Chapter 66

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

Ellery

I looked at my drink again but couldn't bring myself to sip that concoction despite not knowing what to say.

"Things are only going to get worse in Tempest," Ryker said. "We all have to prepare for that."

It wasn't an answer to Ianto's question, but the giant didn't point that out as he studied the children. He downed his drink in one gulp before pouring himself another. "I don't know how to keep the children safe."

"You're doing a great job so far," I told him.

"I've managed to keep them all alive, but I've been lucky. That won't last."

Ryker finished his drink and held his empty cup out to Ianto. "I might know somewhere safe if you don't mind me bringing someone here to talk with you first."

Ianto studied the children before shifting his gaze to Ryker. "How do I know I can trust you ?"

"If you didn't trust me, then why would you bring us here?"

"I like buying the men I defeat a drink after I finish with them. It helps lessen any hard feelings."

"I didn't lose to you. We both went into the water."

"But you were under me, so you went in the water first."

Ryker's scowl shifted to me when I chuckled. "He does have a point."

A muscle twitched in the corner of Ryker's eye when I grinned innocently up at him.

"Would you like help or not?" Ryker demanded of Ianto.

Ianto refilled Ryker's drink and handed it back to him. "Why are you in the woods?"

Ryker held the cup while he studied the children. Finally, he came to some conclusion, as he started talking. "No one's to know I'm with her. She'll be the one who pays for that, and my father will ensure it happens. Make sure the children know that."

"I will, but none have left the forest since we arrived."

"Good. I'm here because I promised Leo I would protect his realm and keep its occupants safe. So far, I've failed in my promise, but I'm working on it."

"How are you doing that?"

"First thing is to build an army."

I shifted a little as unease churned in my belly. I like Ianto; he protected these children and risked himself by staying in these woods when he didn't have to, but we barely knew the man. He could use this information against Ryker.

I trusted Ryker to decide what was best but couldn't help worrying. Without thinking, I lifted my cup, took a sip, and immediately regretted my decision.

"How's that going?" Ianto asked.

"Not great… yet. But I'm working on it, and it will take time. In the meantime, Ivan and the aristocrats are helping my cause by turning the rest of the amsirah against them."

"Those bastards," Ianto muttered before chugging another cup of fire. "These children aren't an army."

"And I don't want them to be. You might be an army on your own, though."

When Ianto laughed, the warm timbre of it made me smile. I liked this man, but was that a reason to trust him?

In the overall picture, no, but he'd already revealed other reasons to trust him. I'd seen him nudge Mouse into the crowd on the day they planned to cut off the boy's hand, and he had given up his freedom for these children. In my book, anyone willing to sacrifice themselves for kids must be trustworthy.

"You could have let them all go their own way," I said.

Ianto turned his warm, curious brown eyes to me. "I saw you offer up your hand for a boy's; would you have let them go their own way?"

"No, but you could return to your life if you did."

"And I'd hate myself for the rest of it. These children are my responsibility now, and I will protect them. They deserve a chance at happiness, even if the king doesn't think so."

"Can I bring someone here to talk with you?" Ryker inquired.

"Are they trustworthy?"

"He's the most trustworthy amsirah I know."

Ianto pondered this for a minute before responding. "Bring him then."