Before I could do anything more, a branch encircled my wrist and jerked it down to pin it to the earth. I had no idea where the black dogs had gone, but I suspected they’d tucked tail and run once trees started rising from the ground.
“LERY!” Farley shouted as more roots rose around us.
Mouse’s fingers entangled in my free hand, and he whimpered beneath me as the trees pulled us further into the dirt. More branches encompassed my wrists and legs, cinching me down.
Lightning fired across my fingers, but it did little good now that they’d buried my hands in the ground. They were going to kill and, most likely, eat us, but I couldn’t get free of the powerful roots.
The ground gave way further until darkness closed over my eyes, and I choked on the dirt filling my nose and mouth. My chest felt like a giant was stepping on it and driving me deeper.
My lungs burned, and my body screamed for oxygen as the earth consumed me.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Ryker
I was notin the best of moods when I returned to Tucker’s camp, but I tried to keep it hidden while I helped train some recruits. Others in the camp readied the purses we’d distribute through the towns tomorrow.
I would have much preferred to kill something and contemplated slipping into the woods to do so, but I’d returned later than I anticipated, and Ellery would arrive soon. I wanted to make sure she was safe, and it had been an uneventful day.
Since I couldn’t kill anything, I focused my hostile energy on training. When dusk descended, Tucker called an end to the archery and swordplay before walking over to join me.
Shadows still marred his eyes, and his skin remained paler than normal, but he’d recovered well from his injury and the poison. He eyed me as he stopped beside me.
“Did you see your father today?” he inquired.
I grunted in response.
“How is the duke?”
I grunted again.
“So, he’s doing good, and everything went well.”
My eyes narrowed at his flippant tone, but Tucker wasn’t the one I hated. I studied the camp while I tried to get my temper under control.
The purses had all been filled and stashed in a chest beneath Tucker’s treehouse. Many were settling in for dinner, but a few were still working with the animals.
It was all so peaceful, even as the night creatures started to wake and hunt. Maybe coming here wasn’t the best idea; I felt too volatile.
“What did he say?” Tucker asked.
I turned to my friend. Maybe I shouldn’t be here, but I was, and Tucker had to know what I’d learned today.
“Every time I think he can’t shock me anymore, he proves me wrong,” I said.
“What happened?”
“We should get Ianto for this.”
Tucker lifted an eyebrow but refrained from saying anything more as I waved the giant over. Ianto saved some children from the orphanage fire; he had a right to know who started it and why.
The giant finished cutting a piece of meat from a deer and placed it on the plate of a young girl. She was one of the orphans Ianto had saved, but the girl standing behind her was a new addition to the encampment.
Ianto handed his knife and fork over to Luna. They exchanged words before Luna went to work on the deer, and Ianto joined us.
“What’s going on?” Ianto asked.
I jerked my head toward the edge of the forest. The truth would come out, as I had no intention of keeping my father’s secrets, but for now, it was best to keep this between us.
