Page 18 of A Tempest of Intrigue
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
Her dismay shifted toward anger. “Who else knows?”
“All of Tucker’s followers know. After what happened last night, there was no way to keep it from them.”
“So, a bunch of strangers knew about this beforeme?”
“This wasn’t the way I wanted it to come out. I would have preferred to keep my ability hidden and to tell you about it first, but I had to save them.”
Scarlet rested her hand against her forehead and closed her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I was scared of what would happen when others found out, and so were my parents. Now that they know a female lightning bearer exists, the aristocrats and Ivan will come after me with everything they have. They would have taken me away if they’d somehow learned about this while I was a child.”
When she lifted her head, her eyes narrowed on me. “I never would have toldanyoneabout this.”
“I know, Scarlet. I trust you with my life. I trusted you with the knowledge of the Hooded Robber, and I trust you with this, but there was no reason to put you at risk by burdening you with this knowledge when you didn’t have to be. And I’m scared of my ability and what will happen to me if they learnI’mthe lightning bearer and capture me.”
Some of her ire faded as sympathy shone through. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been living with. I’m frightened for you, but it hurts that you kept this from me.”
“I know.”
When she gave me a tremulous smile, some of my tension eased. She was still upset, but we would get past this.
“Ryker must have almost shit himself when he saw what you could do,” she said.
I shifted uneasily; I’d also have to tell her the truth. “He already knew.”
The look of betrayal that descended over her face caused my heart to sink.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ellery
“You toldhim before you told me?” Tears choked her voice and swam in her eyes.
“Scarlet—”
“We’ve been friends for twenty-three years. We’ve been throughhelltogether, and I thought we told each other everything. Don’t you trust me?”
“I do!”
“But not enough to tell me this big secret about you before telling someone you’ve only known for months. You trustedhimmore thanme.”
“No, that’s not why he knew before you!” I rushed to get out. “I told Ryker so he would believe I was the Hooded Robber and help me free my mother from the king. When I was running from him in the woods, I had to use my ability against him, so he already knew the Hooded Robber was a lightning bearer before I revealed it was me.”
“But I didn’t.”
“Scarlet, I’m sorry.”
She stared at me before turning on her heel and walking away. I didn’t move as she vanished among the tall stalks.
A small breeze rustled the corn around me; its whisper was the only sound in the increasingly humid day. I was losing everyone I loved, but this time, it was because ofmyactions.
I rubbed the spot over my aching heart as I resisted the urge to chase after Scarlet and beg for her understanding, but would I understand if our roles were reversed? We’d trusted each other with all our secrets… or at least she had, and I’d betrayed that trust.
I’d be pissed and heartbroken too if I was her, but over time I would forgive her. I hoped she could do the same.
She’d walked away because she needed time to process everything. As much as I hated it, I had to give her that time.
