“He took her anyway. The king’s guards came, put her in one of those prison carriages, and took her to the palace,” I said. “They want five thousand carisle to free her.”
Tucker had been softening toward me, but at my words, confusion marred his brow. “Then it was the king who took her.”
“No, it was theduke. I know it washim.”
Tucker’s jaw worked back and forth as his eyes went from me to the forest and back again. “What do you expect Ryker to do?”
“I need his help to free her, and someone should warn him. If the duke broke his word and came for my mother, then… then… he could go for Ryker too. Thatman…”—I glanced at the woods as I couldn’t look him in the eye anymore—”is a monster.”
“There are many monsters in this realm.”
I gulped and looked at him again. “You don’t have to be one of them. I messed up with Ryker. No one knows that more than me, but he’s the only one who might be able to help me. Where is he, Tucker?”
“So, you’re after his money.”
I struggled not to recoil as Tucker went for the jugular. I didn’t blame him, but I was already bleeding. “You know I’m not.”
“Then what would you call it?”
I’d had enough. I understood he was protecting his friend, but so was I… or at least I was trying to. “Do you think Iwantto be here? Do you think I wantedanyof this to happen? What was I supposed to do after his father came to me? I did what I thought would keep us all safe; I was wrong. Mymotheris the one paying for that. Unlike me, she’s innocent inallof this.
“I couldn’t go to Ryker with what happened with his father because I was afraid of putting him in danger. I wanted to tell him; believe me, he’s theonlyone I wanted to turn to with all this, but though he’s a lightning bearer, we both know hisfatherpossesses the power in this realm. He’s already trapped Ryker here with the rest of us when he could have made it so his son could leave the realm.”
My voice broke, and tears burned my eyes again, but I wouldn’t cry. All of that was true, but I also hadn’t gone to Ryker because of my secrets and lies.
“You didn’t go to Ryker when you lost your home,” I reminded him. “He would have helped you, but you chose to live here instead.”
Tucker stared at me for a minute before his shoulders slumped, his head bowed, and he ran a hand through his hair. “How long have they had your mother?”
“Five days. I’m not after his money; I need money to save her, but I’ll do whatever it takes to get his money back to him, plus some.”
“He’s not going to take your money, Ellery.”
“I don’t care what he takes or demands from me, Tucker. I’ll do anything to free her. If he doesn’t help me, I’ll give them our manor.”
I’d hand myself over to them before handing over our home, but he couldn’t know that. If I gave them our manor, then my mother and Scarlet’s family would be homeless because of me, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. This whole mess was my fault; I’d do anything to keep them from suffering too.
“What would you do without your farm?” he asked.
“I don’t know. It would devastate my mother to lose it. It’s all she has left of my father, and she’s worked so hard to keep it running, but at least she wouldn’t be in a dungeon. I’ll offer to take her place in the dungeon first, but I don’t think the duke will accept the trade. He wants me to suffer, and the best way to ensure that is to punish my mother.”
“Offering yourself to them won’t do anyone any good.” Tucker tugged at his hair before sighing. “I’ll take you to him, but he won’t be happy to see you.”
“I know.”
“Wait here while I go get him.”
CHAPTERNINE
Ellery
I stood backas Tucker opened a portal and walked into it. He’d told me to stay here, but everything in me screamed to go after him.
If he went alone, he wouldn’t return with Ryker; I was certain of it. Ryker wouldn’t be as sympathetic to my plight as Tucker, and I had to talk to him myself. Even if he said no, I’d know I’d done everything I could to save my mother before going to the palace… with myself as a sacrifice.
Tucker had started to disappear when I dashed into the portal and emerged only a few feet away from him. When he turned to close the opening, he spotted me and grimaced. “I told you to wait.”
“I couldn’t. He won’t come back with you.”
