Some black drained from his eyes as the lightning calmed a little. Before I knew what he intended, he grasped my hips, lifted me off the ground, and kissed me.
Heat spread through me as I melted into him. I had a lot of work to do, but I’d prefer to stay with him.
When he broke the kiss and set me on my feet, I smiled as I swayed a little before righting myself. I smoothed down the front of my shirt as I stepped away from him.
“Stay out of trouble,” I told him.
When I started to walk past him, he seized my hand. “Soon, I’ll make sure everyone in Tempest knows you’re mine.Everyone.”
The intensity with which he spoke stole my breath before I squeezed his hand. “What matters isweknow.”
“I’ll do everything I can to ensure your happiness and safety. You’ll know peace one day, Ellery, if it’s the last thing I do.”
Ice filled my veins. “Don’t talk like that.”
He drew me close again, kissed my forehead, and released my hand. “I’ll see you soon.”
When he turned away, it took all I had not to grab him back as an uneasy feeling grew in my stomach.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ryker
I repeatedly toldmyself I couldn’t be overprotective of Ellery when we returned to Tucker’s encampment. However, when his followers and the rescued rebels crept closer to see more of her, and in some cases, sought to touch her, it took all I had not to pick her up and yell at them tofuckoff.
She’d dealt with so much recently, and now they were staring at her like she was an oddity… or something to be worshiped. I’d desired this from them, but it was unnerving and overwhelming, and I wasn’t even the one they sought to get closer to.
Before she revealed her ability, I’d wanted this curiosity and belief she could bring about better for them. I’d hoped this was how they’d react to her, but now that it was happening, I hated it.
It made her too vulnerable. Someone could try to harm her; she could protect herself, but if neither of us saw the attack coming….
I shut down the possibility. This had to happen.
If we were going to rally others to her, shehadto be among them. They had to see her for who she was… strong, loving, bright, one of them, and formidable.
And like I’d known they would, theylovedher. Their eyes sparkled, and their broad smiles revealed all their teeth as they watched her every move.
But I sensed her anxiety and what it took for her not to bolt from this place. She beamed as she spoke with them all, and while I doubted no one else sensed it, she was overwhelmed.
I stayed by her side as a deterrent to anyone who might get a little too pushy while also serving as a reminder I was there forher. No matter what happened, I would keep her safe.
Standing at her other side, Tucker also kept watch over the crowd. Ianto stood a few feet away with his arms crossed over his chest. The intimidating giant didn’t deter any residents, but their glances at Ianto told me they knew of his presence.
Newly freed from their chains, the rescued rebels were the most hesitant around her. Most of the other amsirah had known Ellery for a while; they hadn’t known her secret, but they’d shared drinks and meals with her and knew she wasn’t something to fear.
“How is it possible you can control lightning?” Luna twirled a strand of golden blonde hair around her finger as she studied Ellery with narrowed blue eyes. “I’ve known you foryearsand never heard a whisper about it.”
“I don’t know why I inherited this gift,” Ellery said. “And once my parents learned about it, they told me to keep it a secret, so I did.”
“Why? They could have made afortuneoff you.”
Ellery recoiled a little at the question, and Luna’s brother, Callan, rolled his eyes. “Not everything is about money, Luna,” he said.
The siblings glared at each other before Luna waved a hand through the air and focused on Ellery again. “I understand that; I’m just saying you missed a golden opportunity. After what happened last night, you can’t come out now, but what if you had revealed yourself sooner?”
I stared at the woman in disbelief as Tucker blinked at her like she’d sprouted five more heads, and all of them were assholes.
“I probably would have been locked away somewhere if I’d revealed myself. You worked for the earl; what would he have done if he discovered I was a lightning bearer?”
