Unprepared for the sudden, slippery surface, some of the horses lost their footing when the snow packed into their hooves, sending them crashing down. The riders either launched from their saddles or were crushed beneath the toppling horses.
Some of the guards tried to use their wind to push it back, but while they managed to deter it a little, they couldn’t stop its destruction. Before it reached them, they turned and fled.
Lightning fired from the tornado as it swept across the land. Its deafening roar sucked all other sounds out of the air as it churned up the earth, sending chunks of dirt and rock everywhere.
The wind howled, and lightning lashed out of the growing funnel, striking down anyone in its path. On the other side of the carriage, Ellery formed another tornado of lightning and set it free on all those seeking to harm us.
Wind and snow tore at my hood and clothes, soaking them to my skin, but the worst of her weathers were unleashed on the guards. We’d been working to strengthen and build Ellery’s confidence in her abilities, so I’d seen what she could do, but I’d never witnessed it unleashed in this magnitude.
With the threat of the guards closest to us eradicated—for now—the others all stood and gawked at the fantastic spectacle of two tornadoes, full of lightning, churning across the snow-covered earth. I’d never seen anything like it before.
She was a truly powerful, amazing being, and I had to get her out of here. I shifted my attention from the storm to Ellery as she twisted her hands to create another powerful rush of wind.
The cold current of air rushed past us as hail the size of small stones pelted the field. The guards yelped as the ice hammered them; it drove back all those who’d dismounted and were now coming across the field toward us.
Many of the guards were trapped in the blizzard, but that wouldn’t last. They’d find their way out, and we had to be away from here when they did.
“Get the money!” I yelled.
I glanced behind me as I sprinted for the carriage. Since no more arrows were being fired on the land, I suspected they were still trying to get their bearings and were unsure of where to shoot now. They were probably moving forward, hoping to break free of the storm.
I only made it a few feet before more guards appeared on the roads ahead and behind us. I shot lightning at the ones at the back of the carriage, but the vehicle blocked the ones in the front. Unless I wanted to set fire to the chests, I couldn’t get to those soldiers.
As we ran for the carriage, Ellery shifted her attention to the guards on the road. The lightning she rained down from above drove back the archers trying to set up there.
The lightning didn’t encompass her like it had when she was on the field with all the other women; she wasn’t drawing on her ability enough for it to take over in such a way. Instead, having gained confidence and strength in her abilities, she kept complete control as she unleashed her powers on the land.
I couldn’t see her face, and her hair remained trapped beneath the hood, but the pure beauty of her wild soul emanated from her. This was the woman who thrived in the Revenant Woods, a place of monsters and death.
This was the woman who’d stolen my heart and become my wife, and she wasmagnificent.
Sensing my attention, her head turned toward me. “Go!” she shouted.
I grinned before turning and sprinting for the carriage. She had this under control.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ellery
Power coursedthrough my body as the weathers stormed around me. There was so much of it, right here at my fingertips, and I craved unleashing it on all those who’d dare to attack us. While it didn’t consume me, as it had in the past, I had to consciously keep it under control.
I didn’t feel like my abilities would take me over, but if they did get out of hand, they could do a lot of damage to Tempest. We were too close to the fishing village of Seacrest to take such risks, even as my body thrummed formore.
And as the power invigorated me, I knew Icouldhave more. I felt the energy pulsing beneath my feet, vibrating against my fingertips, and crackling through the air like little waves of static electricity.
Instead of being an unpleasant, prickling sensation, this wasexhilaratingas tingles ran over my skin. The air felt so alive that its particles danced before me. Those particles reflected the colors of a rainbow and were letting me know I could take from them if necessary.
There was so much power in Tempest, and it wasmineto draw forth and unleash on all those who’d dared oppress us. And I would make them pay for taking everything we had and caging us here.
Movement on my left drew my attention to the guards emerging from the blizzard. Snow covered them as their shoulders hunched forward, and they struggled to break free of the storm.
Some of the horses remained mounted while other guards fled over the hills, and still more skidded down the knolls before toppling or breaking free of the storm. They were coming, and while I could keep them at bay for a little longer, it was time to get out of here.
Some of them released snow and rain on us and the wind was starting to pick up, but most were too panicked to cause any real damage. I wiped the rain from my brow before twisting my hand to send the water back toward them.
Ryker and the others emerged from the carriage, carrying more chests. Because of the close-fitting spaces between the hills, we’d known it would be impossible to steal the carriage during this robbery like we had with our last.
Because of that, we couldn’t take as much carisle with us this time. However, we hadn’t anticipated the carriage carrying guards. That revelation meant that even if we could take the conveyance, we still wouldn’t have gotten as much money from this robbery as our last.
