Chapter 68

Ryker

"Why would they come for you?"I asked.

"Why have they come for so many?"

"What they're doing isn't right and has to stop, but many of those they've imprisoned now have committed crimes in the past."

"And they've paid for them."

"They have."

"I'm sure that once they've captured all those they originally sought, they'll eventually find a reason to come for more of us. This will never end."

I walked over and settled beside her in the doorway. When my leg brushed hers, my cock hardened further, but I willed myself to retain control as I settled beside her.

Though I willed her to, she didn't look at me. "They can't arrest everyone in the realm, Ellery. That would take away all the fun for them."

"No, but they can arrest anyone who King Ivan feels has too much power and might stand against him. He has control over the aristocrats; he's granted them power and made them rulers of this new, fucked-up world.

"He's done nothing for the manor owners and farmers who work together to feed everyone in the realm; the amsirah might feel loyal toward those farmers because of that. And because King Ivan has made himself and the aristocrats the most hated immortals in the realm."

"You've contemplated this a lot."

"Every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up."

"I won't let them take you; if they do, I'll get you back."

Her haunted gaze met mine when she finally shifted her attention to me. Ellery wandered freely into the Revenant Woods; as a ten-year-old, she beat poltergeists with sticks, and as a woman, she'd offered her hand in place of Mouse's, but she was terrified of the future, and she had every right to be.

I wanted to fix that for her, but I couldn't while Ivan and the aristocrats still had everyone trapped here. I had a tentative plan to improve things but it would take time, a lot of luck, and an army I didn't have.

I wanted to fix it for everyone in the realm. Tucker had fought for Tempest and lost everything because of greed.

None of the aristocrats or their children—other than me—had stood against the ghouls. If it weren't for amsirah like Tucker and Ellery's father, the ghouls would have destroyed Tempest, and everything our leaders now ruled wouldn't exist.

They didn't deserve everything they had… something I was sure the Hooded Robber had also concluded. In the beginning, I was determined to see the man suffer for stealing from me, and now I was starting to think like him.

The Robber knew the best way to hurt the aristocrats, and those working with them, was to take their money, and he'd done so. As far as I could tell, I was his last target.

I didn't know if that meant he'd decided to retire after I nearly caught him, was taking a break, had somehow been killed, or was one of the known thieves they'd rounded up and thrown in prison. I could be taking Ellery on a useless hunt for him and putting her at risk, but I hoped we'd find him.

I didn't think he was here with Tucker. He was too well-trained to be one of these inexperienced souls, but he knew the woods well and could hide from Ivan's guards. He had to still be free, and I would keep Ellery safe, even if it cost my life to do so.

I'd promised Leo that I would protect Tempest, and I would find a way. I hadn't survived my father, the Ghoul War, and the ophidians to be beaten now.

"Tucker did say we could spend the night; would you like that? You won't have to worry about anyone coming for you here, only something eating you."

When she grinned at me, the fear faded from her eyes as they twinkled. "I'm not afraid of that."

I couldn't help chuckling. "Of course you're not."

Then, her smile faded as her gaze shifted past me. "There's only one bed."

I understood her hesitation. I was fairly certain Ellery had never shared a bed with anyone, but I didn't think there were many men in her past if she had.

Plus, our relationship was… different. We'd become friends… something I'd never been with anyone I was determined to bed before.

And Ellery wasn't someone I could fuck and forget about afterward, and not because she was helping me find the Robber. She'd get under my skin….

She already has.

And there was no denying that simple truth.

"I'll sleep on the floor," I assured her.

"I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask; I volunteered."

"You're the son of a duke?—"

"None of that matters here," I interrupted more sharply than intended.

Her eyes widened at the vehemence of my tone, but I hadn't expected her words to irritate me so much. So many in this realm would consider her to be lesser than me because of my father's title, but she wasn't, and I wouldn't let her think she was.

"I'm the one who wants to stay; I'll sleep on the floor," she said.

"That's not going to happen, and I'm not arguing over this."

Her gaze darted nervously to the bed again. "It's big enough that we… ah… we…." Her face turned red, something I rarely saw happen, as she didn't blush easily. "We… could… ah… share it."

She blurted out the last two words before looking away again. I bit back a smile; it wasn't her discomfort that amused me, but how she lifted her chin and put her shoulders back in a haughty manner.

She was so beautiful it made my heart ache. I clenched my hands against the impulse to brush the hair off her face and draw her attention back to me so I could kiss her again.

If I kissed her again, I wouldn't stop, and I didn't think she was prepared for that.