“You’re going to spend the rest of your life begging him to not hurt you?”
“I certainly don’t want to be a burden on anyone else!” I shake my head. “Don’t look at me like I am giving up. You don’t know what I have been through. Unless you happen to know some miracle worker that no one else knows about, then just stay away from me, Ryan. You deserve better. You deserve to be happy.”
“You deserve to be happy too, Sky, and believe it or not, I do know a miracle worker, a powerful one.” She leans back into bed, shaking her head as I take her hand.
“I don’t think it can work, Ryan. He would have to be more powerful than Savage. No healer could be that powerful.”
“Don’t worry, Badass, I believe I know how to help you.” Now I just have to convince Nick that it’s a good idea.
Nick calls me before I can get a chance to call him, and that can’t be good. “What’s wrong now?”
“You forgot to tell your girlfriend not to say anything to Ramsey about her illness. He has gone to the Council and requested she be removed from your care and into his. He is also excusing me of breaking a sacred vow between him and her family and has requested I be removed as Lord, which is absurd.”
“The Council isn’t going to do that, are they?”
“No, he has no power to request anything against me, but he is making enough of a stink to make your life is a living hell if you don’t let her go back to him. You can’t become a Lord, Ryan, if you don’t respect the laws and the ways in which the people of the realms live. You have to show that you are willing to protect their beliefs as much as protecting them.”
“Well, she doesn’t want to go, so … fuck him, and the Council will get over it, I’m sure.”
Nick growls on the other end. “It doesn’t work that way, Ryan. She is promised to him, and she has no choice now.”
“Well, I’m not letting him take her! Thanks for letting me know, Nick, now have a great rest of the day.”
“Don’t you hang up on me …” I hear him say as I hang up on him.
Sky has been getting increasingly worse, and I need to get her to Nicky as soon as possible, but I can’t do that with Ramsey lurking around. Walking into her room, I sit down some fresh water and help her sit up to eat some soup. “What’s wrong? I heard you yelling,” she says, holding back my hand from feeding her.
“Ramsey knows you’re sick. Why did you call him?”
“I didn’t call him. I don’t have any way to call him.” I suddenly realize she has no phone, and I am not sure what hell’s area code would be even if she did.
“Well, how were you expected to get in touch with him before?”
“All communication is only allowed by you through Nick. I work for you through Nick. If Ramsey wants to talk to me, he has to get permission from Nick. There is no expectation of communication. I am supposed to have no other interests other than protecting you. To be honest, that was another reason I wanted to be a guard, because I wouldn’t have to talk to him or see him.”
“Well, he knows, and he is coming to get you. He’s asked the Council to intervene so that I can’t stop him.”
She shakes her head. “But … but … oh, I don’t have a choice do I? The bastard must have some kind of connection with me, so I can never, ever leave him.” She sinks into herself with all hope lost.
“We’ll figure it out. He has to get you first, right?”
“No, you have to let me go. You can’t risk going against the Council.”
“Skylar, don’t worry about me. You have to worry about you, fight for your right to be free of him.”
“I’m tired of fighting, Ryan. I’m exhausted really, and I have nothing left to fight with, so please leave me alone. I am no one worth worrying about, especially for a future Lord.”
“Giving up, that’s not something I expected from you.” I make my way to the door but stop to say one thing more. “You know, I didn’t want any vulnerable woman to risk her life by being with me, so I was determined to never fall for anyone again, but then something changed.” I look back at her. “I met someone that had the strength of a million warriors, someone who is more than just a beauty to admire, a real woman with a badass attitude. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since I met her. That woman would never give up on anything. I wish she was still here, because … damn, she was amazing. I am really going to miss her if she goes.” I walk out of her room a little defeated, but not giving up hope.
When Ramsey shows up at my door with one of the council representatives, I allow them in, but I don’t make any move to surrender Sky. “Sir, I must implore you to do as requested. If you do not, you will face an army to force you to,” Lucas the Council’s representative says with a look of shame on his face. He clearly doesn’t agree with the actions he is enforcing.
“You don’t want to be bothered with a cripple, I know it. Who would? I know I don’t, but hey, at least she can still be what I need. It’s just too bad she can’t put up a little fight when I get it though.” I focus on him and send him sailing backwards into a wall. “You better watch it! I may not be a part of the ninth’s army anymore, thanks to your brother’s wife, but I can still have you brought in front of the Council for disciplinary actions, my Lord in waiting.” Ramsey laughs and walks around me to go find Sky. He returns carrying her nearly limp body with little concern for her comfort.
“You know, if she is important enough to you, there is a way you can get her back and away from … him,” Lucas suggests. I glance his way. “If you and she are both wanting, then you can challenge him, and if you win, you win her. However, if you lose, you will die and most likely she will too.”
