Page 74 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Ryker
Lightning danced across my fingers and around my wrists as I strode further beneath the canopy. I had no intention of unleashing my power on the trees; I needed them to take me and couldn’t destroy them, but I would see them coming. If I doused my light, it would be nearly pitch-black beneath these bloodthirsty monsters.
Plus, if they’d taken Ellery for her lightning, they should see mine too. I walked out until I spotted the blood soaking the earth. Its coppery scent still hung in the air.
My nostrils flared— Ellery’s blood .
Either these trees or the dogs had hurt her. Reining in my temper before I unleashed it on the trees, I tilted my head back to stare into the leafy bowers of the intertwined branches.
Though no breeze stirred the air, the leaves rustled in anticipation of my blood. Ellery was alive; I felt that in my bones, but I didn’t know what these things were doing to her, and I had to get to her.
The earth shifted a little, and almost tentatively, a root protruded from the ground. Behind me, the sharp inhalation of breaths told me the others had seen it too.
I didn’t move as the root slid toward my foot before contacting it. It slithered over my boot.
These trees were a lot less aggressive than the last ones I encountered, but they’d already taken two amsirah tonight, maybe they weren’t looking for a third. I compelled myself not to move as I waited for the root to wrap around my ankle.
Maybe if I didn’t fight, they’d take me faster. And if these things wanted a fight before they took me, I’d give them that too, but I had to wait and see for at least a few minutes first.
I couldn’t have them becoming angry with me in case they decided to take it out on Ellery. Stay still and wait.
It was one of the most difficult things I’d ever done, but I didn’t move as the root explored me further. Then, without warning, another one broke free of the ground behind me.
Less tentative than its friend, it encircled my ankle and rose steadily toward my thigh. I gritted my teeth against electrifying it, but while everything inside me screamed against being submissive, I had to let them take me.
The earth shifted beneath my feet as more roots rolled forth and twisted like a nest of snakes. And I loathed snakes.
Their movement created an opening beneath me, and I sank to my ankles as more roots wrapped around my legs and waist. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tucker and Ianto coming toward me.
Of course, neither of them would listen. “Go back!” I shouted.
Before I finished getting the words out, two branches swung down from above. They connected with Ianto and Tucker with such force they lifted them off the ground and flung them back toward the others.
The amsirah scrambled to get to them, but there was nothing I could do to help as the roots dragged me further toward whatever lay below. I fisted my hands against my impotence as Callan gave me a thumbs-up.
“They’re okay!” he shouted.
Farley floated out toward me as the weight of the earth pressed against my chest. Hovering above me, the poltergeist looked tempted to bite his nonexistent nails as he flitted from one side to another.
Then his red eyes met mine. “Good luck, Twinkle Toes.”
“Fuck off, Farley.”
“Bring her back.”
It was growing increasingly difficult to talk as they squished the air from my lungs, but I managed to choke out, “I will.”
When the soil climbed to my chin, I took as deep a breath as I still could and held it while the trees dragged me into the unknown. Just because Ellery was alive, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t kill me.
Still, I didn’t fight as I closed my eyes against the dirt covering them. If it meant getting to her, I would do whatever it took.