Page 34 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Ellery
I lifted my bow and aimed at the target. In rapid succession, I fired three arrows. The first arrow didn’t even hit the target before I’d released all three.
Ryker’s arrow in the center of the bull’s-eye split in half as my first one sliced through it. The next arrow split that one, and the third split them all.
The final one quivered in the center of the decimated arrows as something howled in the distance, and another creature screeched in pain. Turning, I bowed to the crowd as Tucker had done.
Loud cheers and applause broke the stunned silence. Ryker took my bow from me and set it aside before lifting me into his arms. “Show-off.”
I laughed as I draped my arms over his shoulders and kissed him. I’d only meant it as a quick kiss, but the second our lips touched, electricity sizzled between us, drawing us closer.
Despite the raucous cheers and applause, the rest of the amsirah melted away as the kiss deepened, warmth spread through my limbs, and my toes curled in my boots. I much preferred kissing him to kicking his ass with a bow and arrow.
“Ahem. Ahem. AHEM!”
I ignored the coughing sound coming from somewhere to my right as Ryker placed his hand on my back. It was time for us to leave this place.
Before I could voice this, Ryker’s head jerked to the side, and he broke the kiss. “What the fuck ?” he snarled.
I saw a streak of red across his temple before his head spun to the right, where Farley hovered only a few feet away. The poltergeist crossed his arms over what would be his chest and sighed. “You were ignoring me.”
“Take the hint.”
When Ryker lifted his fingers to his temple, they came away wet with blood.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” He didn’t look at me as his murderous gaze remained pinned on Farley. “What did you hit me with?”
Ryker and I followed the direction of Farley’s gaze to a rock at Ryker’s feet. When we both lifted our heads to glower at him, Farley smiled.
“What is wrong with you?” I demanded.
“A lot,” one of the other poltergeists answered, and a few chuckled.
“That’s true,” Farley agreed. “But now that I have your attention, I’d like to inform you the poltergeists will help you.”
I’d much prefer to choke him than accept his help, and what were they here to help us with? Poltergeists were always more focused on scaring and harassing than aiding anyone.
When I tapped Ryker on his shoulders, he lowered me down the front of his body. The friction the motion created sent a thrill of pleasure down my spine.
I couldn’t focus on that, even though I much preferred kissing him to dealing with these specters. I stepped away from Ryker but didn’t move any closer to Farley.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“The poltergeists will aid in your war,” Farley said.
“How do you know anything we plan to do?”
When he rolled his eyes at me, I almost shot a bolt of lightning through his blobby ass.
“We’re dead, Lery, not deaf. We don’t sleep, eat, shit, or fuck anymore. All we do is float around these woods, playing and listening. You may not always see us, but we hear your plans and know many things about this realm. We hear you plotting, and we’d like to help.”
“How can you help if you can’t leave the woods?” Ianto asked.
“Our help will be limited but useful. You require an army; we can aid in that.”
“How?” Tucker inquired.
“There are many who enter these woods and never find you. We know settlements we can lead you to; some have a fair amount of amsirah already gathered in them. If the enemy enters the woods for you, we can let you know and help you fight them. We’ll help protect you.”
I bit my bottom lip as I studied Farley and pondered his words. The poltergeist had never been magnanimous before; I didn’t know why they’d start now.
“Why would you do that?” Ryker asked.