“I know. Iknow,” I said it the second time to convince myself we had made the right decision, even if guilt haunted me every day. It didn’t work, but that didn’t matter. I had something far more important to deal with right now. “I have to find Ryker.”
“I’m sure he’s fine, Lery,” Scarlet said.
“No, he’s not. Our connection is far weaker than it should be. I can still feel his lightning inside me, so I think he’s still alive, but he’snotokay. Something isverywrong.”
Scarlet and Ianto exchanged a look as they shifted uneasily.
“Then we’ll find him,” Ianto said.
I looked back at the trees and the black dog. I wasn’t sure if they could hear or understand me, but I couldn’t leave without saying something.
“I can’t,” I called out. “I have to find him.”
The dog’s mouth closed; it rose and turned its ass toward us. Without a backward glance, it trotted away before disappearing into the woods.
“Do we follow it?” Scarlet asked.
“No, it made its point,” I said. “Now it would only try to kill us.”
“Let’s avoid that happening,” Ianto said.
Searching within myself, I felt that small tug toward Ryker once more. If anything, it felt weaker. I didn’t know if that was because I was further from him or if something worse had happened.
“This way,” I whispered.
I tried not to give in to the sorrow rising within me as I turned and ran back into the forest. With every step I took, I prayed I wasn’t already too late.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Ryker
I didn’t acknowledgeVal’s blood sliding down my face to drip off my chin or the fading screams of her son as Samael carried him toward the portal. “I can’t take this brat’s yelling anymore. I’m going to take him back,” Samael said to Veni, who gave a brief nod.
Samael vanished through the portal and returned a minute later. He wiped his hands together as if he were glad to be rid of the child.
While I didn’t react, Callan kept saying, “Holy shit,” repeatedly.
He didn’t stop until Tucker leaned over to nudge him. Many of the other captured amsirah wept while one made guttural choking sounds like they were trying not to vomit or sob.
The guard who decapitated Val sheathed his sword and strode over to stand behind the duke. He stared straight at the forest with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Cryton had vanished after they stole his blade from him. He was either sulking in the forest or gathering an army; I hoped itwas the second, but it was probably the first. Poltergeists weren’t known for their emotional maturity, and he was most likely acting like a toddler who’d had their toy ripped away.
“Are we taking them all with us?” Gaius inquired.
The duke rubbed his chin as he studied us before strolling around everyone. When he stopped behind me, it took everything I had not to twist to look at him.
I couldn’t stand the idea of this snake behind my back, but if I turned to look at him, he’d know he’d bothered me. Instead, I remained unmoving, even when he bent to touch my left ring finger. When he pulled it further down, I knew he was studying the metal wedding band I’d forged.
“So, the rumors are true,” he murmured. “Youarea married man.”
I didn’t respond; there was no reason for one when the answer was obvious.
“I must have missed my invitation, son,” he continued.
“The poltergeist must have eaten it,” I replied. “Perhaps he could shit it out for you.”
Callan’s eyes widened on me while Tucker sighed. The duke chuckled as he pushed up and down on my finger.
