Eyes of Ember (Imdalind Series #2)(111)

“Jos? Sweetheart? What’s wrong?” His voice was kind and gentle, but I didn’t trust it. He had played this game on me before, only to end up hurting me.

“G-go a...a...away.” I tried to make my voice strong, knowing from the start that it wouldn’t work.

“Jos? I’m not going to hurt you, honey.” His voice was pleading, but I couldn’t stop moving away from him. Ryland was now leaning against the foot of the bed, his body posed as he prepared to crawl towards me over the bed.

I howled as he moved onto the bed, my voice making noises that had no recognition in any language in an attempt to get him away from me.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay. I had to see you. I had to know you were all right. After everything that Cail did…”

“Go Away!” I was surprised at my own voice, but tried hard not to let it show.

I balled my fingers into fists, grateful my fear kept me from attacking him, but not knowing if it was the right choice. I wanted to attack him.

“Jos! I’m not going to hurt you!” he yelled in frustration. He was practically on top of me now, my heart felt like it was going to beat right through me with how hard it was thumping in my chest.

We both stayed silent at his outburst, my breathing ragged, his heavy. He didn’t remove his eyes from mine as I watched him calculate what to do with me. I tried to find the power to fight back, but my fear kept me restricted. Then we both heard it, yelling voices in the hall.

I recognized them both immediately. I had heard them enough. Ilyan and Ovailia. My eyes widened as Ryland looked at me, a million different puzzle pieces clicking into place. But the picture still didn’t make any sense.

“Ovi…Ovailia b-brought y-you hee...here?” I tried to speak beyond the panic, but I wasn’t quite sure it was working. Ryland’s eyes softened, as if he himself had made some great breakthrough.

“Yes. Ilyan wouldn’t let me see you. I needed to see you, Jos. You are all I think about. One of the only memories I have left.” I could see the heartbreak in his face. And for one moment, I almost pitied him. I almost understood him. But even if I had wanted to, I still couldn’t trust him. I still waited for him to hurt me. I still fought the desire to hurt him.

“Ilyan p—protec-cts me.” I had wanted to explain to Ryland how safe Ilyan made me, that he was doing what I needed, but Ryland’s face changed.

His eyes grew dark, and I watched his body shake. In turn, mine went into a further panic. What little calm I had been able to find was washed away.

“Ilyan hides you from me!” He rose up above me, his shoulders squaring dangerously.

“N-no!” I tried to move further away from him, but his legs had pinned me down. I was trapped.

“Yes! He wants you all to himself as he feeds you lies about how dangerous I am – how mean I am! Even though I would never hurt you. Ilyan made you break our Z?lství!” Ryland’s yell rose as I continued to panic.

“N-no!”

“Ovailia was right.” He roared at me, and I almost missed what was coming. His fist pulled back as the skin of his hand glowed red, his magic fueling his anger as he moved to punch me.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t make my magic respond. I stared at him, tears flowing down my cheeks. The part of me that still held out hope that this was not the Ryland that hunted me died when he moved to do that which I had come to believe he always did. Hurt me.

His fist moved toward me at a speed I couldn’t even comprehend, the knuckles making contact with the side of my face. I howled at the impact. My voice rising up as burning pain spread through my skull, as I fought to get away from what Ryland would do next. Before either of us could make another move, a gust of wind flew through the room and lifted Ryland off of me. I didn’t look to see who had rushed in, I only howled as I rolled off the bed onto the ancient stone and slid myself underneath the heavy wooden bed.

Hiding was my first defense now. It felt safe here. I could feel the pressure of both the bed and the floor pushing against me. I tried to keep my breathing and cries to a minimum in the hope of not being found, but I was not sure it mattered. Ilyan and Ovailia’s raised voices had entered the room, the screaming match in Czech having only intensified at what they found.

“But he didn’t hurt her did he?” Ovailia yelled as she transitioned smoothly to English.

“Ovailia, he punched her when I came into the room!” I heard Ilyan’s feet move toward me, his stocking feet coming into sight. I cringed at the possibility that he would pull me out. But he stayed there, guarding my hiding place.

“I didn’t see that.” Ovailia lied, I heard Ryland chuckle next to her and my insides stiffened.

“He’s going to lie anyway, Ovailia. He’s been feeding her lies. Just as you said.” I stuffed my fist in my mouth at the sound of Ryland’s voice to keep from screaming.

“What lies have you been telling him, Ovailia?” Ilyan asked, the amount of fear in his voice alarming.

“Nothing much. Two can play at this game, Ilyan.” Her voice was sweet as honey but I knew better. Because this wasn’t a game, no matter how many times Cail had told me that.

Cail.

Without warning I began to howl again. My safe place suddenly felt like a prison. I could hear Ovailia laughing beyond my screams.

“I want you out, Ovailia! Leave the Abbey, and take your games with you,” Ilyan roared above my yells. I could just make out Ovailia’s laugh as Ilyan removed her and placed the door back in place.