The sky was clear, the sun bright—I was brighter.
The circle of women remained as Scarlet worked to undo more of their chains.They cast surreptitious glances my way as they tried to absorb what was happening and who I was.
Some women in the crowd screamed as they ducked their heads and fled in different directions.Others stopped and gaped as their eyes remained downcast.
The power flowing beneath my feet lifted me off the ground, and I finally unleashed a wave of lightning on the parapets.Drawn by my glow, the remaining archers had turned away from their target and were looking at me when I sent my lightning toward them.
Their bows hung loosely in their hands as they stared in my direction.Frozen by shock, they didn’t react before my lightning splintered apart, struck the rods, and tore into the palace.
It ripped out chunks of the wall, sent debris flying, knocked a few archers from the parapets, and struck others so hard it flung them out of view.With the archers out of the way for a minute or two, I shifted my attention to the field as the energy lifted me higher.
Floating above the land, I was a huge target as the riders sliced their way through the crowd to converge on Ryker.
From here, I saw something was also happening to him as an influx of light surrounded him.While he’d told me he’d never experienced what I had before, the energy engulfing him was clearly visible.
It didn’t lift him off the ground but enshrouded him in a glowing ball of power.When our eyes met, sorrow clutched at my heart, but rage clogged my throat when I saw the blood coating him.
The pinched set of his mouth spoke of his suffering as the amsirah near him scrambled to get away.His lightning increased until it emanated all around him and drove back all those close by.When two riders bore down on him, I raised my hands, and lightning sizzled from my fingers as it streaked across the sky.
Ryker couldn’t hit the riders without taking the risk of hurting someone else, but I could.The bolts I unleashed flung the riders from their saddles, bounced them across the battlefield, and spun them out of view amongst the crowd.
My lightning drew the attention of the guards.These women, and even Ryker, were useless to them now.Iwas the one they sought; that much was obvious as some of the riders converging on Ryker turned to come toward me.
Caught in the middle of this battle, a sense of calm descended as I released my remaining restraint and let my power take over.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Ryker
Despite being surroundedby the enemy and swamped by chaos and death, pride bloomed in my chest as Ellery rose above the ground with lightning emanating from her.She had to be terrified, but she was also so beautiful it made my heart hurt.
That hurt wasn’t just from pride but also fear.If the riders or guards got to her before me, or if she couldn’t return from what she was unleashing, I could still lose her.
She can take care of herself.She can defeat them—something she proved by taking out three more riders as many of the prisoners looked on in awe.
The female lightning bearer had been revealed.Now the whole realm knew who she was, and they were about to learn what she could do for them.
Many of the women, and some of the guards, stopped to stare at her.They were statues as they formed a wall between me and Ellery.
Lowering my shoulder, I ignored the pain in my battered body as I shoved through the crowd to get to her.She could take care of herself, but she also required help, and I had to pull her back if necessary.
When some riders turned away from me to focus on her, I spotted Gaius.He’d been approaching me, but Ellery’s rise above the crowd had halted him.
Sitting tall on his horse, with his hand on the pommel, he watched her with fascination, alarm, and finally lust.I snarled as I shoved my way forward.
Thatfuckerwould do whatever it took to get his hands on her and bend her to his will.I’d tear his hands off before I ever let him touch her again.
The idiot didn’t know he had a line of aristocrats he’d have to get through when it came to claiming her… including my father.
My father… I could only imagine his reaction to all of this and the realization that Ellery and I had been keeping our relationship secret for months.While he’d initially ended us, we’d come back together and were stronger than ever.
Thatshe, the woman he despised and was determined to destroy, was the woman he sought for himself.And she belonged to me, the son who’d betrayed and would gladly kill him.
I could only imagine the reaction of his fellow aristocrats.They might kill him themselves.
While I wanted the pleasure of doing that, having his fellow noblemen and women turn against him was a poetic justice I admired.However, knowing my father, he’d seize control of the realm and the nobles before they could plot against him.
He was a slippery monster straight from the bowels of hell.Those cowards had no chance against him.
