Turning my head, I spotted the hole it had created. It went straight through the trunk to reveal the trees on the other side.
Smoke streamed from the tree as I leaned over to peer through the hole. The lightning had gone straight through another tree before ending on the third.
I turned back to her. “Impressive, especially if, as you’ve claimed, you really don’t use your powers often.”
“I didn’t tell you about me being the Hooded Robber and kept my abilities from you, but I’ve admitted everything else. I’m willing to deal with your shitty attitude and hatred of me, but don’t call me a liar again.
“You knoweverything. There are no more secrets between us, and there won’t be again. If you keep accusing me of lying about things, I don’t care how much good we can do together; I’ll leave here and never return. Do you understand?”
My lips compressed into a flat line. I’d also forgotten how little Ellery cared about boundaries when it came to me.
Nooneelse would dare talk to me in such a way… except maybe Tucker. And he’d earned the right to disregard my birth status through suffering and blood; Ellery hadn’t.
This would never change with her, and it wasn’t a battle I was willing to pick. “Let’s see what else you can do.”
“With my lightning?”
“With everything.”
I watched as she brought all five weather elements to life in a way I’d never seen anyone do before. I couldn’t contain my amazement over her ability to wield the five weathers, but I also realized she wasn’t as strong as she should be.
With practice and time, she’d become a force to be reckoned with.
CHAPTERFORTY-SIX
Ellery
Over the nextcouple of weeks, I spent my mornings working the farm with my mother and Scarlet’s family. My mother was starting to forgive me, but things were still tense between us.
Every night, I went out and worked with Ryker for a few hours. He always took me to a different section of the woods to practice.
After our argument that first night, we didn’t talk about anything other than my training. We were there to strengthen my powers, and our business relationship was moving steadily onward.
It was depressing.
The worst part was, though he could barely look at me some nights, I still yearned for him. I dreamt of him every night and couldn’t wait to get back to him while we were apart, even if it was a few hours of him mostly staying as far from me as possible.
It was both wonderful and horrible to be so close yet unable to touch him or experience the pleasure he gave. I hungered for the security of his arms and the warm look that once shone in his eyes. Instead, I received only the cold detachment I’d grown to hate.
I had no idea what he did during the day, as we didn’t discuss it, but I was sure plenty of other women were experiencing the things I’d forsaken. I hated myself and him for it.
Every time we met, we explored new areas of the woods as we tried to go undetected. We encountered numerous creatures I’d never seen before; some were harmless, but others would destroy us if given the chance, and they certainly tried.
In the new section we’d entered tonight, the towering trees intertwined with each other to create a thick canopy cascading over a few acres of forest. With my head craned back to take them in, I marveled at the knotty branches overhead.
Those limbs climbed ever higher as they encircled each other. It was as if they were holding hands, and I sensed their desperation not to let go.
The ground beneath the trees was completely clear of debris. It was as if their growing together had strengthened them so much that they never lost a leaf or branch. During the day, they blocked the sun so nothing else grew beneath them; this wastheirsection of the woods.
“Amazing,” I breathed.
Ryker studied the trees before glancing at me. “This is the perfect place to get some training in.”
“No. I’m not touching these trees. We’ll go somewhere else.”
Ryker’s head tilted to the side, and irritation flickered across his features, but I didn’t care how annoyed he was with me; I wasn’t going to throw a lightning bolt into one of these trees. I had a feeling if I hurt one, I’d hurt them all, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Fine,” he relented.
