Page 72 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

Ryker

“Here!” Farley shouted. “Here’s where it happened!”

Now that night had completely descended, the thick canopy of the trees above made it almost impossible to see anything. When I let the lightning at my fingers increase to illuminate more trees, a rustling came from the leaves overhead.

Beneath the glow of my light, I immediately recognized the bloodthirsty trees that once tried to kill me and Ellery. I was glad I hadn’t opened a portal, as these weren’t the same trees Ellery and I encountered; these weren’t in the same section of forest.

I kept an eye on the trees as I remained at the edge of the clearing they’d created beneath their boughs. The intertwined canopy of the trees was so thick that little sun penetrated their leaves, which didn’t allow anything to grow between them.

Those same connected branches strengthened the trees, so they didn’t break apart or shed their debris like other trees did in a storm. A cluster of large rocks was in the center of the cleared pathway. They formed a small circle.

Nothing stirred beneath the trees, and I saw no sign of a fight or disturbance of roots on the ground. There was no sign Ellery or Mouse had been here.

“Are you sure this is the right area?” I asked Farley. “I’ve encountered trees like these before, in a different location, and I don’t see any sign of a fight.”

And Ellery would have fought ruthlessly against black dogs and these trees. The reminder of the black dogs shifted my attention to the woods.

“Keep an eye out for those dogs,” I told Tucker.

“On it.”

“This is the right area, Twinkle Toes.” Farley whizzed past me and further into the trees. He pointed to something on the ground, but it was too far away for me to see. “Here’s their blood.”

I scowled at the poltergeist but ignored his words as I stepped out of the woods and under the canopy of the trees. I only made it two feet before Tucker grasped my arm.

“Wait,” he said.

The look I gave him caused his eyes to widen. His hands tightened on my arm before easing again.

“For what?” I growled.

“We don’t know what will happen once you walk out there.”

“I know what will happen, and it doesn’t matter. If they took her, then I’m going after her.”

A small murmur went through the crowd behind me. I glanced back to see that most of the encampment had followed us. The children and some adults had remained behind, but the rest had come for Ellery.

Tucker cast his voice low as he spoke again. “She could be dead, Ryker.”

Whatever he saw on my face caused him to snatch his hand away. “She’s alive… for now.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Yes, I can .”

I didn’t know what this bond was I shared with Ellery or why we were so connected, but I sensed her out there. She was alive, and I would get to her.

Tucker looked to the trees again. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, if I don’t return, you must lead the rebellion.”

“If you don’t come back, there is no rebellion.”

“Yes, there is. They respect and follow you. You’ll lose our lightning, but you’ll keep the fires of their vengeance alive.”

Tucker bit his bottom lip as he glanced from me to the forest and back again. “We always stick together.”

“Not this time. This time, I have to go alone.”

“No,” Ianto said. “I’m coming with you.”

“No,” Callan said as he pushed past the giant. “Everyone here looks up to you too and will follow you. I’m a nobody here. I’ll go with you.”

“What? No!” Luna cried.

Callan ignored her as he stared at me, his chin raised and determination etched onto his features. Maybe, at one time, Callan had feelings for Ellery or, at the very least, would have slept with her if given the chance, but he knew he’d never have that chance now.

He wasn’t doing this to get laid; he had offered himself because he considered Ellery a friend and someone worth fighting for. She’d managed to earn a lot of loyalty in a little amount of time.

I studied the young minstrel before shaking my head. “There’s no reason to risk you too. They’ll need every fighter they can get if Ellery and I don’t return.”

Callan opened his mouth to protest further, but Luna stepped forward and grasped his arm. When he looked down at her pleading face, some of his stubbornness faded and his shoulders slumped.

“Are you going to walk out there and let them eat you too?” Ianto asked me.

“That’s the plan.”

It was a worse plan than trying to rescue the rebels, but it was the only one I had. Because, no matter what, I would get her back.