The air grew heavy with an ominous presence, causing a shiver to run down Ella’s spine. The spirit threw her to the ground, advancing on Ryu, and Ella lay where she fell, helpless and paralyzed by the spirit’s poisons.
But just as the spirit lunged forward, Ryu sprang into action. With a swift movement, he conjured a protective barrier of shimmering energy, shielding himself from the spirit’s assault. The clash of magic and darkness filled the air, creating a whirlwind of power that sent gusts of wind sweeping through the surroundings, clearing away the miasma and making Ella’s eyes sting. She tried to rise to her feet, but couldn’t support herself, not while the effects of the creature’s poison remained in her blood.
“Don’t move, Ella!” Ryu's voice rang out, firm and commanding. His eyes blazed with determination as he focused his energy on subduing the spirit. His hands moved in intricate patterns, channeling his elven magic into a potent force. Arcane energy crackled around him, intertwining with his every movement.
The spirit retaliated with its own dark magic, unleashing waves of shadowy tendrils that lashed out at Ryu, shattering his barrier. Blood dripped from a cut on Ryu’s arm, but his feet remained locked in place as he battled the spirit, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
With one final, resounding cry, he released a devastating blast of light that consumed the spirit, banishing it back to the depths from whence it came.
“Die, foul creature!”
Silence descended upon the clearing as the echoes of their battle faded away. Ella struggled to sit up, resting against a tree trunk as she caught her breath.
Ryu stood there, his chest rising and falling with exertion. His eyes met Ella’s, and for a brief moment, she saw a glimpse of vulnerability behind his stoic facade. But then, he turned away, his expression guarded once more.
Gratitude swelled within her, tears stinging her eyes. If Ryu hadn’t shown up, the creature would’veeatenher. And she would’ve never even have known it. She’d have let him consume her; her mind lost in happy dreams. She shivered.
In front of her, Ryu took a deep breath, passing his hand over the cut on his arm. Ella flinched as she saw the blood on his palm, guilt washing over her.
But wait—why was she feeling guilty? If she thought about it, it was his own fault. If she hadn’t been stuck in the Twilight Court, she would’ve been back home at Strayhaven, completely out of harm’s way.
None of this was her doing. She had to remember that Ryu was responsible for everything that had happened to her. Just because he’d saved her once, it didn’t make him a good person.
And besides, he had trapped her here in the Twilight Court. She couldn’t let her guard down, not when so much uncertainty lay between them.
WhydidRyu come here, though? How did he know she was in danger?
“What are you doing here?” she rasped out, giving her head a little shake to dispel the last of the dizziness that haunted her still.
Ryu turned on her, his expression murderous.
“No, Ella. What areyoudoing here?”
CHAPTER TEN
Ella blinked at him, staring up at him as if she couldn’t understand the language he was speaking.
But it wasn’t true, nearly every land that had been colonized by his ancestors had been taught the language, and he knew Ella could speak the Elven language.
Ryu gritted his teeth. His temper spiked, and he took a quick breath to dissipate his anger. He crossed the clearing to her in two strides, looming over her.
“I said,” he repeated, “What are you doinghere, Ella?”
She fell back, blinking a little. She was still under the effects of the creature’s venom, then.
Ryu ground his teeth in fury, ignoring the little spike of fear that struck him at the thought of how close he’d come to losing Ella forever.
It was just the fear of the bond being broken in such a traumatic way, that was all.
After all, being bonded to someone who was being consumed was bound to leave a few psychic scars. He would’ve been traumatized if theayakashihad gotten Ella while Ryu had been linked to her.
He was just reacting to the fear of that trauma, of course. That was all it was.
“Why did you leave the halls?” he said, leaning over to look into her eyes. When she just looked at him blankly, he cursed and waved a hand over her head, drawing the venom out of her body with his healing magic.
Now, she blinked rapidly, shaking her head.
“Why did you leave the halls?” he asked again. “You know these woods are not safe.”
