Page 60 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER SIXTY
Ryker
“A man robbed me,” I told him. “I know because I saw his build, and there were no breasts. From what Gaius told me, the lightning bearer has lovely breasts. I am an expert on them, so I think I would recognize them on the Hooded Robber.”
“I suppose,” my father sighed.
I hoped that was enough to throw him off the trail of the Hooded Robber and the female lightning bearer being the same.
“When did you see Gaius?” my father inquired.
“The day after it all happened. I ran into him and Samael in Nottingshire.”
“Ivan has appointed him the head of his guard.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“You really do hear a lot in those woods.”
“I do.”
“You’re probably the only one who can go up against her. Would your abilities cancel each other out?”
“I don’t know; I’ve never encountered another lightning bearer before.”
My father rubbed his chin as he pondered this. “It will be interesting to find out. If you discover her, I want you to bring her here to me.”
Apparently, he was going to ignore that I’d said I wouldn’t hunt her. “Why?”
My father smiled. “So I can keep her safe, of course. Ivan’s irate; he might do something foolish, and we can’t have that.”
“What can we have, Father?”
“We can have another lightning bearer in the family.”
“I’m not marrying anyone.”
“Not for you, you idiot. I would never grant you such power. If I married the lightning bearer, between you and her , our family would be the most powerful in the realm.”
The idea of him marrying Ellery and touching her set my teeth on edge. It took all I had to keep my composure.
“I think you’re forgetting something, Father.”
“And what is that?”
“You already have a fiancée.”
He waved a hand through the air again. “That’s a minor inconvenience.”
“I doubt she’d agree; the woman loves you.”
He chuckled. “Oh, Ryker, you are such a fool. Brianna is well aware of the situation.”
“And what situation is that?”
“That she’s a means to an end in this game. She agreed to it before I put a ring on her finger and brought her here. The throne belongs to her; she knows it, and I’m the one who can put her on it.”
“It belongs to her, which means you can’t toss her aside.”
“A female lightning bearer would hold far more power and sway in this realm than some half breed.”
“That’s all you care about is power.”
“It’s what keeps me at the top, and it’s also what keeps you safe. Ivan would destroy you if given the chance. I’m the only thing that stands between you and death at his hands.”
“He could try to kill me, but he wouldn’t succeed.”
“Come now, Ryker, you’re strong, but he has armies at his beck and call. Not only that, but you’re trapped here. He’d hunt you down like a rabid animal, and you have nowhere to go.”
“I’ve become quite familiar with the Revenant Woods over these past months; I’d survive.”
“You’d have to live like an animal.”
“And? At least I’d be alive.”
“You only disdain luxury because it’s all you’ve ever known. You’d never survive without it.”
“I can assure you, Father, there was no luxury on the battlefield or in Doomed Valley. I’ve known luxury and some of the worst conditions in the realms; I’ve already survived without it.”
“Fair enough, but I want that lightning bearer, and you will bring her to me before Ivan gets to her.”
“As I’ve said, I have no idea who she is and little interest in finding her.”
“That’s going to change.”
“And why is that?”
“Because whoever discovers her first will rule this realm, and you don’t want Ivan as king.”
“Ivan’s already king.”
“But you don’t like him.”
“I don’t like you either.”
My father glowered at me, but he couldn’t deny the truth.
“You have Leo’s daughter,” I reminded him. “If you come forth with her, you could rule the realm.”
“Tempest isn’t ready for that, and neither am I. If Ivan finds the lightning bearer before me, Bria won’t matter, and we both know it. Ivan will solidify his rule with that woman.”
“What will you do with your fiancée if you discover the lightning bearer first?”
“What does that matter?”
“Humor me.”
“I’ll send her back to the Gloaming, give her some carisle to keep her mouth shut, and let her lead the life she planned to before I encountered her.”
“What if she doesn’t want to go back? What if she fights your decision? What if she goes against you and tells Ivan who she is?”
“She knows Ivan would kill her if he learned the truth; he wouldn’t allow any competition for his throne.”
“And what if she fights you? What will you do then?”
“She’d be an idiot to do so. Without me, she has no power or protection in this realm, but if she chooses to be a fool, then I’ll kill her like I killed the others.”
Despite my determination to remain aloof and to annoy him, his words sent a shock through me. “ What others?”