Chapter 43

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Ellery

I almost ducked to hide myself more, but I was scared movement would draw their attention. The figure remained for a few seconds before retreating.

Once they vanished, I rushed up the steps and into the ballroom before someone else arrived. I was in such a hurry to get inside and off the steps that I didn’t see the puddle of blood until my foot slipped in it.

My heart lodged in my throat as my arms flailed and my foot skidded forward on the smooth marble. So much for a stealthy entrance.

Only luck kept me on my feet and anyone from spotting me as I skidded into one of the stone pillars and crashed to a stop. Shoulders heaving as I gasped for breath, I took a second to steady the pounding of my heart as I wiped the blood from the sole of my black shoe.

My fingers curled into the thick red tapestry. This pillar was one of the ones with a hidden alcove beyond.

If I could find my mother, I could get her into one of these pillars and the servants’ quarters. From there, we’d find a way out.

If I could, I’d come back for Ryker. I couldn’t leave him here; he wouldn’t leave me.

I also had to try to pinpoint Callan, but my mother was more important, and if I found her first, I would get her out of here. It was just a matter of locating her.

Poking my head out from behind the pillar, my stomach plummeted as I took in the carnage surrounding me. At least a hundred, if not more, amsirah with sacks on their heads filled the room, but not all wore black like the one I’d seen in the garden.

Many were dressed in green, brown, or blue, and some wore lighter colors. It seemed they’d donned whatever clothes they had for this… uprising?

It had to be an uprising; what else could it be? But who was behind it?

Clashing with the amsirah in hoods, the earl’s and king’s guards worked to destroy them. Through the blood, crush of bodies, and weapons, many of the guests were trapped in the middle of the ballroom.

Some were still on their feet, screaming as they tried to flee, but most were huddled or crawling across the floor to escape. Others had fallen victim to the battle; their blood and bodies littered the floor.

I didn’t see my mother anywhere amidst the carnage… or Ryker. Ivan, the duke, and the earl were all gone or somewhere in that mess, but I suspected they’d been the first to flee.

Ivan and the earl were closely guarded and would have slipped through the door behind them as soon as the revolt started. The duke wasn’t near them the last time I saw him, but things had drastically changed since I went to the garden to meet Ryker; he could have been anywhere when this started.

The squeak of a shoe alerted me to someone coming up behind me. I turned as an amsirah with a sack over their head went through the open doors to the garden.

They stopped when they spotted me, and their brown eyes narrowed through the holes in the sack. My heart sank as I struggled to restrain the panic trying to consume me.

Without a weapon and unable to use my lightning, I was completely vulnerable to an attack—something they realized as a smile curved their lips.

The hooded amsirah lifted their small sword as I turned and sprinted toward them. It was a move they hadn’t expected. I didn’t give them time to think about what was coming or prepare for it as I lowered my shoulder, slammed into them, and enclosed my arms around their waist.

My momentum propelled us both toward the open doors. With my arms still locked around them, I felt them recovering and their hands rising. I imagined the sword lifting over me, hovering above, before plunging into my back.

I couldn’t let that happen.

Uncoiling my arms, I shoved the amsirah back as we plunged into the night. I staggered a few more feet before toppling forward while the amsirah hit the ground and bounced a few feet away.

I bit back a groan when I hit the top of the stone steps. Pain lanced through my bruised hip and battered shoulder, but I couldn’t stay down. That amsirah would recover soon enough, and they’d come after me when they did.

Rolling to the side, I pushed myself to my feet and staggered a little when my head spun. The other amsirah had toppled down a couple of stairs. They sat up and shook their head as they tried to clear their mind.

I had to do something and didn’t have much time to figure out what that would be. Without thinking about what could happen and knowing I needed a weapon, I leapt off the veranda and pounced on the amsirah, knocking them onto the stairs again.

My father taught me how to punch, and Ryker taught me to be merciless. I used both their lessons and the adrenaline flooding me to unleash a series of devastating blows to their head, belly, and chest.

The air burst out of them in a loud breath that blew my hair back. Their hands slapped at me as they tried to beat me off them. It was then I realized they’d lost their weapon.

I didn’t relent in my attack. Pulling my fist back, I delivered a devastating blow straight to their face, smashing their head off the step below and knocking them out.

My chest heaved as I sat on their stomach, studying the eyes that rolled into their head, their parted mouth as shallow breaths lifted the chest beneath me, and the blood flowing from their nose.

I should grab the sword and go, but I was too curious about who was beneath the hood. I glanced behind me to make sure we were alone before focusing on the amsirah again.

With deft fingers, I untied the hood and yanked it off. Golden hair tumbled out to frame a bruised but pretty face.

I had no idea who the woman was, but something about her nagged me. I’d seen her somewhere; I just didn’t know where.

It didn’t matter. I didn’t have time to puzzle it out; maybe I could figure it out later.

I tugged the hood back over her head but didn’t bother tying it back on. When she woke up, she could take care of it herself; I had bigger things to worry about.

Rising, I snatched the sword from the ground and ran back up the stairs toward the battle beyond. I would have preferred a bow and arrow, but I’d have to make do with the sword.

Running back inside, I had just gotten behind the pillar again when the loud crack of thunder rent the air. The ground quaked beneath my feet as outside rain cascaded down and lightning flashed but didn’t find its way into the building.

I still had no idea where Ryker was, but he was ready to unleash hell on all those who deserved it.