Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Ryker

When we finished talking, Ellery opened a portal for me to leave her home so no one would see me. I joined Tucker at his encampment, and from there, I opened a portal for us to go to the palace.

Standing at the edge of the woods, we were hidden by the trees as we gazed at the palace on the hill before us. My fingers clenched and unclenched when I spotted Ellery's carriage approaching us.

The sun created waves of heat on the sandy road, and the trees and plants drooped. Ellery's vehicle dipped into a hill and vanished before emerging again as it continued toward the open gates.

Everything in me screamed to go with her, to ensure she remained safe and left that place again. If I did, not only would Ivan keep her mother, but my father would ensure Ellery was locked in a cell or killed.

The only thing that could save her from a lifetime behind bars was the revelation of her lightning-bearer ability, which would ensure she became a breeder for men who would use her up and throw her away. If they somehow learned she could control all five of the weather elements….

I had no idea what would happen. They might keep her alive to force children on her, but I suspected they'd be too scared of what she could do and what her possible offspring might do to risk such a thing. There was a good possibility they'd kill her rather than keep her alive.

My father had mistakenly believed he could control me. He wouldn't make the same mistake with someone more powerful than him and who had an ability that never existed before.

That anomaly and the reminder he was weaker than other amsirah… weaker than a woman … wasn't something he would handle well. He'd view her as a threat, and I was certain he'd convince Ivan of the same thing.

"What happened between you two?" Tucker asked.

"We talked."

"Just talked? Because you went from a volatile tyrant to an anxious mess."

I glowered at him before returning my attention to Ellery's carriage as it vanished through the palace gates. I stepped forward as if to go after her before catching myself and stopping.

There was nothing more I could do. She was alone in there, but if this went wrong, I'd find a way to get her out, even if I had to burn the place down.

And I would do so, not because I had any feelings left for her, but because she was necessary in my plan to bring down the assholes running this realm. She was the key; I was certain of it.

I had to figure out how to use that key. I ignored the guilt pulling at my conscience as I considered using Ellery; it was necessary, and things were simply business between us now.

"Have you forgiven her?" Tucker asked.

"No."

And that was the truth of it. I was still incredibly pissed at her for deceiving me, but also petrified for her and what the loss of her might represent to the realm.

She'd kept her secrets for all these years, but they had a way of coming out and already were. They had to stay buried until I could determine how to best use them.

I squashed the guilt tugging at me again. If all went well, and I managed to tear down the assholes running this realm, then Ellery and everyone in Tempest would be safer.

If she survives it.

She'll survive. I'll make sure of it.

I studied the palace that had swallowed her within its sprawling, opulent depths. While she knew what these men would do to her if they learned the truth, I didn't think she really understood the depths of depravity some of them would achieve to keep control of their power and wealth.

If she falls into their hands….

I couldn't think about it. She was already in their hands, devoured by that place of debauchery and cruelty; now, it was just a matter of her returning from it.

No matter how much a part of me hated her for what she did, a small part was starting to show its head a little more, and that part still cared for her. I loathed it almost as much as Ellery.

She couldn't remain trapped in the palace and under the control of the aristocrats and king. Being a lightning bearer made her an unbelievable rarity; being able to control all five weathers made her a phenomenon .

And we need that on our side if we're going to win.

I still couldn't believe what she'd revealed. I couldn't wrap my head around something I'd never considered possible.

Ellery had proven to be a fantastic liar, but then she'd been lying and keeping secrets for years. These secrets I understood; her parents were right to keep her hidden. They would have lost her otherwise.

She hadn't shown me what she could do, but I believed her. There was no reason to lie about her abilities; it would be easy to disprove.

She could control all five weathers, but why and what did it mean? Would she be more powerful once she started using her abilities more or not? Was it all a fluke, or was there a reason she existed?

I wanted to believe it wasn't a fluke, that it meant something and would help us win against our oppressors, but I could be wrong. No matter what, someone like her had never existed before, and I'd sent her into the hands of our enemies.

"Fuck," I muttered as I paced into the woods.

The second I couldn't see the palace, panic hit me, and I hurried back. Staring at the towering structure didn't do anything to ease my anxiety, as I couldn't see inside the walls.

"She could be in there for hours or days ," Tucker said. "I doubt Ivan and your father will jump at the chance to see her."

"I know."

"Then you have to settle down because you're making me nervous, and I don't like it."

He was right, but I wouldn't draw an easy breath until I saw her again.