Ellery blurted. “No one can know, especially not his father. That would be awful .”

Some of the joy left the crowd, and when they looked at me again, the distrust in their eyes told me they didn’t like her words. Did they think I was lying about being in love with her? To what end?

But then, the nobility had lied to them, broken them, and torn apart their lives. They saw them as users and oppressors… and I was one of them.

I’d battled for Tempest in the Ghoul War, helped free them, and robbed Ivan with some of them, but I was still an aristocrat. My father was one of their worst oppressors, and they’d lost far too much to trust anyone with noble blood, even if I’d fought in the trenches with them.

Ellery was their beacon of hope and an unusual phenomenon revealed when they needed her most. And some of them questioned if I was only with her because of her ability and the fact that, with her at my side, I was stronger.

I was sure others wondered if I was ashamed of her and intended to keep our relationship hidden because she was beneath me in social standing. They were wrong, but I didn’t know how to convince them of that.

When I met Ianto’s gaze, I saw the concern in his eyes. He needed me to do something , they all did, but I wasn’t sure how I could make them trust me and my feelings for her.

I could propose to her; I planned to do it anyway, but I couldn’t ask Ellery to marry me just to appease this crowd. That would be a private, special moment between us, and we would have it.

And then I knew what would deepen their loyalty to her and possibly make them stop questioning my intentions with her. “Not only is she a lightning bearer, but she’s also the Hooded Robber… or at least she’s the original one. She’s the first Robber to steal money and disperse it to other amsirah. Ellery’s the one who stole from me .”

I knew how this revelation would go over for Ellery, and I wasn’t disappointed as the crowd shifted their stunned gazes to her before they started to laugh and cheer. More came forward to slap her on the shoulder, shake her hand, and thank her.

While I still sensed her uneasiness over all this attention, Ellery handled it well as she accepted their thanks. I eyed each of them as they came forward.

When I revealed Ellery was the Hooded Robber, I’d expected this kind of reaction for her , but I hadn’t known what to expect for me . At one time, I hated Ellery for what she’d done, the lies she told, and how she made me look so foolish.

Now, I’d revealed that the woman I loved more than anything had stolen my money and played me for a fool. She’d then pretended to help me look for the Hooded Robber.

I wasn’t sure how many of them knew about that last part, but more than a few would know how I’d hunted for the Hooded Robber with her at my side. It wouldn’t take long for that revelation to spread throughout the camp.

When I’d made this revelation, I’d hoped it would make me seem a little softer to them. I was the Scourge of the Ghouls, yet Ellery, who was more like one of them than me, had gotten the better of me. She’d tricked me, and I’d forgiven her.

I also hoped they would realize that, no matter how much power she had, I’d never be with a woman who’d done that to me if I didn’t love her.

When Ellery looked up at me, some of her tension eased as she beamed at me. I smiled back as my heart warmed; putting her on display like this irritated me, but it was for the greater good and her future.

They were already amazed by her; once they got to know her more, they’d love her too. And they’d fight for her, just as I had for Leo.

Tucker moved around Ellery to stand beside me. “Maybe she should train with them with a bow and arrow.”

I opened my mouth to say no before closing it again. I’d much prefer to end this so Ellery could relax, but if she trained with them, she’d have a chance to work with them more. Plus, they’d see she was a fighter who could defend herself.

The setting sun created deepening shadows amongst the trees. “Let’s light the torches,” I said.

Tucker grinned at me.