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CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Ellery

My heart and shoulders sank as they skidded to a halt. Callan was still fighting off the other guard and now more had arrived.

I wasn’t defeated yet, and I wouldn’t be. As I rose, the guard I’d blinded rolled to the side and nearly knocked me off my feet, but I staggered back to avoid him.

When I hit the wall, he screamed inarticulate nonsense as he lunged at me. Lifting the sword over my head, I brought it down, knocking him to the ground as I sliced across his back.

I tore the sword free of where it had embedded, planted my foot against his side, and shoved him away. The one who’d gone after Callan had pushed him deeper into the tunnels; I ran after them.

Unlike these incompetent assholes, my steps were soundless as I came up behind the guard and plunged my sword into his back. I didn’t know if I’d succeeded in hitting his heart, but blood sprayed me when I ripped the sword free again.

As the guard crumpled to the ground, he revealed Callan on the other side. Callan’s eyes widened on me. “Ellery?”

Blood covered me, and my bodice had been torn open. While I wore a bra, I felt exposed, but he didn’t eye me lustfully. I knew I wasn’t exactly the image of the woman he remembered from our school days, but we didn’t have time for him to come to terms with that.

“There’s more coming,” I told him.

Neither of us said another word as we turned and sprinted down the tunnel. My wet skirt hampered my movements, and I’d give anything to cut it free, but we couldn’t stop.

At a fork in the tunnels, Callan went to the right and then to the left at another fork. When we rounded a bend, a solid rock wall came into view.

“Shit,” Callan breathed.

Panic threatened to overwhelm me as I stared helplessly at the rock walls surrounding us. Were they closing in?

That was impossible, but it sure felt like it.

“Where’s the exit?” I demanded.

“It should be right here.” Callan stepped forward and placed his hands against the wall. “I must have taken a wrong turn.”

His frantic movements only heightened my growing terror.

“ What ?” I demanded.

“I went the wrong way.”

I gawked at him, but there was no denying the proof… right in front of me… blocking the way to freedom. I could stand here and gape at a wall that wouldn’t vanish or find another way out.

“There was a door back there!” I cried.

Lifting my dress, I ran for the door and skidded to a halt in front of it. I placed my sword against the wall and fumbled for the knob, but it didn’t turn.

Callan arrived at my side and nudged me out of the way. He grasped the knob, but it still didn’t turn.

With a frustrated cry, he threw his shoulder into the door. It shuddered, but the thick, wooden structure held firm.

Time was rapidly slipping away, and judging by the increasing thuds of the guards’ feet, they were gaining ground on us. I reclaimed my sword, turned it, and used the blade to slice my skirt.

I felt bad destroying Scarlet’s beautiful creation, but I refused to be hindered by the thick, wet material anymore. I cut across the other side as the guards rounded the corner and came into view.

Callan threw himself against the door again, but it still held firm. I grasped what remained of my skirt and tore the rest away before tossing aside the material.

Lifting my head, I focused on three men closing in on us as Callan stepped away from the door.

“She had nothing to do with this,” he said. “I took her. I dragged her down here with me.”

“We saw her stab Helfrich,” one of them said.

Well, I couldn’t deny that. I hadn’t been a part of this rebellion, but I certainly hadn’t been against it, and even if I could, I wouldn’t walk away and leave Callan behind.

“I did,” I confirmed, “and he fucking deserved it.”

“Ellery,” Callan hissed.

I shot him a look before focusing on the scowling guards creeping toward us. Shifting my hold on my sword, I adjusted my stance while preparing for their attack.

I didn’t see us getting out of here with it being three against two, but I would take at least one of them down with me. Callan edged closer and a little in front of me as he lifted his sword.

While I appreciated that he was trying to protect me, I probably had far more training than him when it came to swords and fighting. I moved forward so we were shoulder to shoulder in the small corridor.

One of the guards grinned as he raised his sword. His muscles tensed as he braced to run, but before he could spring, a grunt escaped, his mouth formed an O, and blood dripped from beneath the chain mail protecting his chest.

His stunned gaze remained on us for a few seconds before he crumpled to the ground. When the other two guards looked at him, their heads bashed together, and their skulls caved in with a sickening crunch.

When the guards fell, they revealed Ryker standing behind them, his eyes full of lightning and blood dripping from his hand. His shoulders heaved, and the first guard’s heart lay at his feet.

Every inch of him looked like an avenging God ready to strike down all who dared to disobey them. And this God was prepared to unleash Hell.

If I didn’t know he was here for me, the vision of him would have caused me to piss myself. Even knowing that, my feet remained planted while his gaze raked me.

When his eyes lingered on the bruises on my face, my torn dress, and the injuries I’d sustained above and below, a snarl curved his lips. I hadn’t considered it possible, but his muscles swelled in size.

“Holy shit,” Callan breathed.

I wondered if he had pissed himself and wouldn’t blame him if he did, but while Ryker’s fury was terrifying, I craved holding him. My sword clattered to the ground as it fell from my limp fingers.

With a cry, I raced toward him. He caught and lifted me as I flung my arms around his neck and encircled his waist with my legs.

The vibration in his muscles eased a little as his arms enveloped me, and his hand cradled my head. Though he held me close, he remained tensed, and I had no doubt he’d kill anyone who tried to touch me.

Being in his arms again helped ease some of my misery, and I nearly burst into tears. But I couldn’t fall apart yet; we were still trapped here, and more guards could be coming.