“But there is.”
I studied the woods, searching for any sign of more of this man’s followers amongst the trees. I couldn’t have some of them sneaking up on Ellery while I was engaged with this phenomenon.
I didn’t see anyone out there, but I had to be sure. “Do you sense anyone on this side of the river?”
Ellery looked around before shaking her head. “No one.”
“Good. If anyone tries to sneak up on you, shout for me or torch their asses.”
“And reveal what I can do?”
“I’ll take care of anyone who sees it.”
Her eyes shot across the river toward the teens. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Do whatever it takes to protectyou. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Ryker—”
I gently clasped her chin and turned her attention back to me. My gaze involuntarily fell to her mouth and those tempting lips before I met her troubled eyes again. “Protect yourself. I will do the rest.”
She nodded, but I knew she’d hesitate. I wouldn’t kill those kids, but I’d find a way to ensure they kept their mouths shut.
I released her chin and turned back to study the tree bridge. It didn’t look slippery, but my boots would do a good job gripping it.
“No using your ability, lightning bearer,” the giant said.
“You know who I am?”
CHAPTERSIXTY
Ryker
The giant tossedhis staff back and forth between his hands. “Everyone knows who you are, General Ryker Locke, Scourge of the Ghouls and son of the last duke in the land.”
A low murmur ran through those around him. It seemed not everyone knew who I was… until he revealed it.
“What I don’t know is what you’re doing in the Revenant Woods,” the giant continued.
“And you won’t.”
The man’s gaze flicked to Ellery, and while this conversation had been somewhat entertaining, my amusement vanished. I stepped in front of her to shield her from his view.
“No need to hide her, Scourge. I know who she is,” the giant said.
I hadn’t intended to kill him, but I may not have a choice. No one could see Ellery and me together; if word got back to my father, things would progress far faster than I’d anticipated, and she’d be at risk.
Ellery rested her hand on my arm and stepped out from behind me. “How do you know me?”
The giant’s smile had faded as he studied me, but it returned when his eyes met hers. “You offered your hand in place of that boy’s. I was there when it happened, and it’s not something you forget.” He lifted a finger the size of a sausage to tap his temple. “But I don’t forget much.”
“How wonderful for you,” I growled.
“Easy, General, I don’t mean any harm to the lady. I’ve seen what you can do to ghouls, and we don’t want any of that here.”
The giant seemed to sense any threat to Ellery would cause me to unleash hell on whoever put her at risk. While he’d said no to using my ability for whatever contest he expected to have here, he couldn’t stop me from destroying them if necessary.
His words about seeing what I could do to ghouls piqued my curiosity. “You know me from the war, but I don’t recall seeing you there. Did you fight in the Ghoul War?”
