Chapter 91

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

Ryker

I had no idea what time it was when I woke, but the scent of apples greeted me as soon as I opened my eyes. Shifting my attention away from the dawn outside the windows, I discovered Ellery sitting beside my bed with her back against the nightstand.

Her shoulders were hunched forward, and her chin rested on her chest while she slept. She had to be uncomfortable on the floor and with her neck bent like that, but she hadn't returned home.

Her dagger lay in her lap, her fingers curled around the handle as she slept— my guardian .

She may look helpless, but I pitied anyone who tried to take her. They'd be in for a deadly surprise. Like those beautiful, twisted trees we'd encountered in the woods, she had many layers and lethal secrets.

Some of those secrets had burned me, but as I studied the lovely contours of her face, my heart ached for her, and my mind reminded me of all the reasons to stay away. Most of those reasons weren't very convincing, given she'd taken care of me yesterday and stayed here to watch over me while I was weak.

Not to mention everything she'd revealed to me since admitting she was the Hooded Robber. I couldn't maintain my hatred for her when she'd risked everything for me, was here to protect me, and had revealed things that could destroy her.

I had no doubt she'd told me everything and didn't have any more secrets. From now on, she wouldn't keep things from me, and she'd never again run from me because of her fear of my father.

She would never fall for his shit again. Ellery was too smart for that.

When the truth of Ellery came out, as it inevitably would, I would help keep her safe. While her powers were vast, they could subdue her, and if they didn't kill her, they would use her.

My father would lead the charge for or against Ellery, and I'd destroy him when he did. I'd kill anyone who tried to harm her, and I wouldn't do it with lightning—that was too fast. No, I'd make them suffer when I tore their life away.

Ellery twitched and muttered something. I thought it was my name but couldn't be sure. Her fingers briefly tightened around the dagger's handle before easing; she settled down again.

Rising, I rotated my shoulders and cracked my back before lifting my arms and pressing my palms against the ceiling to stretch further. When I finished, I examined the wound in my chest.

A red, puckered mark still marred my skin, but it was fading fast and didn't hurt anymore, neither did the ones on my back. I rotated my shoulders again, but no discomfort accompanied the movement.

Walking over to Ellery, I slipped the dagger from her hand and set it on the table. I bent and carefully lifted her into my arms.

She murmured something before settling against me. Her breath warmed my chest as her body curled into mine, and the last of my hatred melted away.

She was so warm and innocent, so trusting and beautiful. Ellery had hurt me more than anyone I'd ever known, yet she owned my heart and… I wanted her to have it.

There was no denying that simple truth anymore. I could keep fighting against her and remain unhappy or admit I couldn't picture my life without her.

I couldn't fight my love for her anymore or keep her shut out. I didn't want to stay lonely and angry.

I wanted to love her.

She'd made a fool of me, but that didn't matter anymore. She was strong, fierce, powerful, yet vulnerable with her giant heart and impulsive nature.

I had no doubt the idea of becoming the Hooded Robber had simply occurred to her one day. Instead of thinking through the consequences of her actions, she'd made an outfit and run into the woods to carry out her plan, dragging Scarlet with her.

Given what she could do and the fact they'd raised her to hide her abilities from anyone outside her family, she should have stopped to think about it more before doing so, but that wasn't Ellery. Her desperation to help those in need had outweighed her common sense.

The more I got to know her, the more I understood this, and the more I feared it would get her killed. Soon, we would have a serious talk about her reckless decisions.

For now, I would lie beside her and savor having her in my arms again. I settled Ellery on the bed and climbed in beside her.

She stirred once more and rolled toward me as I settled the blanket over us. When her hand fell against my chest and her head nestled into the crook of my shoulder, a feeling of complete contentment stole through me.

My heart swelled as I wrapped my arms around her. This was where she belonged and would always belong; I would never let anything come between us again.

I drifted in and out of sleep until she stirred. Her lashes brushed my neck as she blinked before planting her palms on my chest and pulling away a little. I tightened my arms around her, refusing to let her go.

"I didn't…. I don't remember crawling into the bed," she whispered.

When her vibrant blue-green eyes met mine, I saw uncertainty in them, and my throat clogged with emotion. I didn't ever want to see that look in her gaze again.

Unable to speak, I kissed her. For a second, her body remained rigid, but then her fingers bit into my skin, and she eased against me. Her supple body melded against mine in an achingly familiar, perfect way.

Heaven .

She was a piece of heaven in a realm that had become our prison, and I didn't care what I had to do to make her happy. I'd burn it all down to set her free.