“I’ll come over.”
“No need.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond before she removed her boots and shoved her socks into them. She wiggled out of her pants and tied the bottom of her shirt into a knot that revealed her simple, black underwear and shapely thighs.
“What the fuck?” I growled.
“Maybe I was wrong about not being able to fuck,” Ianto said.
I shot him a look over my shoulder. “I’ll kill you if you try.”
Ianto looked from me to Ellery and back again. “I thought she wasn’t your anything.”
“She’s not.”
She’s my everything.
I hated those words as soon as they entered my mind, yet I couldn’t deny their truth. I couldn’t be with her, but she was the most important thing to me.
With her boots and pants held high, Ellery waded into the water. It rose to her waist before lowering again as she trudged onto the riverbank.
Her gaze ran over me. “Are you okay?”
“Get dressed.”
She stiffened, and her eyes narrowed. “It’s good to see you too, Ryker. I’m glad you survived.”
My scowl deepened as a twig cracked in the woods and branches clacked together. I searched the forest for danger before spotting a member of Ianto’s group.
A few seconds later, a couple of young men emerged from the trees. They slung their bows onto their backs and hurried to his side. The giant waved them away when they offered him help.
A couple of young women emerged from the woods next. They glanced at Ianto before focusing on us; wariness shone in their eyes.
I studied the young group as I tried to ascertain what this behemoth of a man was doing with them. None of them looked over eighteen.
“Did you take over an orphanage?” I asked.
Ellery showed no interest in putting her clothes on as she stepped toward the giant and teens. When the young men’s attention shifted to her, I bared my teeth at them as I moved in front of her to block their view.
“Ryker,” she hissed.
“Get dressed,” I commanded.
I could feel her glaring at my back, but I didn’t look at her as the giant pulled himself into a seated position.
“No.” Ianto winced as he rose. Some relief washed over his face when he braced his legs apart. “Someone set fire to an orphanage in Carthaway; these are some of the survivors. Many died in the inferno, including all those who took care of them. Some of the children managed to escape into the town or Revenant Woods. I found some of those who ran into the woods, but the others were all killed before I got to them. I have no idea what became of the ones who entered the town.”
“How awful,” Ellery breathed. “Who would do such a thing?”
“They weren’t wearing colors, but the children say they moved like they were members of a guard, and they were all wearing all-black uniforms.”
“Are you saying the aristocrats or king did this?” I demanded.
“I’m not saying anything, but you know your kind better than me. Do you think they’re capable of such a thing?”
At the reminder of my aristocratic blood, the children glowered at me. I chose to ignore them as I pondered Ianto’s question.
“Yes,” I said. “They’re capable of doing it, but why? What would any of them have to gain by destroying an orphanage?”
