Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Ellery
I froze in the middle of skinning the deer I’d taken down with my arrow. Blood coated my knife as I lifted it away from the animal and sat on my heels to study the forest.
I didn’t know why, but my heart raced as the compulsion to jump up and run gripped me. But run where?
My mouth went dry as a strange sense of panic descended over me. But I had no idea where the panic came from or why.
Did I hear something I didn’t realize I’d heard?
My gaze flitted around the trees as I returned my dagger to its sheath before placing my hands on the ground. If something burst out of the trees, I’d hit it with a wave of thunder that would send it flying.
The beat of my heart didn’t ease as I waited for something to erupt out of the forest, but the woods remained still.
More than that, the birds continued singing like they didn’t have a care in the world, and the others hadn’t noticed my strange reaction as they kept watch while they believed I still worked.
Trying to understand what was happening to me, I rose and turned in a small circle to survey the cluster of trees around us. Despite not seeing signs of anything treacherous lurking nearby, I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that something was wrong.
My hands trembled as I lifted my fingers to my temple and felt my pulse pounding through there. The crisp November air was cool against my exposed skin, but my deerskin cloak was warm. However, it wasn’t warm enough for this overwhelming, heated rush flooding my body.
Then, from deep within my soul, something tugged on my power, drawing it forth to unleash something magnificent, but it didn’t come from me. A small breath escaped as I tipped my head back to see through the evergreens towering above us.
The trees blocked much of the sun, but I had to see through them. I had to know. Only one other could have caused such a thing to happen within me… Ryker.
“Are you okay?”
I heard the question and knew it came from Mr. Fletcher, but I didn’t have the words to answer it. Was I okay?
No. No, I wasn’t.
We were safe here, we’d taken down three deer, and though it was cold, it was a beautiful, sunny day. Yet, I was hot, scared, and Ryker was still pulling on the power we shared.
I was safe… he wasn’t. Despite the beauty and tranquility of this day, I knew it with absolute certainty.
“Ryker,” I breathed as I broke free of the confusion trying to rule me. “I have to get back to the camp right now. Stay with the deer.”
Mr. Fletcher stepped toward me. “What is it, Ellery?”
“I’m not sure, but something’s not right with Ryker.”
“How do you know that?” another man asked.
“I just do. Stay here.”
“Like hell,” Mr. Fletcher muttered.
I didn’t have time to argue with him, and I wasn’t going to. “When I open this portal, I’m not sure what we’ll find on the other side. Be prepared for something to come through,” I told the others.
They pulled their swords free and held them at the ready as I waved my hand before me while my heart urged me to go faster. I clamped down on my impulse to rush; something was wrong, and if I plunged recklessly into this, I could end up causing more problems.
No matter how badly I wanted to rush through this, I couldn’t.
When the portal opened, I half expected something malevolent to rush out at us, but nothing did. Lightning slid across my fingers and crackled at my elbows as I strode through the portal and emerged on the other side.