Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ellery

Though the music and dancing continued, the three of them became so still it seemed everyone else had vanished. The woman stopped dancing and plopped onto Ryker's legs; Tucker stepped closer to me with his hand extended and his mouth open before his hand fell limply back to his side.

Ryker, the one I wanted to look at me… the one I wanted to see me, still didn't look at me. He'd become as still as a statue.

"I'll take the reward money," I stated. "All. Of. It."

"Ellery," Tucker breathed.

"The reward is more than enough for me to free my mother. I'll tell you who The Robber is; in exchange, I want the money and your promise you'll get her out of the palace… no matter what," I continued as if Tucker hadn't spoken.

"No," the woman whispered. "You can't turn in the Hooded Robber."

My gaze shot to her, and my eyes narrowed. Her hands fell from Ryker's shoulders as she gawked at me.

"He's done too much good," she continued.

"He hasn't been seen in months and hasn't done anything recently," I retorted.

She studied me before sticking her pointed nose in the air. "You're lying. You don't know who he is. No one does."

"But I do know, and I'll tell Ryker as soon as I have his word that he'll free my mother."

"How do you know?" Tucker demanded.

"I practically live in these woods. I may not have known about this place, but I know many of the secrets of the Revenant Woods and who took Ryker's money."

Finally, as if it were being pulled toward me by strings, Ryker fought every step of the way, he turned his head to look at me. This time, when our eyes met, his were pure black and lightning bolts danced through them.

"What do you mean… the whole fucking time?" he snarled.

I lifted my chin and glowered back at him. No one else was supposed to know about my lightning-bearer ability, but if he unleashed it on me, then he would get the shock of his life… literally.

"Did you not understand my words?" I asked with false sweetness.

He wasn't the only one who was completely pissed off and disgusted. I'd been pushed around, bullied, scared, spent a whole lot of time hating myself, and been wallowing in grief while he was rejoicing in women.

I was over it.

"Ellery," Tucker whispered, but this time, it was one of warning and not astonishment.

I didn't care what he thought; I wasn't afraid of Ryker. I could give as good as I got; if he pushed me, he'd find that out.

"Since you can't understand, or maybe too much fucking has rattled your brain, let me make it clearer for you. The entire time we were in the woods, hunting for the Hooded Robber, searching high and low for the man who stole your money… when we were in the tree house, in my bedroom, and at your father's castle, I knew who it was. I . Always . Knew ."

Ryker moved so fast I never saw him until the woman was off his lap and swaying on her feet while he stalked toward me. Lightning and darkness danced through his eyes; his skin crackled, and bolts of electricity shot between his fingers before spreading to his wrists.

I was sure most would have run screaming from him, but I stood my ground. I wouldn't back away from him; he wasn't the only infuriated one.

I hadn't forgotten how tall or broad he was; I'd spent many nights curled into a ball trying to forget it but couldn't. At six foot four, he towered over my five-six frame and was easily twice my size through the shoulders and chest.

The memory of being locked securely in his strong embrace teased the edges of my mind, but I shoved it aside. Now wasn't the time to be distracted by anything, and that distant memory would never be a reality again.

I'd ensured that weeks ago, but I'd really hammered the nail into the coffin of our relationship with my latest revelation. Ryker might rip those nails free and shove me in that coffin by the time this day ended.

I hadn't expected things to take this turn when I'd come in search of him… or maybe I had. Perhaps a part of me always knew this was how I'd get the money for my mother, so I kept the Wanted poster.

Or at least, I hoped I'd get the money for her. He'd promised a reward for knowledge about the Hooded Robber, and I would collect it.

There was no taking my words back, and I didn't want to.

I was finally free of the burden they represented. While shit was as far from good as it got, having that burden lifted from my shoulders was a relief I hadn't expected to feel.

Ryker believed he hated me now; he had no idea how much more he'd hate me by the time I finished. But he was up and moving and finally paying attention to me.

I had no idea what would happen after this and didn't care. Things couldn't get any worse.