“We have something the aristocrats don’t have,” Tucker continued. “Twolightning bearers. That’s a whole lot of power onourside. And with them fighting for us, we can win this war.”
A low murmur ran through the crowd. Before, I’d sensed their hesitation and uncertainty of the unknown. Now, I sensed their rising excitement.
When Ellery issued a low groan, my arms tightened around her. I wished I could shelter her from this, but I couldn’t.
While she deserved some time alone, we’d known one day, we’d have to use the fact she was such a rarity to our advantage. That time had come sooner than we’d anticipated, but it had come.
As much as I’d like to keep it from happening, we would have to start using her more to help build our army. And part of using her was exactly what Tucker was doing… motivating others to fight with andforher.
She was a powerful rarity who was on their side, and she was also the original Hooded Robber. Ellery had fought for them beforeanyoneelse did.
She was powerful, kind, willing to fight for and die for them, and could motivate others to sacrifice everything for her cause. She’d hate every second of it, but if we were to achieve freedom from our oppressors, she had to be their champion.
I’d hoped to prepare her for this better, but that didn’t happen. Now, she’d have to sink or swim, and knowing Ellery, she’d fly.
Some of the amsirah crept closer as they surveyed Ellery. Her discomfort beat against me, but she lifted her chin and stared back at them.
I resisted my impulse to take her somewhere they couldn’t treat her like a specimen in a jar. They had to see her to learn she was one of them and not someone to fear.
To them, I was still a member of the aristocracy, far removed from their lives and part of the problem. Some expected me to grow bored with playing rebel, return to my father’s castle one day, and never return.
They were wrong about that, but I still hadn’t built enough trust with them to prove it. I’d worked hard to establish myself here, but they’d lost too much and become too jaded to trust easily.
Ellery’s family was a long line of farmers, and while she had a manor and was in the class invited to some of the aristocrats’ soirees, she was more on the peasants’ level. Her family helped keep the realm fed; they provided some of the finest horses, and her mother taught some of them as children.
Before Ivan, Ellery’s family had a lot more than most of them, but they’d always been more like the local amsirah than the nobles. They trusted her more than they trusted me.
Ellery’s fingers dug into my back before she eased her grip and released me. She glanced at me before grasping the front of the shirt together and stepping away.
I ached to pull her back into my arms, but I had to set her free to face her destiny, even if I loathed every second of it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ellery
I didn’t knowwhat to say or do as the amsirah in the clearing edged closer. While they studied me like a spectacle on display, I kept my chin high as I clutched the front of Ianto’s shirt closed.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, I tried not to let their curiosity bother me. As their gazes shifted between me and Ryker, their excitement grew.
“Two lightning bearers,” someone murmured.
“Onourside,” another said.
“But you’re the one who told King Ivan to make a good example of us,” one of them said as he eyed Ryker skeptically.
“Was I supposed to tell him to set you free? How do you think that would have gone?”
The man looked nervously away but doubt radiated from him.
“I also just helped save your asses,” Ryker growled.
The man glanced guiltily at him before bowing his head. Their whispers increased as Ryker placed his hand on my hip. Ten inches taller than me and bigger than most gathered around, he stood proudly beside me with his broad shoulders back and his mercury eyes narrowed while he surveyed the crowd.
Tussled from the hood, his dark brown hair stood up at odd angles around his face. With his square jaw, etched features, and full lips, he was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen, and he was mine.
With him at my side, I felt protected and supported. We were in this together, and together, we could do anything.
“I think it’s time to get the prisoners to safety, have their chains removed, and get them some care,” Ryker stated. “They’ve been through enough and could use some rest.”
