Page 95 of A Tempest of Shadows

I was aware of the many obstacles that stood in our way… my father, for one, and our inability to leave this realm, for another, but I didn’t care. I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe and with me.

If that was love, then so be it.

My father’s castle came into view when I crested the top of another hill. Some of my happiness deflated, but not all of it.

I rode through the outer gates and into the bailey, where I dismounted Xanthus, patted his neck, and watched him trot back out of the castle and toward the fields. I envied his freedom before I turned and strode toward the castle’s large, double wooden doors.

They opened before I reached them, and the servant on the other side bowed low to me. “Welcome back, milord.”

“Thank you.”

Although, nothing was welcoming about this place. I stalked down the hall toward the stairs leading to my rooms above. Before I got to them, my father emerged from his solar.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he demanded.

I didn’t bother to stop as I strode past him. “In case you didn’t notice, Father, there was a magnetic storm.”

“You stop walking when I’m talking to you!” he roared.

I took five more steps before pausing to look at him over my shoulder. “What do you want?”

“Where have you been going, and what have you been doing?”

“Don’t worry, Father, I haven’t left the realm.”

His expression became one I recognized from when he used to beat me as a child. At one point, it would have made me quiver. Now, I fisted my hands because if he came at me, I’d beat him until nothing remained.

I doubted any of the servants would try to pull me off him. All of them had felt the sting of his whip too.

When he didn’t move, I turned toward the stairs again. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need clothes and money.

“You have a duty to this land and me!” my father yelled after me.

“I don’t owe you shit.”

I didn’t look back at him as I ascended toward my room. I knew he was infuriated, but I didn’t care.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

Ellery

Over the next two weeks, while we said we were hunting for the Hooded Robber, Ryker and I spent more time stealing moments for ourselves in the forest or at his father’s castle. When he first suggested the castle, I resisted the idea. Eventually, the promise of a bed over the ground, and the ability to lie somewhere and relax with him, won out over my apprehension.

I worried the duke would find out and everything would explode around us. Despite the bubble we’d created, I held no illusions the duke would ever welcome me in his home or his son’s life.

He clearly considered me and my family as lesser than him. If he ever found out about us, he’d find a way to end it, but I preferred not to think about that.

I lived for every second we spent together in this bubble of happiness we’d created. Most of the time, I could pretend it would always be like this, but sometimes reality crept in.

During those times, I knew this would all come to a crashing end that would destroy me both physically and emotionally. It was inevitable.

There were too many differences between us and too many lies. And while he knew about the differences and chose to ignore them, he didn’t know about the lies and would never forgive me if he did.

I should have been smarter about this, guarded my heart better, and kept my distance from him, but I hadn’t expected this connection to develop between us. When we first met, I hadn’t expected to like him, never mind fall in love with him.

And that’s exactly what I’d done.

I hated it when we parted, as the nights were endless without him, but I didn’t feel right sneaking him into my home. My mother might have let him in if she knew what was happening between us.