I smirked when one of his eyes twitched. Much to the duke’s annoyance, I’d spent a lot of time hunting the Hooded Robber after Ellery robbed me.
“I’d heard that rumor,” the duke said.
I rested my back against the wall and stretched my legs out before me on the cot. “It’s the truth. Of course, I didn’t know it was her until she told me. She’s good like that. So, while you think you’re hunting her, I can assure you that she’s already hunting you.”
“The past doesn’t matter; what matters is the future, and her future lies withme.”
“Or your future lies at the end of one of her lightning bolts.”
His jaw moved back and forth as his teeth ground together before he strode away. “Bring me the minstrel,” he commanded.
I shouldn’t have antagonized him before he turned his attention to Callan. If we somehow survived this, I would apologize to the musician for it, but Ilovedpissing that man off.
One day, if I had my way, it would behimon the other end of the whip. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the one who would pay now.
Rising away from the wall, I pushed on the place of my missing finger as a lock clicked, the door clanged, and manacles snapped into place. Only seconds later, a whip slashed into Callan’s flesh.
It took only four lashes before Callan cried out. I bowed my head as I listened to his screams and rubbed at my wound. Even though it no longer physically hurt to do so, the reminder of all I’d lost was an emotional toll that tangible pain could never match.
One day, I’d cut away pieces of the duke.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Ellery
My mouth watered asthe power continued to course through my body. It built higher and higher until I was sure it would explode out of me on a burst of blinding white light as my electricity erupted out of me.
It’s mine. It’s all mine!
But it isn’t. It’s not meant for you; it’s meant for them!
You’re a thief, but you can’t steal this.
The rational little voice I’d cursed earlier managed to break through the haze of yearning that had become an all-encompassing thing within me. It brought me back from the edge of a precipice I hadn’t realized I teetered on until reality returned.
With trembling hands, I threw the stone back at the pedestal. It clattered across the top and teetered on the edge before falling over the side.
When it clanked against the stone floor, my heart leapt into my throat and lodged there as it choked me. I waited for thestone to destroy everything, but it only rattled back and forth for a few seconds before going still.
From where I stood, the pedestal blocked my view of it, but its pulse picked up in speed again before the red light flashed over the land. The seconds turned into minutes as I stood there, trying to regain control of my riotous heart.
I had to get that stone to the gargoyles, but I dreaded going anywhere near it again, never mind touching it. I remained frozen by indecision. And every second that ticked by was one more second Ryker was at the mercy of his asshole father.
Stop being a coward, Ellery. You’ve never been one before, and now isn’t the time to start. MOVE!
However, I wasn’t sure I could trust myself to touch the stone again. Would it try to take control of me once more if I picked it up?
The possibility frightened me, but nowhere near as much as the idea of coming all the way here to walk away without any way of helping Ryker and the others.Children are counting on you. Do something!
I didn’t have a choice; I had to lift the stone. Bracing myself to get close to the gem again, I took a deep breath, walked around the podium, and stared down at the pulsing heart.
You can do this. You can do it for Ryker and all the others. Tucker and Callan are imprisoned too, and everyone else is sitting underground, slowly rotting. If you don’t do this, we’ll lose everything.
And if you do, it could also all be over. Why would the gargoyles keep you alive?
I really hated that voice of reason. It had some good points, but it was an annoying bitch.
Since I’d always trusted my instincts before, I decided to do so now. I could get this stone to the gargoyles, and they would help us.
