I wouldn’t let any of them know I could control all five of the weathers. That was my secret to keep.
I was almost at the door when someone knocked on it, most likely Scarlet. She’d come over last night, but I didn’t have the energy to deal with her then and pretended to sleep when she called my name from the bottom of the stairs.
Maybe that was cowardly, but I was still reeling from the aftermath of Ryker’s wrath; I couldn’t stand to deal with Scarlet’s too. I still felt too raw for it today, but I had no choice.
I had to leave for the palace soon; it was time to free my mother. At least I wouldn’t have to hide my lightning ability once this was over, and I could keep my fog under control so no one would ever learn all that I could do.
That was a small consolation for all I was about to lose. I certainly wasn’t going to gain anything from this.
I prepared to embrace Scarlet as soon as I opened the door; I would hold her close and savor my last few moments with her before letting her know what was to come. Instead, as the door swung open, my greeting died on my lips.
A strange, choking sound issued from me when I discovered Ryker standing on the other side, his hand raised to knock again, and the dark of the early morning surrounding him.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Ellery
I couldn’t stop gawkingat him as excitement flooded my veins, my skin prickled, and butterflies erupted in my belly. He hated me, and I understood why, but my body belonged to him, as did my heart. When he was near, I couldn’t control either of them.
Then I recalled the horribleness of yesterday, and my excitement vanished like smoke in a windstorm. He’d probably come to tell me how awful I was, and I wasn’t in the mood.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“We have to talk.”
“I tried talking to you yesterday, but you didn’t want to hear it.”
I didn’t know why I was being so argumentative, but I didn’t have it in me to deal with him on top of everything else I had to do today. I fully expected this to be the longest day of my life, not the worst, as that was yet to come, but the longest.
When he lowered his arm, the mercury color of his eyes deepened, and black tinged the edges.
“I do now,” he growled.
My pride almost had me telling him to fuck off and thatIdidn’t want to talk now, but curiosity silenced my words. What could he possibly have to say?
Plus, I guess I owed him the opportunity to say whatever he had to say, even if he just kicked me while I was down. What did it matter? I doubted we’d have much to say or do with each other after today.
I stepped back and waved a hand for him to enter. Ryker stepped inside and stopped when he spotted my luggage. “Where are you going?”
“To the palace.”
“Are you going to give Ivan your manor?”
“No.” I closed the door behind him. “If I did that, my mother and Scarlet’s family would have nowhere to live, and I won’t let that happen because of me.”
“Then what do you plan to do at the palace?”
I backed away from the overwhelming presence he exuded. He was one of the largest men I’d ever encountered.
That had always fascinated me before. Now, it jangled my raw nerves as I felt suffocated by his presence and on edge while I waited to see what he would unleash on me.
“What are you doing here, Ryker?” I asked.
He glanced at my suitcase again, but when he spoke, he seemed to have decided to let it go. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
I hesitated before gesturing toward the sitting room to his left. He didn’t say anything more before he turned and strode into the room.
When he vanished, I took a deep breath to brace myself for what was to come. I was sure it was going to be awful.
