Page 5 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER FIVE

Ryker

As Ellery’s terror beat against me, my pace picked up until I was running when I reached her. Clawing at the hood, strange sounds issued from her as the lightning intensified, and she tore away the mesh covering her eyes.

White light encompassed us both when I stopped before her, my fingers falling on the rope keeping her hood in place. I was as eager to free her of it as she was to have it off, but when her head tipped back, her eyes froze my movements.

When I used my lightning, my eyes turned black and lightning bolts shot through them. The same thing happened with Ellery; I’d seen it numerous times before, but not tonight.

Tonight, not only did a white light surround her, but her eyes were entirely white too. There wasn’t even a black pupil in the center, yet it didn’t seem to affect her vision as she focused on me and her hands gripped my wrists.

I’d never seen anything like it before. It was as if the lightning had completely taken her over, and, for a moment, her panic became mine.

As swiftly as it rose, I buried my apprehension. I had to break through, calm her, and make her see she would be okay… I hoped.

Her fingers bit into my wrists. “Ryker.”

“Easy,” I whispered. “It’s okay. I’m going to get this off you now.”

The power oozing out of her crackled against my skin, but unlike with others, it didn’t hurt. Whereas it would kill almost anyone else, it felt pleasant as it moved over me.

The strength of it teased my power to the surface, and while it called me to let my lightning go too, I kept it suppressed. I suspected if I let it out now, she might spiral further out of control… and take me with her.

It would be easy to be swept up in the lightning; it was a rush of power more thrilling than almost anything in the realms. The only thing more exciting was… her .

With deft movements, I untied the string binding the hood. “Easy,” I whispered again. “I’m here. It’s okay. You’re fine.”

When I pulled off her hood, she gasped in a breath. The color had drained from her sun-kissed skin. The unhealthy shade of white had caused the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and cheeks to stand out more.

“Ryker,” she croaked.

“Shh,” I soothed as I drew her into my arms and cradled her against my chest.

She released my wrists, and her breath billowed against my chest as she leaned into me. Her fingers dug into my back, and she shuddered while burrowing closer.

Everything in me ached to take this away from her. To pick her up and carry her somewhere safe, preferably in a realm far from this one, but that was impossible.

She didn’t have to stay here though, with all these eyes on her. While I couldn’t see them, I sensed the others watching us. Thankfully, they kept their distance, probably because they were nervous she’d electrocute their asses if they got too close.

I rested my chin on her head as I ran my hand down the silken length of her mocha-brown hair. The fading glow of her light illuminated the beautiful hues of chestnut and chocolate in her hair.

Her hair remained in a braid, but some strands had fallen free. Her enticing apple scent mingled with the aroma of fear and the sharp ozone odor of lightning.

Slowly, her light diminished until nothing more remained. With the crackle gone, a hush descended over the clearing. I didn’t hear so much as the chirrup of an insect as everything seemed to hold its collective breath at once while they waited to see what would happen.