As the crowd became aware of me again, they fell back and gawked at the ball of energy encompassing me.I kept it reined in to avoid harming them, but lightning snapped at the air around me.
That glow not only invigorated my power but also my healing.I’d been run through with a sword, sliced open, and shot with an arrow, but my muscles and skin were knitting together at an accelerated speed.Blood had stopped running down my side and now oozed from the closing wound.
My power entwined with Ellery’s, and hers was fueling me.I was sure mine was doing the same for her.
I’d never experienced this level of power before, but it was as frightening as it was amazing.I understood why Ellery feared she might not pull back from this, and what was happening to me wasn’t as strong as what occurred with her.
When more lightning flashed across the sky and zapped a few more riders on the field, Gaius slid off his mount, his sword in hand.He intended to hunt her from the ground.
The lightning made me an easier target while also keeping me safe.I couldn’t sneak up on the man like this, but I could kill him… if I could get to him.
And when I did, I’d gladly tear off his head and shove it up his ass… maybe I could even shove it up his ass without tearing it off first.That was a happy picture.
Despite the lingering discomfort in my side and thigh, I ran through the crowd scrambling to get out of my way.They’d recovered from their astonishment over seeing Ellery and were again trying to flee.
I didn’t look back to see if the archers were reloading; Ellery kept them distracted.The riders used that opportunity to terrorize the crowd again.
When hoofbeats shook the ground behind me, I twisted my head to see two riders barreling down on me.With their swords at the ready to cleave me in two, they leaned to the side in their saddles.
Planting my feet, I lifted my hands and released two bolts from my palms.The lightning shot through the air before smashing into the guards’ heads and knocking them from their mounts.
More women screamed as they scattered away from the falling bodies and out-of-control horses.Smoke curled from the guards’ eyes and mouths as they lay on the ground with their faces turned toward the sky.
I drew my arms against my side and didn’t move as the horses raced past me.Foam frothed from their mouths as their eyes rolled.It would be a while before they stopped running.
“Keep going!”a woman cried.“We have to keep going!”
Many riders had entered the field, but I couldn’t see most of them anymore.They’d either returned to the palace, dismounted to blend into the crowd, or were homing in on Ellery.
Lightning sizzled over my head before crashing into the parapets and rods again.Stone cracked as she succeeded in taking down more of the wall.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Ellery
Archers duckedbehind what remained of the wall as my lightning slammed into the parapet.More chunks of stone gave way and plummeted to the ground, but thankfully, all the prisoners, who were once near the palace, had succeeded in getting far enough away to avoid the debris.
Ryker sprinted through the crowd that parted to let him pass.The energy encompassing him told me, and anyone seeking to hurt him, exactly where he was.
Many who had ridden into the crowd had dismounted when I started taking them out.Though some of them were visible, either because they were shoving their way forward or women were pointing at them, I couldn’t get a clear enough shot to kill them without injuring someone else.
I buried the brief flare of guilt that rose.If I intended to keep myself and my loved ones safe, then they had to die, but I wished it didn’t have to be like this.
Wishing for anything is useless.
That was so true, but it didn’t change my feelings or that the lightning had become a living, breathing creature seeking to tear its way free.It had no qualms about killing anyone and sought to prove it by unleashing its wrath on the land.
The problem was, I didn’t think it would mind killinganyonewho got in its way.Keep it together.Keep it together.
Gritting my teeth, I struggled to control the lightning as it snapped at the air like an angry dragon guarding its nest.I felt it burning out of my eyes and knew they’d turned the white that Ryker had told me about.
I kept my gaze on Ryker to ensure no guards got too close to him, but also noticed some of the archers reappeared.They were eitherreallybrave or completely petrified about what would happen to them if they failed to protect the palace.
I suspected it was the latter.It was better to die with some honor than to be skinned alive by an irate duke.Ivan may be dead, but they knew something far worse awaited them now.
The second they started to rise, I shot more lightning at them.The archers ducked away again, but not before a few fired off more arrows.
I looked away from the crowd as screams filled the air.I didn’t like killing, but these women were dying because of me.They were here because ofme.
