Chapter 60
CHAPTER SIXTY
Ellery
Samael twisted toward Ryker as another sword arced out of the crowd. I threw out some lightning that deflected the blade, but someone grabbed my arm as they yanked the sword from Ryker’s belly.
The guards had recovered from their disbelief over the chasm I’d opened, and those who hadn’t plummeted into it were determined to take us down. And they far outnumbered us as they tried to jerk me away from Ryker.
Lightning flared up my arm again, knocking away the grasping hands, but more clawed at my hair and clothes. They managed to drag me a foot away before Ryker’s bloody hand grasped my other arm. He planted his other palm into the face of a guard.
The woman’s head exploded as electricity shot from the top of her head. Her feet still twitched as Ryker released her and she plunged into the abyss.
Ryker pulled me back toward him as Samael claimed a fallen sword and sliced off the hand of a fighter reaching for Ryker. We were barely holding them back anymore.
Terror tore at my belly and clawed its way up my throat with razor-sharp nails that sliced into my soul. Screams, crashes of weapons, and the fading roar of the tornadoes filled the hallway. I’d lost control of my tornadoes and had no idea if they remained formed or had dissipated.
The stench of blood, distress, and body odor permeated those surrounding us. It filled my nose and clogged my throat.
I couldn’t lose Ryker, but if we both perished in this hellhole, I’d make sure the duke went with us too.
Drawing on the lightning pulsing within me and the power binding me to Ryker, I brought forth all my powers. They churned within me, building in intensity like a hurricane about to make landfall.
All five of my abilities became a twisting tempest as Ryker’s powers built alongside mine inside me. A roar echoed in my head, but when the soldiers fell back a little and started looking around, I realized they heard it too.
Particles of air coalesced in front of me, dancing in the air and reflecting the colors of the rainbow. The swirling particles were a beautiful, enchanting spectacle, but no one else noticed them as the guards, recovering from their shock, surged forward again.
The air swirled around our enemies, but instead of dissipating, the power of the particles grew. Those colorful specks were swiftly becoming something more… something I could feed from.
And feed I did on the energy encompassing the air. I’d never experienced such a sensation before, but I’d also never allowed myself to gather this much power within me.
It was as frightening as it was wonderful. I shouldn’t let myself do this, I shouldn’t take so much, but if I didn’t do something, we’d all die, and everything we’d accomplished would be in vain.
I would sacrifice myself if necessary, but I couldn’t leave the duke alive when I did. That monster had to be stopped.
“Ellery!” Ryker shouted.
The scent of Ryker’s blood filled my nose. I didn’t know how I could tell his apart from the different pools, streaks, and rivers of blood surrounding me, but I could.
And his blood was rapidly spilling onto the floor as another combatant sliced his sword across his chest. I winced in sympathy as I finally found words again.
“Get behind me!” I screamed.
He had to feel me drawing from him and my power growing, but I didn’t stop it. It was time to end this.