“Nah, I won’t kill her. I will just make her wish I would, and that’s why she would never leave me. She knows what I will do to her,” Ramsey says proudly. “Let’s go, pencil pusher. I don’t like to miss dinner, and I am going to need my energy to do some major fucking tonight.”
Thank God Terrence is here and takes hold of my arm. “Ryan, step back. You are heating up, and you are only going to cause more trouble than fix.”
Lucas turns back to me. “I should warn you. Ramsey is not all man, and he has skills that should not be challenged unless you are sure. He was created to kill, and he knows your abilities better than you do.” He nods my way.
“Don’t do it, Ryan. I have heard things about this guy, and none of them are good. He’s torn apart some powerful people.” Terrence pleads with me while I size the giant up, knowing I should think twice. Nick would. He would think it through clearly and make a sound decision, unless it involved Kayla, and then there would be no stopping him from getting to her.
As Ramsey walks out, Skylar looks at me over his shoulder. “Do you want to fight, Sky?” I follow them out, waiting for her to find that strength again. “Say the word, and I’ll fight for you if you’re willing to fight for me.”
“Ms. Ross, if this is not what you want, then as a representative of the Council, I can take you into our protective care until the matter is resolved. All you have to do is tell me who you would prefer to be with—if you prefer to go with your current bestowed or would you prefer ….”
Ramsey shakes his head with a laugh, but Skylar lifts her pale head up off his shoulder and looks up at me. “Ryan!”
“What?!” Ramsey screams as I rush over to take her from him.
“I knew you were a fighter,” I say to her smiling tears.
Lucas took Sky with him, but not before warning me and Ramsey about the ramifications of what we both just entered into. All Ramsey had to do was surrender Skylar over and we would be done, but I knew he wouldn’t. Instead, he stood toe to toe with me and looked down from his giant head and said, “I am going to crush you into pieces, little man, and I can’t wait to do so in front of your brother.”
CHAPTER 13
Skylar
I feel ridiculous having to be carried everywhere, but even more so to be escorted to a battle site in front of
all the Lords and the Council representatives. This place is where souls are decided upon, a center of the realms where they all come together and look down on the judged to determine their eternal sentence. It’s intimidating, and I feel as if my soul is suddenly being judged. It’s not that I believe I have forced Ryan to put his life in jeopardy for me. I am willing to die for him, and if it comes to that, I will stop and give my life for his. I have already given a note to Lucas to look for my signal, since I am losing more of myself every day. It’s allowed as long as I do it in time. Instead of worrying about that right now, I relish the idea of not having to be with Ramsey forever and going against Savage’s orders, getting my chance to ultimately defeat him.
I am allowed one safe night, away from Ramsey, and then I have to face him prior to his battle with Ryan. I know Ryan can beat him. I have seen what he can do, so I have no fear of Ramsey’s threats when he approaches me.
“You still have time to make this right and spare yourself a life of a battered whore.” I am so weak at this point I can’t speak. I can only divert my eyes from him. Ramsey catches on to my new inability. “You can’t even talk now? Well, you become more perfect every day. I can’t imagine your new love is going to show now. He must know about your completely useless state, and now he has had time to think about it, to talk to his brother, who, I’m sure, has urged or forced him to reconsider. Do you really think he is going to give up his vibrant life to be with a worthless woman? I am sure you realize he could have anyone he wants. He doesn’t need to be burdened with you.” I don’t bother to look his way. I simply keep repeating “fight” in my head. “You are so stupid, but your games have finally paid off for me. You did even better than I anticipated. Oh, I am sure you think I can’t get near him, but I assure you, I can, and once I do, I can inflict on him what I inflicted on you with one bite. Then, he is as good as dead.” He smiles as he walks away, and I begin to tremble with fear.
I have to tell someone, and when I see Nick and Kayla walk in, I try everything to get their attention, even when Nick walks towards the council representatives. “I am going to tell you right now, I will not allow my brother to die. I will kill Ramsey before that happens.”
“Do what you must, but then you will be forced not only out of your realm but away from your family and into a secluded exile you don’t want to go to. I would hate to see your children grow up without a father, Lord,” a stern representative says to him.
I begin to hope Ryan doesn’t show, when he suddenly appears. He walks out with that self-assured walk I have come to love about him. He looks the event area over until he catches sight of me. He approaches and gets down to my lounging level. “I hear you have lost your ability to speak now. Don’t worry. Once I win this, we will get you the help you need so you can be back to driving me nuts, like you’re supposed to do.” He laughs, squeezing my hand until Nick approaches him.
“I can’t allow you to do this, Ryan.”
“You have no choice but to allow me, Nick.”
“I don’t think you understand. Ramsey is not a man. He is a cursed demon who has powers we don’t even know about. You’re fighting something you don’t even understand. You’re fighting blind.”
