When her smile faltered a little, I slid my hand into hers and squeezed it reassuringly. “And that’s the way I like it.”
Her returning smile melted my heart.
CHAPTER EIGHTY
Ellery
Ryker spentthe entire day in my home while I worked the farm, and he slept beside me that night. Nothing could ever replace the hole my mother’s passing had created inside me, but knowing he was there helped ease some of my melancholy; feeling his arms around me helped lull me into a fitful sleep, and he soothed the tears that came at night.
When I woke the following morning, I snuggled into him and held him close. I’d seen his tender side before, but not like this.
I loved him even more for his patience, understanding, and unwavering support. He helped me find the strength to get up and face another day, which I did with laborious steps and a heavy heart.
Ryker waited for me until I finished helping Scarlet and her family care for the animals. When we finished, Scarlet returned to the manor with me, and from there, I opened a portal for the three of us to travel to Tucker’s encampment. It was time Scarlet learned where it was so she and her family had a safe place to run if necessary.
When we arrived, the establishment was alive with activity. Training sessions were in full swing, hammers pounded nails into the new tree houses being assembled, and livestock called to each other.
Ryker went to gather Tucker and Ianto. Scarlet and I waited near the tree line for them to return.
“This place is impressive,” Scarlet murmured as she surveyed the immortals hustling around and the children playing.
“They’ve worked to make this a safe place,” I said.
“I hope it remains that way.”
“So do I.”
When Ryker and the others returned, we entered the forest and strode toward Ianto’s old encampment. The forest was oddly hushed, but we encountered a few ghosts who floated lazily between or through the trees.
A poltergeist dive-bombed us from a tree, screaming as he threw rocks at us, but no one acknowledged it, and the blob-like creature soon grew bored. A few animals scurried through the underbrush, but none of them emerged.
Once we were far enough away, Ianto opened a portal to his old encampment where we’d stashed the money we’d stolen from the king. When we arrived, the five of us stood in a circle while we debated how best to distribute the funds.
None of us were wanted criminals, or at least the king didn’t know he wanted us… yet. But it might not be a good idea to have all five of us in Nottingshire at the same time. However, we all insisted on going.
“Nottingshire is a big town,” I said when I grew tired of running in circles with them over this. “We can all enter at different times and make our way through various areas, but if weallgo, we can get the money distributed faster, and then we can get out of there.”
“More of us means a better chance of one of us getting caught. I know I’m fast, but I’m not so sure about you, big guy.” Tucker nudged Ianto in the ribs.
“I’m nimbler than I look,” Ianto said.
“That is true,” Ryker agreed.
“Okay then,” Tucker said. “We should go in at staggered times and into different areas. We’ll be able to distribute more money that way too. Let’s get this over with and make a lot of amsirah happy today.”
“I want you and Scarlet to go to Prury Street,” Ryker told me. “The rest of us will go to Main Street.”
Prury Street was a side road in Nottingshire. It was filled with homes and usually very quiet.
“Scarlet and I should go to Main Street,” I said. “We’ve done this before and have experience with it.”
“It’s too risky.”
“No, it’s not.”
When Ryker’s eyes narrowed, I planted my hands on my hips. I wouldn’t be relegated to some side street when Scarlet and I were the ones who knew how to do this.
“I’m trying to keep you safe,” Ryker said.
