CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
Ellery
From the darkness,sparks flew around the tunnel; they flashed higher as the thud of footsteps approached. “Ryker,” I breathed.
Without thinking, I stepped toward him before stopping. No matter how badly I yearned to run to Ryker, throw myself into his arms, and never let go, I couldn’t leave Mouse alone.
Instead, I pulled lightning from the earth and let light flow up my arms so he would know where we were. Ryker’s pace picked up, and a few seconds later, he emerged from the shadows.
Fury and terror etched his features, and lightning bolts arced through his eyes, but when he saw me, some of his tension eased. His arms wrapped around me and he crushed me against his chest.
I ignored the flare of pain in my battered body to hug him back. My legs could be about to fall off, and I wouldn’t care if it meant being with him.
He clasped my nape, and his breath tickled my ear as he spoke. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve had better days and worse, just like so many others in this realm, but we’re okay.”
“Not many have had days where trees have tried to eat them.”
I chuckled. “True, and now I’ve had two of them.”
He kissed my cheek before leaning back to examine me more closely. When he tenderly brushed the hair back from my face, worry marred his forehead.
He brushed his thumb over my cheek before pulling it away. Dried flecks of blood clung to the tip of his thumb.
I placed my hand over it. “I’m a little battered, but I’m fine.”
He closed his eyes before kissing my forehead. His breath tickled my hair as he exhaled and then inhaled slowly as if savoring my scent.
After a minute, he set me on my feet but didn’t release me. When he opened his eyes again, their beautiful mercury hue had returned, but the tension hadn’t eased from his muscles.
He looked over at Mouse. “Are you okay?”
The boy nodded.
Ryker kissed me once more before reluctantly stepping away. His gaze traveled over the walls and the roots that had gone oddly still.
“Do you have any idea where we are?” he asked.
“No. I’m also not sure if we’re going the right way… or if thereisa right way.”
Ryker looked back and forth down the tunnel. “I’m not sure there is either.”
When my stomach rumbled loudly, I placed a hand over it. Unfortunately, there was nothing to eat down here unless I started cutting off roots and chomping on them, but since I didn’t want the trees to eat me, it would probably be best if I didn’t start eatingthem.
“Has anything attacked you down here?” he asked.
“No. The roots move, and sometimes I swear they’re waving at us”—Mouse nodded enthusiastically as I said this and glanced nervously at the walls— “but it’s been quiet. Has anything attacked you?”
Ryker studied the walls before replying. “No.”
“Why would they bring us down here?”
“I don’t know. I’m assuming you tried opening a portal.”
“I did.”
“And?”
