Page 6 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER SIX

Ryker

From far off in the trees, something screamed, and a few amsirah jumped. I kissed Ellery’s head before lowering my mouth to her ear. “Are you okay?”

“Ye... ye… yes,” she answered tremulously.

“I’m sorry.”

When she turned her head toward me, her lips brushed mine as she spoke. “For what?”

“I never should have put you in that position.”

When she pulled a little away to look at me, I was relieved to see the beautiful blue-green color of her cyan eyes again. Cradling her cheeks, I drank in the magnificent sight of her .

On that roof, floating in the air, she’d been awe-inspiring and frightening. Now, she was simply a beautiful wonder to behold.

“I put myself in that position,” she said. “I chose to be there.”

“But you were there because of the choices I made.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of her full lips. “And you’re here because of the choices I made.”

I couldn’t stop smiling as I used my thumb to wipe a smudge of dirt from her cheek. She was right about that.

I’d like to think I would have eventually stopped drowning my memories of Doomed Valley in women and booze to take note of what Ivan and the nobles were doing to the realm, but it would have taken a while for me to decide to fight against their tyranny. Being robbed by Ellery had certainly sped up the process.

Damn, I loved her. I hadn’t believed it was possible to feel this deeply for another, but she’d become a part of me… the best part.

“Are you okay?” she whispered as her fingers touched the healing gash in my neck.

“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Thanks for saving my ass.”

Her eyes twinkled when they met mine, but worry still clouded them. “It’s too nice of an ass to see destroyed.”

I chuckled as I cupped her cheeks in my palms. “Too true. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. That was a little… ah, weird.”

“We’ll work with your powers more. That will help you control them better.”

I hoped that was true, as I’d never seen or experienced anything like it before. But then, I’d been raised to use my ability and trained myself to wield it.

To keep her safe, her parents raised Ellery to keep her ability hidden. Now she was finally setting it free, and even with all the training we’d been doing, she still wasn’t prepared to use it; we could work on that.

Or at least I hoped that was true. She was also an anomaly, stronger than anyone else in this realm, and could prove me wrong. She had many times before, but I had faith in her abilities and strength.

The crack of a stick drew my attention to the others as some crept closer while the rest remained planted where they were. The way they all gawked at Ellery caused my mouth to curl into a sneer as I surveyed them.

She’d saved their lives, and while I understood they had no idea what to make of her and were stunned to learn of her existence, they could close their fucking mouths. Across the way, the giant leaned against a tree, his mouth agape.

Callan, Luna, and most others had removed their hoods. Their hair stood on end or hung in tangled mats around their heads; some were bleeding, but they didn’t pay it any attention.

Still chained, the prisoners were spread throughout the clearing. Some remained on their feet; others had fallen to their knees.

Tucker stood ten feet away. Though he’d known about her lightning-bearer ability, his attention was riveted on us. He’d embedded the tip of his sword in the dirt and leaned on its hilt.

When he caught me looking at him, he lifted his eyebrows as if to say, now what? And that was a very good question. Now, what did we do?

Ivan and the others would come for her with everything they had. They’d tear this realm apart to find her, and I’d burn them down to keep her safe.