We all looked at Samael, who snorted with laughter. “I risked my life to free you assholes, and you want to go back?”
“Do you want this over?” Ryker asked.
“Yes, but we won’t get past the kitchen without being detected. An alert has already gone out amongst the guards.”
“But they’re focused on the outside because that’s where they think Ellery is.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t be swarming the inside.” Samael’s gaze skimmed the amsirah gathered around us. “A hundred of you?”
“About that,” I said.
“This is suicide, Ryker.”
“This is our chance to get to him. We can’t let it pass.”
Samael’s eyes bored into me. “This is a mistake.”
It probably was a suicide mission, but if we left here, we’d never get inside again. It would turn into a drawn-out war that would only result in the loss of far more lives.
“Not a hundred,” Ryker said. “We won’t be able to move fast enough with that many. It will be just you and me.”
“What? That’s not happening,” Tucker blurted.
“No, it’s not,” I stated.
I glowered at Ryker, who didn’t acknowledge me as his gaze remained focused on Samael. “You know the best ways to get there, and we can move quickly.”
“You’re not going without me,” Ianto stated.
“Too many will only slow us down,” Ryker said.
“It could also help keep you alive,” Tucker retorted.
“It could, but we need leaders outside too.”
Tucker scowled at Ryker’s words. His lips compressed into a thin line as he held back any further arguments.
Samael dropped his forehead into his hands. “I should have left your crazy asses in the dungeon.”
“Too late now,” Ryker said.
“You’re not going without me, and I’m not arguing over this,” I stated. “I understand that you’re trying to protect me, but outside of the gargoyles, I’m the best weapon we have.”
“You are the best weapon we have,” Indon said.
The look Ryker gave him made it clear their delicate truce was on shaky ground.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Ellery
“She is more powerful than any of us know,” Indon continued. “I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but I suspect Tempest somehow discerned there would be a need for her and granted her to us all.”
Ryker stared at Indon for a minute before his gaze shifted to me. He’d been doing better at not fighting me on things like this, but distress radiated from his eyes. He didn’t want me anywhere near the duke, and I didn’t blame him.
He’d been relaxed against me but was now as unyielding as stone. When I lowered my hand to his, I slid my fingers through and squeezed.
“We’re stronger together. Look at what happened the last time we separated,” I said.
