Unfortunately, I had no choice. And if push came to shove, Ellery could kick his ass.
“I’ll open you a portal,” Ellery said.
“No, I’ll go out the back and open one,” I told her.
“It would be safer if you let me do it inside for you.”
“You’ve already opened one, and we have no idea what more will happen today. You should conserve your strength in case you have to create more.”
“You’ve already opened one too.”
“I’m not harboring a fugitive.”
She bit her bottom lip before responding. “Okay.”
Rising, she followed me to the back door, where I kissed her again before checking to ensure no one was out there. When I was sure we were alone, I stepped outside.
It felt like a week had passed since I first arrived at the earl’s, but it was still night, and the sky wasn’t showing any signs of dawn yet. It was still a few hours away.
“Wait until the sun is up before you return to the earl’s,” I told her. “I’m sure the rebellion has ended by now, but just in case.”
“I will.”
I descended the stairs and walked a few feet away before opening a portal. I didn’t look back; if I did, I’d never leave her.
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Ellery
I closedand locked the door behind Ryker. Resting my forehead against the curtain covering the window, I held back tears as loneliness swamped me.
When the king and duke imprisoned my mother, this place stopped feeling like home. The smells had changed as warmth seeped out of it, but at least there’d been the hope she’d return.
That hope didn’t exist anymore. I was an orphan now.
My parents were gone. I was alone, and the manor was mine, but so many sought to tear it away from me. I wasn’t sure I had the energy to fight for it anymore.
A step behind me brought my head up. I couldn’t see his reflection in the glass, but I knew Callan stood in the doorway to the hall.
“What’s going on, Ellery?” he inquired. “I’ve heard rumors about you and him, but I thought there wasnoway they could be true.Howdid you get involved with Ryker Locke? What were you thinking?”
I frowned at his words before turning to face him. I wasn’t in the mood for this; I wasn’t in the mood for anything other than burying myself under my covers and hiding forever. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that option.
“Sometimes things just happen,” I said.
His eyebrows shot up. “Things justhappen? Withhim?How?”
“There’s a whole lot you don’t know. I’m sure you will by the time this is all over.”
“His father will lose his shit over this.”
I released a harsh, bitter laugh. “Nobody knows that better than me.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Hopefully, making a difference.”
“How?”
