Page 54 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Ryker
“He’s not a good man, Ellery.”
“I know.” She hesitated for a minute before whispering, “He scares me.”
My teeth ground together at this admission. “I’m going to kill him.”
Her fingers dug into my chest a little. “You can’t do anything foolish, Ryker.”
“It’s too late for that. I already put us all at risk by going after the rebels.”
“Rescuing the earl’s servants wasn’t foolish.”
But it was, and we both knew it. It was too late to change it now.
“We can’t stay hidden much longer,” I told her. “It’s only a matter of time before it all comes out, and when it does, Gaius is mine.”
“How much time do you think we have?”
“Not much. Eventually, someone will get caught, Ivan will do something to drive us out, or there will be a slip-up. Until then, we have to build as much loyalty and soldiers as possible. We’re getting more of the money we stole from Ivan ready to distribute to the towns again. We saved some to help finance our war against him, but the supply is running low.”
“When are you going to distribute the money?”
“Soon. I have to return to my father’s castle today. There are some things I have to do there.”
“Like what?”
“I have to learn that monstrosity better. Before the earl’s ball, I vowed I’d learn the battleground of my enemy better, but I’ve only been back once, and while I spent some time going through the upper levels, I didn’t make it to the lower ones before encountering a servant. I had to stop what I was doing afterward. Thankfully, they came across me while I was on my father’s floor, and I told them I was looking for him, but he wasn’t there.”
“Where was he?”
“At the palace with Ivan. As much as I want to search more of his castle, I also need to learn what he and Ivan have been up to. After what happened yesterday, we’ll take a little break from tracking down the other encampments in the woods. We can return to that in a couple of days, but before we do, I have to see my father.”
I’d prefer not to see him, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep Ellery safe, and knowledge was the best way to do that.
“What are you searching for in his castle?” she asked.
“I want to know everything I can about it, and he has carisle that he blackmailed from Leo. It belongs to Tempest.”
She stiffened. “Don’t do anything foolish, Ryker.”
“Never.”
She didn’t look at all appeased by my promise. “Please.”
“I won’t do anything foolish; I promise. I’m just returning to learn more, gather some things, and show my face.”
“Be careful.”
I smiled at her. “Of course. Maybe you should stay here today instead of returning to the manor. If you’ve finished the harvest, then you can take a break.”
“We’ve finished the biggest part of the harvest, but it’s time to start working with the foals more. A few years ago, we would have handled them much more than we already have. We should have already started to wean some of them, but we no longer have the help for that, so we’re behind with the horses.”
“You can take a day off. You all deserve it. Plus, we need to work with you and your ability more.”
“Just because we deserve a break doesn’t mean it will happen. We will, once things settle down at the farm.”
“That could be a while.”
“I know, but I can only do one thing at a time. Next month.”
I wasn’t sure we had that much time left, but I kept that to myself. She had enough pressure on her without me adding more.
“Besides, I doubt Gaius will return today,” she said.
I wasn’t as convinced as her.
“He’s the new head of Ivan’s guard, and they have a female lightning bearer to hunt; Ivan won’t let him wander off whenever he wants,” she said. “He was there yesterday for his money; he has it. Ivan knows it’s too soon for the foals to be ready, so he’ll keep Gaius busy with other things until then.”
She did have a point there. Samay had been at Ivan’s beck and call before the king slaughtered him. I doubted Gaius knew the full extent of what he’d gotten himself into when he accepted his new position.
“I’ll send word to the palace to let him know the foals will be ready for a new home in two months. That should keep Gaius at bay for a little while,” she said.
“It will help,” I reluctantly admitted. “I don’t like you going back there.”
“I know, but I’ll be okay, and next time, I won’t be so startled if he tries something; I’ll shock the shit out of him.”
“That might happen if you give him a good enough blast.” When she smiled at me, I rubbed her cheek with my thumb. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“With what happened? Are you okay?”
Her smile slid away. “Yes. I hate him, and I’m mad about being so helpless yet so powerful, but I’m okay. One day, he’ll learn the mistake he made.”
“Yes, he will,” I vowed.
She kissed me before leaning back. “I should go. Scarlet’s family will rise soon.”
“Soon, but not yet.”
Slipping my hand around the back of her head, I pulled her down for a kiss. As soon as our lips touched, she melted against me.