“The trees made itveryclear what they wanted from me when it came to that, and even then, I didn’t listen at first. I was too determined to get to Ryker.”
“But you heard what they were saying.”
“I couldn’t miss it.”
“Some could. Believe in yourself, child, the forest does.”
For some reason, that brought unexpected tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. I was glad someone believed in me, because I was feeling pretty doubtful.
“Why aren’t you angrier about what they did to you?” I inquired. “Why wouldn’t you kill me and Ryker to ensure you can never be trapped again?”
“Oh, we are furious.”
That much was evident in the way Indon’s tone hardened and the way all their faces became as rigid as the stone they resembled.
“And we will get our revenge,” Indon continued.
“How? All those who trapped you have been dead forthousandsof years.”
“But there are still those who seek to trap and imprison others. You are a prisoner, even if no bars surround you.”
“I am.”
“We will get our revenge on all those who think they have the right to treat others so callously. On all those who”—he waved a claw-tipped hand at the land—“think it is okay to steal life from the realm. The amsirah who trapped us are dead, but their legacy lives on and must be stopped.”
“And what about after? What will you do to me then?”
“The forest wants you alive, child. As long as you respect us and it, then we will coincide in harmony. I won’t allow you to harm others without reason.”
“The same goes for you.”
Indon’s smile returned. “Then we are in agreement. What of the other lightning bearer? What do you think he will say about this?”
“As long as you don’t try to kill us or hurt any innocents, then Ryker won’t stand against you.”
“Do you think he’s still alive?”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
Ellery
“I know he is,”I said without hesitation.
“And how do you know this?”
“I can feel him. Not as well as I could when he was still in the woods, and I couldn’t use the connection to track him as I have before, but Ifeelhim. And his lightning is still inside me; I’m not sure if that would be true if he died.”
“His lightning is inside you?”
“Yes. Our powers combined and entwined with each other. I can feel his inside me, and I can draw on its strength to help fuel my lightning.”
“Interesting. I’ve never heard of such a thing happening before, but then I’ve never known two lightning bearers to fall in love before. The rarity of your powers and love has created something new. By opening yourselves up to each other, you’ve allowed your powers to join.”
“My parents were deeply in love, and their powers never joined.”
“Were they lightning bearers?”
“No.”
