Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Ellery

"Once you have her out of there, you'll tell her that she's going to have to abandon this manor at some point," Ryker said. "And you have to realize that too."

I looked around the only home I'd ever known. Love once filled this place, but it felt empty now.

This was my home and my land. I'd bled for this place, cried over it, and poured countless hours of sweat and work into it; the idea of letting it go was as welcome as cutting off my arm, but in the end, it was only a place. I preferred to lose it than a loved one.

"You can't keep clinging to this place," Ryker continued. "It's only a matter of time before they come for it completely. Prepare your mother, Scarlet, and her family for that, but don't tell them about you."

"They're going to find out eventually."

His eyes were as fierce as a dragon's when they met mine. "But not yet."

My eyebrows rose at the vehemence of his tone, but I didn't get to say anything before he continued.

"It will be some time before they come for your manor, so you won't have to tell Scarlet's family to prepare to leave right away. I have no doubt Ivan and my father are working together on this, and my father is the driving force behind it, but he likes to make others squirm.

"He's playing with you now and enjoying it, but he's also going to enjoy making you stew over what he'll do next. You'll still have some time here, and we'll have time to work together on building a rebellion against the aristocrats, but you could go live in the forest now."

"No. My mother will go with me if it comes to that, but she won't do well in the woods. I have to keep her here for as long as possible. Plus, I'm not ready to say goodbye. I love this place; it's my home."

"Not anymore. Maybe if we win and it doesn't get destroyed in the process, it will be your home again, but you have to let it go… soon. This isn't a home anymore; it's where you sleep and not worth dying over."

I wanted to argue that this place had my blood, sweat, and tears all over every inch of it. This place built the foundation of me , but he was right.

"Okay," I whispered.

"You'll also have to keep playing along with my father; it will keep him happy for a while."

My shoulders sagged. I didn't want any of this, but what other choice did I have? I'd put myself here and now had a chance to improve things for everyone in Tempest. I'd turned thief for that, and now, I would fight against those who'd oppressed us.

"Okay."

Ryker paced away again. He walked back and forth before stopping to face me.

"You're a rarity, Ellery. You're… you're something unique and powerful, and the commoners will rally around you, but until then, this must remain a secret."

There he went again, acting like I hadn't kept this secret for years. Acting like I was running around telling everyone what I could do.

"I know that, Ryker."

"Good. Good."

I tried not to gawk while watching his spastic movements. I'd really rattled him with my revelation, and he didn't know how to handle it.

"How strong are your powers?"

"I guess the same as everyone else's, but I don't use them often, not even the ones known to others. I've been too scared to do so. When I've been in the Revenant Woods, I've used them when necessary, and I would sometimes bring forth rain to help with the crops, but over the years, I've used my powers as little as possible."

"That's going to change."

I shifted uneasily. "Why?"

"Because I can control four weathers, and my powers are stronger than others," he said. "If you take the time to practice and use yours more, they'll become that way too; I'm sure of it. And we'll need those powers to make a stand against Ivan and the aristocrats. We'll spend a lot of time practicing and training with them."

I gulped before nodding. The idea of using my powers more and in front of someone else unsettled me. However, I'd do everything possible to protect my loved ones.

He glanced at the money on the table and then at the curtained windows where light now crept around the edges of the drapes.

"I can't go to the palace with you," he said. "We can't be seen together."

"I know."

"You'll take a carriage to the palace, and I'll stay in the woods, watching to make sure you come out again."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll get you out."

"You'll risk your rebellion for me?"

"Yes, because I have no doubt you're the key to winning it."