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CHAPTER THIRTY

Ryker

Jealousy, anger, and discomfort lingered, but so did Ellery’s parting words. Everyone was trying to take something from her… including me.

But I was trying to take more than her friendship with a man who wanted to bed her; I was after her heart. I was after forever with her.

I’d spent the past couple of months telling her all I sought from her was her powers, knowledge of the Revenant Woods, and uncanny ability to steal. Over and over again, I’d told her I wanted nothing else from her, so, of course, she believed it.

I’d also let her believe I was out there screwing numerous women while she was trying to survive my father, the taxes, and life. I should have set her straight on that while I had her in the alcove, but I was too jealous to think straight.

That Ellery rattled me as easily as she did irritated me. She was the reckless one, and I was the controlled one, but when it came to her, I was a moron.

Before Ellery, I prided myself on my control. That was how I stayed alive through the Ghoul War and my time in Doomed Valley, but one look at Ellery could completely unravel me, and seeing her with another man did exactly that.

She could push me to the brink of insanity, but I loved her more than I’d ever believed possible. I probably should have told her that, too, while I had her cornered.

I dragged a hand through my hair as I tried to process how everything had gone so wrong and why . I wanted to blame the lute player, but he didn’t cause this… I did.

It would be safer if I left her alone for the night, but with as stubborn and defiant as she was, I might have propelled her into the lute player’s arms. She loved me; I believed that, but love made immortals do stupid things, and she was the most recklessly impulsive woman I’d ever met.

Mingling with the crowd, I sipped some champagne while examining the artwork decorating the walls. It came from many different realms and was an eclectic mix of styles. And they were all worth a small fortune.

I’d seen them before but never with the eye of someone seeking to pilfer something. Things were different tonight.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave here with one of the paintings tucked under my arm. I shifted my attention to the crowd again as I searched for Ellery and tried to figure out what I could steal from the earl.

I spotted Ellery’s mother dancing with a sea merchant and my father and Bria talking with the Earl of Calwick. Ivan remained on the dais with the earl and his two sons.

Partygoers packed the dance floor, and the seats along the wall were full of amsirah seeking a rest. Through the open doors on the side wall, servants hustled around outside as they set up the tables for a buffet-style supper.

From other parties here, I knew that after gathering their food, the attendees would travel into the dining room, where they could sit to eat. During other events, the earl had placed three and, at one time, four tables in the room to accommodate all his guests. I suspected there might be five tonight, as this was the largest crowd I’d ever seen here.

The other open doors, which opened onto a different area of the gardens, would remain free of any clutter or servants. It would stay that way for the night.

I didn’t see Ellery in the crowd and suspected she’d slipped out to the gardens. Many others would do the same throughout the night as they sought privacy or a chance to cool off amid the hedges and trees.

This could be my opportunity to get her alone. I went to set my glass on the tray of a passing server when the crowd shifted, and I spotted her standing at the edge of the dance floor.

The man beside her waved his hands as he prattled on about something. The way she stared at the dance floor with glassy eyes told me she had no interest in whatever he said.

I couldn’t intervene without drawing attention to us, but I didn’t have to as the music switched to the jovial beat of the Catari dance. I inwardly groaned as a collective cheer went through the crowd, and many clapped.

The drawn-out dance was far from my favorite, but no one sat it out, including Ivan, who must have commanded its start. The minstrels wouldn’t dare to play the song if they didn’t know the king was willing to leave his throne.

Ivan rose from his seat and lifted his arms in the air. The raucous cheers intensified.

“Let the dance begin!” Ivan declared.

As the crowd swarmed toward the dance floor, it swallowed Ellery again. The partygoers separated, so the men and women stood across from each other.

There were so many guests that three rows of lines were necessary to accommodate everyone. By the time the dance ended, every man and woman in the room would dance with each other at least two or three times.

Which meant I would get a chance to talk with Ellery again. It also meant she was soon to come face-to-face with my father again.