I harnessed my power until the flow of energy lessened beneath my feet, and I drifted back to the ground.Lightning still crackled around me, but I’d successfully brought it back under control.
Despite the horror of our situation, my ability to do so filled me with pride.That feeling was short-lived as Ryker reached the circle of women and archers emerged atop the hill.
The women brought down the tornadoes as a loud boom erupted behind us.The scent of gunpowder filled my nostrils as bowstrings twanged, arrows whistled, and women screamed.
When the cannonball didn’t come anywhere near us, I realized most of the cannons and archers were facing away from me.They had no problem with killing the innocents, but they wouldn’t risk destroying me.
I had no doubt the duke had given that order.He’d brought me to heel before by threatening my mother; he knew my weakness was my heart, and he would exploit it.
Instead of drawing energy from the earth, I funneled my power into it.I was under control but couldn’t douse the glow surrounding me.
That glow made me a perfect target, one they would avoid.They would strive to keep me as pristine as possible for the duke and his cohorts.
Without the light surrounding me, they wouldn’t know where I was.That would help them keep their cannonballs and arrows to themselves.
I had my power almost doused when Ryker clasped my arm.Power blazed between us, and a dazzling white light shot high, exposing our location again.
My breath caught as Ryker’s wild energy fueled mine.All the control I’d managed to wrangle dissipated as electricity struck straight to my heart, sending it into a flutter.
The women surrounding us lifted their hands to shield their eyes and looked away as the light touched the sky.My mouth parted, and my breath was a trapped bird in my lungs.
Ryker’s eyes burned into mine as lightning flashed through his black eyes.He was so beautiful, so powerful, and mine.
His hand constricted on my arm as he drew me closer.When he crushed me against him, the bird burst free.The broken bone in my arm ached when my fingers curled into his shirt as I closed my eyes and savored the solace he brought to me.
Our light faded, drawing back into us and vanishing from the day.The women lifted their heads; the amazement on their features more than matched mine.
“Are you okay?”Ryker asked.
“I’m not the one who’s injured.”It wasn’t entirely true, but he was far worse off than me.
“That’s not what I meant.I meant your power; are you okay with it?”
“I’m great, but we can discuss it later.We have to get out of here.”
“Yes, we do.”
“Will you be okay?You’re wounded.”
“That doesn’t matter.I’m getting you out of here.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Ryker
After everything we’d endured,I couldn’t let her go already.When I enfolded Ellery in my arms, my power swelled as it continued to entwine with hers.
Unable to resist, I clasped her cheeks and kissed her.Ever since I’d seen Samael standing in the doorway of the tavern, telling me I had to go with him, I’d feared for her.Now she was in my arms again, and while shit was still awful, it was also better.
After seeing this sea of prisoners, I’d worried we’d never have a moment like this again.While we were far from free, as my lips found hers and the strength of our love flowed between us, I knew nothing but death could tear us apart.
I wanted to stand there and kiss her forever, but death would come a lot sooner if I did.They were coming.
When I broke the kiss, the white glow had faded from Ellery’s eyes, and they’d shifted back to their beautiful, cyan color.The blue-green of them searched my face in wonder.
“I love you,” she whispered.
I kissed her forehead, held her close, and studied the hilltop as more of the guards running across it slammed shields into the earth.Some of the shields had holes in them, and archers had taken positions behind the holes.
