If it was between me and Billy, then the choice was obvious.Plus, we all had to get out of here before the duke arrived; there’d be far more bloodshed if we didn’t.
Callan sighed before retreating to the stall; a second later, the lock on the door slid open.Rustling sounds came from behind me before the familiar click of those awful chains broke through it.
“We can’t let you go, Ellery,” Ianto said.
“Yes, you can,” I replied without looking at him.
“Ellery, if you go?—”
“I’ll be fine.”
“We might not get you back.”
“I’ll find my way back.”
I held Gaius’s eyes as I said this.Iwouldfind my way back, even if it meant going through this man to do it.
Once those chains were on, they’d repress my powers again, but I didn’t need lightning to kill him.He might think I did, but that was because he’d always underestimated me; I didn’t doubt he’d continue to do so even after knowing I’d already fooled him once.
This man was too arrogant to believe I could escape from him.He was a moron, and while I’d be at his mercy, I’d make him pay for his stupidity.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
Ellery
When Callan emergedfrom the stall with the clinking chains dangling before him, my skin crawled at the idea of having those things locked around me again.I’d finally accepted my lightning and the amount of power it brought me; I’d finally learned to control it, and Gaius would take it from me again.
I’d kill him for this.
The chains jangled and rattled as Callan drew closer.I didn’t tear my eyes away from Gaius as I held my wrists out for Callan.
“Lery,” Scarlet whispered.“Lery… I don’t… oh.”
She didn’t know what to say.She didn’t want me to do this but wouldn’t sacrifice her brother to keep me here.
I understood.It wasn’t because she didn’t love me; she loved us both, but she couldn’t lose her brother for me, and neither could Ruby.He was an innocent child, and I was a woman who could fight.
I was also far from innocent in all of this.I hadn’t asked to be born different and with these powers, but I was gifted with them, and I’d known what I was doing when I used them and gotten us into this mess.
“Put them on,” I said to Callan.
“I don’t want to.”
“Do it.”
“You can’t let him take you.”
“I won’t let him hurt Billy any more.”
Callan’s gaze flicked to Gaius and then to Ianto.I didn’t look at the giant or the others.I couldn’t stand to see the terror etching their faces.Scarlet and Ruby had fought for me, and now I’d put myself back in chains for them.
“Put on the chains,” I told Callan.
I’d find a way out of this, but Billy mattered most.When no one else spoke, Callan moved closer.He secured first one manacle and then the other around my wrist.
The heavy, hated weight of the chains tried to pull my arms down, but I held them steady before me and grinned at Gaius; I wouldn’t let this fucker think he scared me.His smile didn’t waver, but uneasiness glimmered in his eyes.
“Her ankles too,” Gaius commanded.
