“Why would they hurt him because of you?”
“Because his father wants my power for himself, much like my ancestors wanted the stone for themselves. He thinks that if he tortures Ryker, I’ll go to him.”
“Will you?”
“No… I… oh… no, I can’t. If I went to the duke, I’d be condemning the realm to the tyranny of all those running it. And in the end, it wouldn’t save Ryker; it would only destroy us both. I’d do anything to save him, but that won’t do it.”
“And the duke rules the realm?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to the kings and queens?”
“Leo was our king, but the ophidians killed him. When that happened, his brother Ivan became king. Ryker killed him.”
“Why?”
“To save me.”
I told him about everything that had come to pass recently in Tempest, from the Ghoul War to Leo’s death. I revealed the curse that had trapped us all here, except the nobles, and how Ivan had captured all the women in the realm to find the lightning bearer, and why Ryker killed him.
“After Ivan died, Ryker’s father assumed control of the realm. He’s the only duke in the land and the most ruthless of all the aristocrats; Tempest will have to be pried from his cold, dead hands before he gives up an ounce of control.”
“And if that happens, who will rule?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who do you think should rule?”
I sighed as I studied the land while pondering this. “I think the amsirah should decide that. They should all have an equal say in what happens in this land. The time for kings and queens is over. We’re fighting for our freedom; if we get it, then we should use it to decide our future together.”
“That sounds like a lofty goal.”
“It sounds like something we’re going to have to bleed to achieve, but I hope we can.”
“Nothing worth having ever comes easy, and freedom is the greatest gift of all.”
When he turned his face to the sky, my heart ached for all of them. I pried my fingers off the branch, and though I hated the way it trembled beneath me, I still stretched my hand toward him and grasped his arm.
He was as hard as stone beneath my palm but surprisingly warm. I’d expected him to be cool like a stone, but his temperature was hotter than mine.
“It is the greatest gift,” I said as I squeezed his arm. It didn’t move like normal flesh beneath my hand, but I knew he could feel it as he looked at my hand and then at me. “And you will keep it.”
“I hope so, child.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Ellery
When another gustshook my branch, I snatched my hand away to cleave like a burr to the swaying tree. I gulped down my apprehension and focused on our conversation to distract myself from musings of plummeting to my death.
“Ivan had no children, but Leo did,” I said. “They weren’t legitimate, and he kept them hidden, but the duke learned about one of them when Leo suggested Ryker marry his daughter. The duke refused, but he sent men to discover if there were more children out there; he had them all killed, except one. Her name’s Bria, she’s half dark fae and the duke’s fiancée.”
This drew the attention of all the gargoyles, but it was Indon who spoke again. “The duke is engaged to this woman.”
“Yes. I think, if he got his hands on me, he’d kill her, as he sees me as the path to more power, but if she survives, then she is the rightful heir to the throne.”
“Do you think she should become queen?”
