Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Ellery
We had initially planned to flee the robbery and go our separate ways to disperse the carisle, but that was only if everything went right… it didn’t. So now, I found myself emerging into the Revenant Woods instead of one of the towns or villages.
I spun back, prepared to return to the battle if Ryker had decided to remain behind, and there was a good chance he might try to go after Gaius, but as I stepped toward the portal, he emerged. As soon as he was free, Mr. Fletcher waved his hand to close the opening.
I threw myself into Ryker’s arms, hugging him close as he lifted me off the ground, and I rested my head on his chest. Shaking with relief, I inhaled deep, shuddering breaths.
I’d been so focused on battling our way out of there that I hadn’t stopped to think about what would happen if one of us died. With the serenity of the woods came the crashing reality of how close we’d come to dying or worse… being captured.
With his strong arms enveloping me, I savored the power of his corded muscles against me. At six foot four, he was ten inches taller than me, and while I possessed more power than him, I felt small and cherished in his arms.
“If we’re still going to get this money out to the towns today, we should move,” Tucker said. “Do you think there’s any chance your father could have planned for that?”
I didn’t lift my head to look at them. I’d much prefer to slip away into the forest with Ryker to spend the next few hours taking pleasure in each other, but we still had so much to do.
This was a war, and we had to win. There weren’t any other options.
Ryker lifted his head from where he’d rested his cheek on top of mine. I couldn’t think about the fact we were only halfway done with what we’d planned to do, but reality wouldn’t be denied.
If we were going to piss off the duke and help the amsirah, then we had to get this money to them. What we’d stolen was only a drop in the bucket compared to what the duke had taken from them, but it wasn’t just the money that would make them happy.
We’d stuck it to the aristocrats again, killed some of them, and taken back a piece of what was rightfully theirs. We’d give them this money, but the robbery would provide something far better and more important to them… hope.
“He’ll expect us to get the money back out to the amsirah, but not right away,” Ryker said. “I underestimated him with the caravan by not anticipating guards being inside the carriages, but he’ll expect us to sit on this money, plan how to get it out, and do it slowly.
“He also has a fair number of his guards on that caravan, and I can guarantee none of them are rushing back to tell him what happened. If we move now, we could have this money out to the amsirah before he knows about the robbery.”
“I like the sound of that,” Callan said.
I hoped it was Gaius who had to tell him. I hadn’t succeeded in killing that bastard, but the duke might.
My newfound bloodthirstiness wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t enjoy killing. I hated it, but it was a necessity.
Gaius was an exception; he was amid the worst of them and gleefully hurt anyone who got in his way. We had to stop him.
If my bloodthirstiness ever turned into an eagerness to kill, then I’d be just like one of them. If that day ever came, I’d gladly destroy myself.
“We have to split up. Should we still use smaller groups to disperse this?” Tucker asked.
“I think bigger would work better now,” Ryker said. “Ellery and I will each lead a group, so there’s a lightning bearer with each of them.”
My eyebrows rose at his statement. It surprised me that he was willing to let me go on my own, and without a fight.
I knew he didn’t like it, but it was the right decision to make. To offer more protection to everyone, it should be us leading the groups.
Ryker’s arms briefly tightened around me before he set me down and pulled his hood free. He wasn’t wielding lightning, but his eyes remained black while bolts fired through them. I suspected they’d been their normal, mercury color with lighter flecks of silver before he’d suggested our split.
His strong jaw, shadowed by brown stubble, was set in a determined way, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding as he stared at me. Rumpled from his hood, his dark brown hair stuck up in all different directions around his chiseled features.
My breath caught at how unbelievably handsome he was, and he was mine. No one else would ever know or love him in the same way I did.
And now, we had to separate. I didn’t want to do it, but it was necessary and the safest for everyone else.