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Chapter 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Ryker

With a twang, the crossbow released, and the bolt whistled through the air. Instincts propelled me as I swung my blade up. The bolt hit it with a ting sound and deflected the weapon onto the floor, where a guard’s boot crushed it.

My nostrils flared as I leveled the fourth amsirah with a murderous look. They had no way of knowing I was secretly on their side, but the fucker had tried to kill me, and I was as trapped in Tempest as they were… and everyone knew that.

The amsirah’s eyes widened, but before I could advance on them, they danced away, turned, and sprinted back toward the battle. The cacophony of noise intensified as the two sides clashed, and partygoers, caught in the middle, scrambled to get away… most failed.

Before I could retreat into the shadows again, another hooded amsirah emerged from the crush and came at me with their sword raised. I recognized training in the movement of their feet and the rotation of their hands a second before our swords clashed.

Sparks flew from our blades as the shorter, yet bulkier amsirah leaned more fully into me. Gritting my teeth, I pushed him off and shoved him back a few steps.

I swung my sword, seeking to plunge it into their thigh, but they blocked my blow. Lifting their sword, they tried to bring it down across mine, but I yanked it back in time to avoid them pinning my weapon.

When their sword struck the floor, a chunk of marble flew off. Before they could recover their weapon, I bashed my blade against theirs.

The blow knocked it from the amsirah’s hands and spun it across the floor to the shadows near the wall. When their eyes met mine, I could tell they were contemplating rushing me, but they wisely reconsidered the action and turned to flee.

Just when I believed I had a bit of a breather, the twang of more bolts alerted me to the hooded figures approaching with their weapons raised. Having decided I was their biggest enemy, more were turning on me.

The bolts whistled through the air as they shot toward me. I threw myself to the ground and rolled to avoid the projectiles, but I wasn’t fast enough.

One pierced my upper thigh and sank into my muscle. Seizing the bolt’s shaft, I ripped it free.

The blood that spilled forth cleaved my black pants to my leg and seeped down my skin as I tossed the bolt aside. I was tired of being shot with arrows, and I’d had enough of these assholes.

Rolling onto my stomach, I planted my hands against the cool marble as I worked to draw lightning from the ground. The thick layers of rock beneath me blocked my access to the flow of electricity pulsing within our earth.

The lightning rods above would stop any lightning I pulled from the air, but none of it would stop the thunder. But first, I had to get somewhere safe as another volley of bolts rocketed my way.

I rolled to avoid being hit again and leapt to my feet. Ignoring the discomfort in my thigh, I ran as more arrows clattered off the wall behind me and pinged off the floor.

One sliced across my shoulder, cut open my clothes, and caused more blood to seep down my back. Another skimmed my arm and sliced away a part of my sleeve but didn’t draw blood.

Throwing myself to the ground, I rolled across the floor and came up behind one of the stone pillars. The tapestry swayed beneath my hands, revealing a glimpse of the hidden alcove within.

Though it would be easy to do so, I didn’t slip inside and vanish into the castle’s bowels. I would never leave Ellery or her mother behind.

Lifting my hand, I drew on the small pulses of electricity in the air to pull lightning from the sky. Deep within me, I felt it pierce through the clouds before being drawn away from me to crash into some of the lightning rods.

The increased thrum of electricity pulsed in the air, but I would never get the lightning to come directly to me. The earl had ensured that.

However, I could still harness the thunder that followed. I pulled it toward me and unleashed it in a wave that rattled the chandeliers, caused the ground to heave, and threw off the balance of all those battling on the floor.

Unprepared for the thunder or its explosive effects, screams, whimpers, and more sobs came from those trapped within. Staggered by the cacophonous sound wave, the fighters held out their arms to maintain their balance. Some failed to do so and fell, while others swiftly recovered.

Grinning, the guards progressed while some of the rebels retreated. Each of the opposing parties believed I was on the side of the aristocrats, and I couldn’t do anything to dissuade that.

All I could do was get to Ellery and her mother before they got hurt and keep these fuckers off me.

When the rebels fell back a little, I spotted Meredith in the middle of the floor. Blood stained the marble as injured guests, rebels, and guards lay around her.

Many had lost their heads or had their hearts ripped out, but she was alive and terrified as she remained in a ball amid the chaos. A few other survivors huddled nearby, too scared to move.

I shifted my attention beyond Meredith as I frantically searched for Ellery. I spotted her skulking through the shadows on the other side of the room as she headed toward her mother.

I had no doubt she’d spotted Meredith, as her focus remained on the woman. She was only fifty feet away when one of the rebels broke free of the dance floor and charged at her.

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