Guards stood in the shadows, keeping watch over all those who slept. Glow bugs lit the darkness around them. The cooking fires burned low, and in the distance, a bird shrieked before going still again.
After the day’s events, it was peaceful as the amsirah settled into sleep, but I didn’t feel comforted by the familiar songs of the insects and frogs in the woods. Even the glow of the three visible moons didn’t ease my anxiety.
I dreaded every second of what was to come.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Ellery
When Ryker returnedwith a towel and fresh clothes, he smiled as he hooked his arm through mine. The woods remained tranquil as we slipped through the trees toward the water.
Once there, I stood on the shore, keeping watch while Ryker stripped, waded into the water, and washed his friend’s blood from him. Normally, seeing him like this would cause me to focus onhim, but I was too afraid of what was coming to enjoy the way the water ran down his chiseled muscles and caused his skin to glisten in the moonlight.
Okay, maybe I wasn’t too anxious not to notice, but I didn’t take as much joy in it as I would have. And I didn’t wade into the water to join him like I yearned to do.
When Ryker emerged from the water, he took the towel from me and dried off. “Everything okay?”
“Um, yeah,” I muttered. “Why?”
“You’re quieter than normal.”
I bit my bottom lip while he dressed. I glanced back toward the encampment; we were still too close to have this conversation.
After I revealed what happened today, his reaction would be volatile. The amsirah in the encampment had been through enough without Ryker accidentally leveling the place tonight.
“We have to talk,” I told him.
Ryker finished slipping his foot into his boot and rose to tower over me. The joy that had brightened his eyes after Tucker started moving faded. “What is it?”
“We should go deeper into the woods for this.”
His forehead furrowed as he glanced at the encampment. “Why?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re a little further away.”
With dread filling my heart, I turned and started further into the woods. Ryker caught up to me, and I felt his gaze boring into me while we walked, but I couldn’t look at him.
I kept telling myself this had to be done, that it was better to get it over with, and that everything would be okay, but I had no idea what would happen afterward. The one thing I did know was I had to keep him here; I couldn’t let him leave.
Certain Ryker’s reaction to my revelation would be volatile, I made sure we walked far enough away not to disturb the encampment. When I glanced over my shoulder, the dim glow of the fires had vanished, and trees enveloped us.
We were alone. When I stopped walking, Ryker turned to face me.
“What is it?” he asked.
The low, gravelly tone of his voice made me gulp. “No matter what I tell you, you have to promise me that you won’t leave here. I mean it, Ryker, youhaveto stay here.”
When his eyes narrowed, the lighter flecks of silver in their mercury depths glinted in the moonlight. “Ellery?—”
“We promised no more secrets, but I need you to promise you won’t leave here tonight.”
His jaw clenched as he folded his arms over his chest. Ryker didn’t take orders.
“What. Happened?”
“Promise me, please,” I whispered.
The pleading tone of my voice softened his face. “I promise.”
