Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Ellery

My heart raced as a bead of sweat trickled down my forehead to my temple. That awful, tickling sensation trickled steadily lower as his question looped endlessly through my mind.

I contemplated wiping it away, but it reminded me of all I'd ruined and the paths unfolding before me. One was the path I'd always traveled—safe, comfortable, and with my secrets held close.

It was the one that had kept me alive and free. It was also the one that created another lie between Ryker and me.

The other path was the one I'd never traversed. The one where I spilled everything and hoped the man who now hated me didn't use his knowledge against me. It was the path that could get me killed.

I had no idea what would happen if I revealed my final secret. Being a lightning bearer was already a rarity amongst all amsirah and an impossibility until me .

While no other female had ever possessed the ability, no other amsirah had ever existed with all my powers. While Ryker and I had mutually assured destruction right now, if I revealed my ability to control all five weather elements, this final revelation could prove too much of a temptation… even for him.

And then I recalled that it didn't matter. He already knew I possessed all five weathers; he just didn't know it yet.

We'd never revealed all our abilities to each other. I knew he controlled four of the weathers because everyone believed Ryker to be the only lightning bearer in the realm; the amsirah talked about what he could and couldn't do.

Before today, if he'd asked, I would have told him I could control three weathers: rain, wind, and snow. Those were the abilities recorded in our history books and the ones I revealed to the world.

On the day he chased the Hooded Robber through the woods and nearly caught me, I'd used my lightning and fog against him. He would piece it all together once he learned of the three weathers I could control.

I had no choice. I had to tell him, and while I was terrified, I was also glad. I was tired of all my secrets and lies between us. He'd never forgive me for what I did, but at least our relationship would be open and honest from now on.

When I looked at Ryker again, I saw the distrust in his eyes. He wouldn't believe me if I told him I had no other secrets. He knew me too well, and I'd already given something away.

I opened my mouth to tell him, but the words lodged in my throat. Once I revealed this, I could never take it back and had no way of knowing how he would react or what would happen.

He hates me.

But he'll protect you.

And while that didn't make sense, I knew it was true. He hated me, but he would keep me safe.

He wouldn't hand me over to others and no longer wanted me for himself, so I didn't have to worry about him trying to have children with me, but that wasn't Ryker, anyway. He would never do that.

"Don't lie to me, Ellery."

"You have to understand, this is something only my parents know about. For most of my life, I've been told to keep it to myself because if it got out, it could destroy me."

He lowered his crossed leg to the floor and rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned toward me. "If we're going to succeed in taking control of this realm, then you have to tell me. I won't have any more secrets from you. If you keep anything more from me, I will walk out that door and never return. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Besides, it can't be any more destructive to you than being a lightning bearer."

He had no idea how wrong he was.

"You have a choice, Ellery; make the right one."

The lethal tone of his voice caused the hair on my nape to rise. I finally unclenched my hands to wipe the sweat from my brow.

Relief flooded me when that awful, tickling sensation stopped creeping down my temple to my chin. It was as freeing as my next words.

"I can control all five of the weather elements."

Ryker didn't respond to this revelation, and seconds ticked by where he didn't move. He sat as still as a statue until he finally blinked. "What?"

"I can control all five of the weather elements. I have dominion over rain, fog, wind, snow, and lightning."

Ryker lifted his hands so his index fingers pressed against his mouth. He didn't speak as he processed my revelation; I wasn't sure he breathed while staring at me.

Unable to take the silence or his staring, I spoke again. "If you don't believe me, I can show you."

His silver eyes bore into mine. Dark stubble covered the lower half of his rigid, handsome face.

I'd spent a lot of time memorizing the contours of his features and had seen many different expressions cross them, but I'd never seen the stony countenance on them now. If I didn't know better, I would think he was one of the gargoyles rumored to have once resided here.

"That won't be necessary," he finally said.

"My mother is the only one who knows about it… and now you."

He slowly lowered his hands and sat back in the chair again as he tried to resume his casual demeanor. He failed.