Page 94 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)

CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR

Ellery

The duke was also there, as well as a lot of other noblemen who followed like the good puppets they were. And at the end of the line, more guards surrounded Samael and Gaius .

So that’s where he went.

They all climbed onto the stage, and Ivan strode across to sit on the large chair in its center. It wasn’t his normal throne, but it was a massive spectacle amid the many others surrounding him.

My stomach rolled as the others funneled out around Ivan. The duke went to his left side while Ryker stood on his right, and Gaius stepped behind him.

While he didn’t demand it, silence fell over the crowd. Everyone held their breaths in anticipation of what Ivan would say or do, including me.

“I suppose you all know why you’re here,” Ivan declared in a voice that carried over the fields and hills.

I didn’t know if the amsirah in the back heard him, but he came across loud and clear where I stood only a few thousand feet away. Despite everyone focusing on Ivan, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Ryker as his head turned toward the parapets and walls.

Then his attention shifted to the crowd. I could feel the wheels in his mind spinning as he looked at us. I hoped his wheels gained more traction than mine, as I had no idea how to get out of this mess.

He must have sensed me, as I could tell he was focused on my section. I resisted raising my hand to let him know where I was; I craved that small connection to him, but I couldn’t have it.

“I want the female lightning bearer,” Ivan continued, “and I will have her. She could save us all some time by announcing herself now.”

No one moved, but I was the only one who could come forward.

“Since she likes to play the hero, she could save you all some pain by coming forward. If she doesn’t, I assure you that some of you will know nothing but suffering.”

The women gasped and cringed away when Ivan waved his hand at the gallows beyond him. My stomach twisted, and another bead of sweat dripped off my forehead.

“Not only will some of you endure the gallows, but others will endure the rack, and still more will find themselves being drawn and quartered. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her forth. Our lightning bearer cares about what happens to you… I don’t.”

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

There was no way I could stand here and watch any of that happen while doing nothing. It couldn’t happen. I had to come forward before anyone died.

I tried to lift my foot, but it remained planted to the ground. Once I stepped forward, I’d condemn Ryker too, and he was up there with them . He had less chance of escaping than me.

My fingers twitched. My mind screamed at me to go while my heart yelled at me to stay.

An unseen hand enveloped my heart while another clutched my brain. They tore me in two directions as I struggled to figure out what to do.

I couldn’t put Ryker in danger.

And I couldn’t let others suffer because of me .

I finally freed my foot from the ground and stepped forward as fingers brushed mine. I stopped moving when they slipped forward to entwine with mine before squeezing my hand.

It felt like my head rotated on a rusty cog that resisted movement as it twisted toward whoever stood beside me. I blinked as the face swam before shifting into focus. When it did, Scarlet’s warm brown eyes stared back at me.

It had been so long since she’d looked at me or acknowledged my existence, let alone shown any warmth toward me, that at first, I thought I was imagining it. But it was her, standing beside me, holding my hand and staring at me.

“No,” she mouthed as her fingers tightened on mine. “Stay with me.”

Tears burned my eyes as I managed a small nod, but I couldn’t stay long. Ruby emerged from the crowd and slid her hand into my free one.

Their presence gave me strength, but they had to know once Ivan started torturing others, I couldn’t stay silent.

“Be a coward then,” Ivan sneered. “Bring me five women.”

The crowd stirred; some tried to step away from the guards moving through us, but there was nowhere for them to go. Cries of despair and misery filled the air as the guards found five women and dragged them toward the gallows.

My heart lurched, my mouth went dry, and a scream built in my throat as the women thrashed against their captors. One called back to a loved one, telling them to stay and that it would be okay, but it wouldn’t.

When a guard hit one of the women, knocking her to the ground, another started sobbing. The guard lifted the dazed woman. Her head lolled on her shoulders as they dragged her toward the gallows.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again; Ryker instantly drew my attention. While a fair amount of distance separated us, I saw the subtle stiffening of his body when our gazes locked.