Page 92 of A Tempest of Shadows

This man was a steel rod of strength I greatly admired. I would do anything to protect him, yet I was betraying him.

“I’m glad you broke free,” I breathed.

This could only end in flames for us, but those were the truest words I’d ever spoken. Everything was a mess, but in his arms, I was happy, safe, and able to pretend nothing could tear us apart when so many things could.

In this small bubble we’d created, he wasn’t the son of a duke, and I wasn’t the Hooded Robber. We were just us, and everything was so simple.

“Brokk was the one who initiated our escape,” he said.

“He’s the dark fae prince, right?”

“Yes, he’s also half vampire and the brother of the King of the Shadow Realms. He’s a good man I’m proud to consider a friend.”

I liked anyone who had helped him escape that place where those monsters put him to rot. “I’d heard there was a new Queen of the Shadow Realms, but it didn’t matter much. It was good to know the mad Lord doesn’t rule us anymore and we wouldn’t have to worry about the dragons attacking… or at least I hope we won’t.”

“We won’t.”

“Good, but with everything falling apart around us here, a new queen didn’t make much of a difference.”

“I suppose it didn’t.”

He kissed the top of my head before nuzzling my temple. My eyes closed as he released my hand to wrap his arms around me. Safe. This is where I belong.

The certainty of that made me want to cry. It’s where I belonged but could never stay.

“I watched the ophidians kill Leo,” he murmured.

I stiffened as my head turned until our gazes met. Sorrow etched his features and filled his eyes. The lost, broken look on his face squeezed my heart. “Ryker⁠—”

“Brokk and the new queen raised an army to go after the ophidians and Leo. The dragons helped us fight, and we destroyed the ophidians, but not before the emperor beheaded Leo with his tongue.

“I watched my king, who was my best friend, fall. I watched his head bounce down the rocks toward me, while his body remained behind. I was there. I was so close to saving him, and I failed.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

Ellery

My mouth parted at this revelation as my mind spun for a response. “I knew you fought beside King Leonidas during the war, but I didn’t know you were so close.”

“I was twenty-five when I joined the king’s army and the son of the only duke left in the land. At first, I was treated like the other soldiers because I insisted on it, but over time, I moved up through the ranks and separated myself more. And I also grew closer to the king.

“There were often nights, before the war, we’d go out drinking and carousing together. Usually, not in Tempest, as no one would leave him alone if he tried to go into the taverns here, so we traveled the realms. We got into fights, we protected each other, and we spent many nights talking, planning, and sharing stories.

“Over time, he became more than a mentor and father figure to me. He was my friend, one of the few I trusted completely, and I knew he felt the same about me.

“One night, after a nasty battle against the ghouls, we were both badly wounded and healing from our injuries as we sat by the fire, sipping wine. Leo was unusually melancholy and made me promise that if anything ever happened to him, I would look over Tempest and keep the amsirah safe.

“I considered it a foolish request at the time, but I humored him and told him I would protect the realm. Leo was larger than life, strong, and unwavering; I didn’t think anything could destroy him. I was wrong. And now, after what Ivan and the aristocrats have done to the realm, I don’t know how to keep my promise.”

I stared at him as his words sank in and unexpected anger bloomed in me. “It wasn’t fair of him to ask that of you. What are you supposed to do against the newly crowned king and the rulers of this realm?”

“I don’t know, but I will find a way to uphold my promise.”

I managed to stop myself from scowling. Ryker considered King Leonidas a friend, and I thought he was an asshole for putting that burden on Ryker when the fallen king must have known his brother was a complete asshole.

However, there was no way King Leonidas could have foreseen what his brother and the aristocrats would unleash on us. He’d chosen Ryker for that promise because he was powerful and a good man. Still, it wasn’t fair Ryker was beating himself up over this.

“Maybe, instead of putting that kind of pressure on you, he could have used his many years of life to create a legitimate heir to rule the realm after him. If he had, he could have raised the child to be a good ruler. It was his mistake for not doing so, and since he failed to do it, then he should have killed his greedy asshole of a brother. Everyone in Tempest has always known Ivan is an idiot,” I said angrily.