Through the crush of women, I spotted more guards shoving their way toward me.If they were closer, I could unleash my lightning on them, but I couldn’t do so now with all these women surrounding me.
I had no weapons; they took them from me before I met with Ivan.All I had was my weathers, and while bringing forth some rain would provide a distraction, it wasn’t enough of one to risk stopping to create it.
I was sure some of these women would help, but the chains kept their powers suppressed and hindered their ability to fight.If the opportunity arose, I’d get a weapon, but I couldn’t stop trying to reach Ellery to find one.
The twang of strings and whistle of arrows alerted me that another torrent of bolts had been unleashed.Many women threw themselves to the ground to make themselves a smaller target.
When they did so, I leapt over their backs, twisting into a ball and rolling a few feet before being halted by bodies.This time, I couldn’t avoid taking an arrow to the thigh.
Gritting my teeth, I bit back a grunt as I grasped my leg.Screams filled the air as the rest of the arrows thudded into bodies or pounded into the ground.
Those screams resonated in my ears as I snapped off the arrow shaft.It would be a bitch to cut out later, but I didn’t have the time to dig it out now, and I couldn’t have it getting in my way.
I was tired of being a pincushion to arrows, but it could have been worse.Raising my hands, I unleashed more lightning on the archers as they reloaded.
While the bolts crashed into the rods again, it took out two more of the archers and propelled the others back.Some ducked behind the wall, but they wouldn’t stay there long.
As I was turning away from them, another guard emerged from the crowd with his sword raised as he charged.Electricity flowed through me as his blade descended in a deadly arc toward my head.
CHAPTERFOUR
Ellery
I jerkedat the chains shackling me and my powers.“I have to get these off!”
My broken arm was healing, but it wasn’t happening fast enough, and my violent movements created a jarring pain through my shoulder that radiated into my jaw.I didn’t care about my suffering; I only cared about getting to Ryker.
“I have to help him!”I cried.
“Here,” Ruby said.
She seized the chain connecting my manacles and dragged it toward the ground.She must not know about my broken arm or was in too much of a rush to care, but either way, I didn’t protest.
Ruby placed the manacles on a rock on the ground.Her fingers scrabbled over the grass that had been churned into dirt before discovering another rock.
She pulled it free of the dancing feet surrounding us without getting her fingers stomped on and lifted it over her head.I winced but didn’t say a word as she brought the rock down on the lock keeping the manacles clasped around my wrist.
With determination etching her features, she continued bashing the rock into the lock as the crowd streamed around us.The prisoners were like trapped animals with wolves bearing down on them; they couldn’t decide if they should run, remain meek, or maybe play dead.
So far, they weren’t crushing us, but that wouldn’t last as their rising panic reverberated against me.As their feet shuffled around us, our chances of getting trampled increased with every passing second.
“He killed the king,” I breathed.“Ryker killed the king.”
Sweat beaded Ruby’s brow when she glanced up at me.Strands of red hair had fallen from her bun to frame her pretty face; her warm brown eyes shone with determination.
“He did it for you,” she said.
The crowd pressing close to us shut out the sun.They reeked of body odor, piss, and the sharp tang of terror.
Over their muffled cries, arrows whistled as they flew.My heart leapt into my throat as screams echoed through the day.
Despite the heat of the August sun beating down on us, I was suddenly cold.The icy chill permeated my skin, seeping into my muscles and deep into my bones.
I couldn’t see past the legs surrounding us, but those arrows were shot at Ryker.Those screams were coming from the women near Ryker and possiblyhim.
They were all suffering because of monsters determined to uncoverme.And Ryker could die.
I can’t lose him.
