“Your father will be the new king, which makes you the prince of this realm,” a woman whispered from the shadows.“How do we know you’re not working with him?”
Ryker’s jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared.I glowered at them.
“He saved me,” I said hotly.
When Ryker spoke again, he’d regained some control of his temper.“I’ll gladly be the one to put my father in the grave, and he would happily see the same for me.There isnolove between us.Ivan was a tyrant who brutalized this land.My father’s a monster who willdestroyit.”
A murmur ran through the women as they looked at each other.“What about our families?We can’t leave them behind.”
“We can set you free from here, and you can open a portal to return home,” Ryker said.“My father will let you live; it won’t be in peace, but he won’t bring you back to the palace.He knows who the female lightning bearer is now.Other than to feed his cruelty and gather more money, he won’t bother you again… at least not for a little while.
“Besides, he can’t slaughter all the women in Tempest; he’s a soulless prick, but he’s far from stupid.Killing the women would make the men more unruly and destroy the amsirah population.”
“But he will still come for us,” one of the women whispered.
“They’re greedy.They want your land and your money, and he’s going to imprison and torture amsirah for his pleasure, but he won’t imprison all of you again.He already has the information he sought.”Ryker kissed the top of my head.“Once he controls the realm, he’ll focus on hunting us.”
“But we disobeyed him by running away,” another woman said.“It’s not like they won’t know.They hadallof us there.”
A murmur ran through the group as they all exchanged glances.
“I can’t say what he’ll do, but I think he’ll let that go.He doesn’t have any other choice.No one willingly stayed on the battlefield, and he can’t slaughter you all,” Ryker said.“But this is your choice, and we must go.We’ve already stayed here too long, and I have something else to do.”
When he looked at me, I gulped before waving my hands to open a portal to Tucker’s encampment.
“If you’re coming with us, then let’s go,” Ryker commanded.“We have a set of keys and can unchain you there.The other set will free you if you remain.Ellery’s going through first.”
“Ryker—”
Before I could finish protesting, he released my hand and nudged me toward the portal.“Go.The encampment has to see a friendly face emerge first.It will only cause problems if they don’t.”
I hated leaving them behind, but I couldn’t argue with that.Rising on my toes, I kissed his cheek and walked through the portal with Scarlet and Ruby on my heels.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Ryker
A few dozenwomen walked through the portal to join us at Tucker’s encampment, but just as many remained standing in the shadows.Before I left, the tall woman who’d also presented a set of keys approached me.
“I’m going home because I have a husband and son,” she said, “but I want to help and fight with you.”
“Thank you.It’s going to take some time before we’re ready to make a stand against them.We need weapons and an army, but wewillfight them.”
“When you’re ready, I’ll be there, and my husband will too.Manyof us will be.”
To my astonishment,allthe women nodded enthusiastically.“We have nothing left to give them,” one said.
More nods followed her words.
“What will they take from us next?”the tall woman asked.
“Whatever they can,” I answered honestly.“But if they come for you, open a portal into the Revenant Woods.Once there, find a poltergeist, tell them you’re looking for me and need help.They’ll know how to find me and let me know you’re there.”
“A poltergeist will?”
“Not all of them, but if you keep searching, you’ll find one who will.Many of them are helping us, and I promise you, you’ll find one of them.”
Tears filled the woman’s eyes before she bowed her head.
