Then she went to work on digging the arrow out.When she finally succeeded in removing it Ruby cleaned and bandaged the wound.
When she finished, Tucker returned.He didn’t have to say anything; the look on his face told me I’d sent him too late.
Guilt tugged at me as I bit out a curse.I should have thought of Dahlia sooner, but I’d been so focused on the weapons room and Ellery that I failed to save the woman who’d helped me.
“Fuck!” I hissed.
Tucker knelt beside me to inspect the gash in my side.“She could still be alive; the bordello was on fire, and I saw no signs of anyone, not even bodies.They might have taken her.”
“If they did, she’d be better off dead.”
Tucker didn’t argue with me.He knew well what it was like to be imprisoned and at the mercy of those who took joy in others’ suffering.
“Then we will save her,” Tucker said.
I rested my head against the tree as Tucker prodded my side.Dahlia was one more amsirah I’d failed, and there were so many more hoping I would save them.I wouldn’t let them down.And if she was alive, I’d save her.
“This is healing nicely,” Tucker said.
“It will be fine by tomorrow,” I assured him.
“Are you going to tell us what happened with Ivan?”
His question created a stillness in the camp that wasn’t there before.After arriving here, I doubted the women had much time to tell their story.
But now everyone was on pins and needles.Those who hadn’t been close enough to originally hear the question caught the whispers of it spreading through camp until, eventually, most of the amsirah stilled before coming closer.
Some women who’d fled the palace with us also came closer.“We haven’t said much,” one of the women said.“There wasn’t time.”
That was understandable, as it had all happened so fast.And now we were wanted criminals hiding deep in the Revenant Woods and about to start a war.I’d prefer to take Ellery to my tree house and settle her in so she could rest more comfortably, but I couldn’t risk waking her.
“Well, there’s plenty of time now,” I said as I held Ellery closer while they settled in to hear the tale of Ivan’s demise.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Ellery
I woketo a crackling fire only ten feet away.The last thing I remembered was feeling so cold I was sure I’d die from it, but now I was enveloped in a warm blanket and Ryker’s strong arms.
Many of Tucker’s followers were gathered around the largest fire, exchanging ale and pieces of a buxon they cut free and placed on a wooden plate.Despite everyone being slightly more subdued than usual, a jovial air enshrouded them as they clanked the tankards together.
I pushed myself up a little, and Ryker shifted to ensure I remained comfortable.“How are you feeling?”he asked.
I took stock of myself as I pondered this.My side still throbbed from where Gaius sliced me—that was a memory I hoped never to relive.The rest of me had healed while I slept.
“Better,” I told him.
I was relieved to discover that my breath didn’t wheeze out on the word, and speaking didn’t shoot fire through me anymore.When I twisted to look at him, the movement pulled at my side, and I winced before I could stop myself.
Ryker’s silver eyes darkened, and I lifted a hand and rested my palm against his stubble-roughened cheek.“I’m doing much better.”
He grunted as he surveyed me.“I shouldn’t have let you go without me.”
“You didn’t have a choice.”
“I could have?—”
“No, you couldn’t.I’ve always been free, Ryker; even my parents knew that.Don’t try to trap me.”
