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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ellery

It took most of the night, but eventually, we pieced what was left of our home back together. As we worked and the pieces of our lives filled trash cans and boxes, my eyes burned with tears I never shed.

Thankfully, the portrait survived. They’d cracked the frame, and we would have to fix it, but the picture survived.

I almost hugged it against my chest when I discovered it wasn’t ruined. Instead, I placed it against the fireplace and resumed sweeping up the pieces.

A few times throughout the process, Ryker crossed my mind. I always shoved him aside when he did.

I should have gone to meet him in the Revenant Woods; we had a lot of things to figure out, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave my mother for the five minutes it would take to tell him that I had to return home. I was also okay with avoiding him for a while. I’d had enough heartache for one day.

I had no idea what time it was when I trudged upstairs to my bed. I didn’t bother undressing as I still wore the black pants and didn’t dare take them off until I could get rid of them; those assholes might return.

Even if I put something more comfortable on, I doubted I’d get much sleep. This was not a night for sleep.

And I wasn’t wrong about not sleeping. I tossed and turned while trying not to cry over everything they’d taken from us and the stark reality we were nothing in this realm.

No, that wasn’t entirely true; we were toys . Fun little trinkets for the king and nobles to play with whenever they grew bored.

Between what happened with Ryker and now this, I felt like every part of me had been beaten until I was a broken ship, tossed about the sea, with no way to steer my course anymore.

Last night, I’d been riding the high of our successful robbery, and now I was being dragged along the road of the lowest low. It was all falling apart, but a glimmer of hope was on the horizon.

We had the king’s money, would do some good with it, and would help others. I’d successfully navigated my fractured relationship with Ryker this far and would continue to do so.

We’d work together to take down the aristocrats and king. Ivan’s money would help us fund the army we required to destroy him.

We would beat them. Until then, all I wanted was to curl into a ball, pull the blankets over my head, and hide from the world, but that was impossible.

The earl’s awful ball was tomorrow night. I was not looking forward to the dance. I didn’t want to see the earl, duke, king, and especially not Ryker, but I didn’t have a choice.

I didn’t know what time it was when I finally dozed off for a little bit, but when I woke, the sun was starting to rise, and we had work to do before we left for the earl’s castle. Usually, working the farm made me happy, but I dreaded climbing out of this bed.

With reluctance, I set my feet on the floor, rose, and walked to my bathroom. I showered, changed, and took my ruined pants outside. I ensured no one was around before I burned them in the firepit behind the sheep pen.

I dragged myself through the day until it was time for us to get ready to leave. After showering again, Scarlet helped me into the navy blue dress she’d created.

The high collar of the sleeveless dress encased my neck like a choker. She’d cut out sections of fabric around my belly and replaced them with a clear mesh that covered yet revealed my skin.

Throughout the skirt, she’d interwoven lighter pieces of blue fabric that made the dress change colors when I walked. I’d always known she was talented with needle and fabric, but she’d outdone herself this time.

When Scarlet finished fiddling with the skirt, she stepped back to examine her masterpiece. She held a needle between her lips as she tilted her head back and forth.

She removed the needle before speaking. “You look beautiful.”

I beamed at her. After the events of the past couple of days, I felt battered, traumatized, and anything but beautiful. However, her dress was stunning.

“Anyone would look beautiful in something you created,” I told her.

She grinned at me. “I know.”

“You really should start selling some of your creations.”

Her smile faltered a little before she plastered it in place again. “I can’t work for any of those amsirah.”

I didn’t blame her, but I hated that her talent was hidden here. It was her choice to make, and while I knew she loved the farm and her family, designing and making clothing was her true passion.

She placed the needle on my dresser before walking around me. She fluffed the skirt as she moved and tugged at the body-hugging bodice before giving a satisfied nod.

“Are you ready for the party?”

“I’m ready to be home again.”

Her sad eyes met mine as she fluffed my dark brown hair. “Tomorrow.”

I wasn’t sure I would make it through the next few hours, never mind a whole night and another morning, but I didn’t have a choice; my mother and I had to do this.