Eyes of Ember (Imdalind Series #2)(31)

Ilyan looked at me one last time before flying away, directly toward his father who stood in the middle of the busy street.





Ten


Ilyan shot through the air like a bullet to land gracefully a few steps away from Cail and who stood protectively around Edmund in the middle of the main road.

The three faced each other in anticipation. I could feel the pressure of the situation, even from a distance, their words flowing up to me much louder than I would have expected.

“Hello, Son,” Edmund crooned, and I cringed at how happy and normal he sounded. The impending battle didn’t seem to bother him at all.

“Father.” Ilyan’s voice was tense and I could tell he was gauging what he should do. Part of me hoped he flew back to gather me up and fly away.

Cail silently paced in front of Edmund, his body tense and ready, his eyes moving from Ilyan to the street around him as he searched for me. I instinctively held my breath and controlled my jitters.

“I hear you stole something that belongs to your Brother,” Edmund continued as if Ilyan’s tense voice had been nothing but a casual greeting.

“I stole nothing. I am simply holding it for safe keeping.” Ilyan ground his foot into the ground and for one ridiculous moment I was reminded of an old time gun fight. I shook my head at the thought. This was no ordinary gun fight, this was much more serious.

“Hmmm, that is not what I hear,” I saw Ilyan flinch a bit at Edmund’s words, his back tensing. “Stop that, Cail, you’re going to wear me out.”

Edmund gave one casual swipe of his hand and Cail stopped pacing immediately. Moving himself to stand in front of Edmund, he never let his dark eyes leave Ilyan as he moved.

“Yes, master.”

This time I flinched.

At the Rugby game, and even in the ballroom of the mansion, I had never seen Cail respond that way to Edmund. It may have been that I wasn’t paying close enough attention, but he didn’t strike me as the subservient type. I had only seen Cail act that way around Edmund in my dreams, and the fact that my subconscious rendering of him could have been that precise made me uncomfortable.

“Don’t move,” I said to myself, as if my own voice would be able to help me keep still.

“Well, job well done I’d say. She’s safe. You’re safe. Everyone’s happy, and we are here to collect.” Even though his words were still upbeat, Edmund’s voice had begun to darken.

“I don’t think so,” Ilyan said darkly, as if Edmund’s words had been some great joke. The sound reverberated up to me, making the whole street sound as if it was haunted.

“I was afraid of that,” Edmund sighed, his feet stepping back as he moved himself out of the way.

“Cail.” Cail stepped forward at Edmund’s words, his eyes not leaving Ilyan’s in sudden anticipation. “Restrain him.”

“With pleasure.”

Ilyan bowed his back slightly in preparation for Cail’s assault.

Cail turned to face Ilyan with a stream of power and light shooting out of his fingers. Ilyan didn’t dodge. He simply stepped gracefully out of the way. The energy, however, continued on and slammed into a supporting beam of the cantina’s outdoor overhang.

The Salsa music was replaced by screams as the roof to the patio collapsed. Ilyan lifted his hand and detached the entire roof, sending it flying toward Cail. The screams from the people in the cantina increased as the air seemed to explode around them.

The roof made contact, sending Cail to the ground. The pile of wood, fabric, and fairy lights sat in a crumpled heap in the middle of the street.

Edmund clapped his hands as if he was enjoying the show, and I knew why the second I looked down to the street.

With the roof to the cantina gone, a stationary dark figure stood alone in the center of the once crowded restaurant.

My heart beat was disconnected at seeing Ryland there. As Ilyan turned to face him, I took a step forward without thinking, the shield wavering at my movement. I hesitated. I didn’t know what I wanted. Did I want to be near him? Did I want to fight him? Or did I want to save him? What did I actually think I could do?

My whole body shook as I struggled through my options. My mind called for one action and my heart for another.

“Ryland,” I whispered.

I stepped back, hoping my movement hadn’t broken Ilyan’s shield. My magic pulsed and flowed with more heat and power than I had ever felt, but still I knew it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t even mark Ilyan without playing dirty, and tricks like that with the possessed Ryland would get me killed. I clenched my fists and focused on Ilyan’s slow movements toward Ryland, trying to keep my thoughts off of my inability to help.

Before Ilyan could move too far toward Ryland, the shattered remains of the cantina roof exploded into fragmented bits, leaving Cail standing in the rubble. Distracted by the commotion, my eyes flew back to where Ryland had stood a moment before. The now empty dining area was devoid of any dark haired men.

Raw fear rippled through me, taking my breath and logic away. Ryland was coming to find me. I stood still, listening to the beat of my heart, expecting Ryland to come around a corner at any moment.

Ilyan must have jumped to the same conclusion because he began to battle Cail, his eyes scanning around for Ryland while also keeping tabs on his Father, who seemed content to let Cail do his dirty work.