Ryan looks back at me and smiles before he turns back to his brother. “Nick, you just don’t get it, and I can understand why you wouldn’t. I can’t let this go. I have a chance to fight for someone I actually care about. I couldn’t fight for my mother, or Sam. They died, and I had no choice in the matter, no chance to fight for them, but now, I have a chance to fight to keep someone I care about. I don’t know exactly where it may go with her, but I do know I am willing to fight to find out. So don’t stand there and tell me I don’t have a choice when it’s the first time I actually do.” Nick swears under his breath but takes hold of his brother’s head and pulls him close, whispering something in his ear that I am not able to hear. I want to scream at them both about Ramsey, but I am helpless, and as Ramsey said, worthless to him. I stare down until I feel a lick of a tongue across my face and then, I see Shadow. Ryan never leaves him behind. I should have expected it. Hi Shadow. He barks at me happily. Did you come to see me or just help Ryan? I wonder. He barks again. I laugh as best I can. He gets a little overly excited and starts jumping on me. Oh Shadow! You’re so heavy! You need to get off of me. I think to myself. He gets down and sits, whimpering. Hm, I wonder. Shadow speak. He barks. Shadow, do you know what I am thinking? He barks. I suddenly become a little more hopeful and have a whole new reason to keep fighting. Shadow, tell Ryan he can’t allow Ramsey to bite him or get near him. Can you do that? Can you figure out a way to tell him that? He cocks his head as if he doesn’t understand. I am not sure how you’re going to tell him either, but you have to figure it out. His life depends on it, Shadow. You have to tell him. He rests his head on me for a few seconds and then runs off. I wonder what he is doing, when I watch him run up to the ninth’s overlook and jump on Nick’s son. He’s playing? That’s not right, Shadow. Suddenly, the child gets up and looks down to where I am. He nods and runs to get his father, and the sudden scrambling makes me wonder if it worked or if Shadow only succeeded in getting everyone worked up over nothing. Shadow comes up to me and sits at my side with two other dogs I don’t know. They sit at full attention as if they are on guard. Strange.
Ramsey begins stretching and practicing with his sword while Ryan simply meditates. Oh no, what is he doing? Pay attention. Grab a weapon of some kind!
The director of the realm court is Tylen, a long respected official on the outside, but a womanizing jackass after hours. Tylen walks into center court dressed in his richly adorned uniform of the court of realms, each realm Lord represented upon his sleeves with lavish emblems. He is the director of their wishes, and he acts on their behalf. I can’t say I would want to be the one to stand next to a soul as it is being judged and then proceed to cast them to their dungeon of eternity. It doesn’t always go smoothly here; even your soul can fight someone to the death. I look up at all the Lords arriving and realize Tylen really doesn’t have much to worry about with all this power watching over him. The one Lord that seems to be excited about being here is Rein, and from what I know about him, I wonder if he is pulling for Ramsey. From the glares between him and Nick, the bad blood is obvious. Of course, the only Lord missing is Marius. He has managed to completely separate himself and will soon be ousted if he stays hidden much longer, opening a position for the Lord in waiting, the next devil in charge, Ryan. Wow, I have never felt more nervous in my life. I never considered what all is at stake here. He needs to stop. I need to stop this now.
“My lords, our fine guests of the Council and loyal citizens to the realms, I welcome you to the battle for life. Our competitors here seek ownership rights of this woman,” Tylen says, motioning in my direction. “…and rights to their own lives. The battle will only be concluded when one no longer needs a breath. The rules are this: competitors must remain within the court and must not include any other in their fight or may any other provide an advantage to a competitor. Battle will begin upon my signal.”
Tylen steps to his perch and looks out over Ryan and Ramsey as they wait for the indicator for the death fight to begin. Tylen holds his hand up, and the entire crowd gasps, anticipating. His hand drops over the court so fast I become scared that Ryan might not be prepared. I search for him and find him patiently waiting for Ramsey to make a move or look his way, but Ramsey knows better than to ever give Ryan the simple advantage that he needs to win. Ramsey comes at him with a sword, swinging from right to left and left to right. Over and over, he circles, making me dizzy, and I assume to try and make Ryan the same. The master sword is three times the size of average and gleams bright in the lights, nearly blinding you if it catches the light at the angle of your view. Ryan continues his dance with Ramsey until Ramsey suddenly aims at him, charging Ryan at the chest and just missing him as he spins away. Ryan laughs, and Ramsey charges again and again, wearing Ryan down it would s
eem, or at least that’s what I think until Ramsey dives in with all he has, and Ryan backflips into position, kicking Ramsey’s sword up into his own face and cutting him deep on one side. As his blood begins to pour, a thunderous growl erupts from Ramsey’s chest, and his body begins to contort into some kind of winged serpent. If I could scream, I would scream for Ryan to run, but I don’t have to. He does just that as he is chased down and beaten by the monster’s leathery wings. No! Ryan, get away from him! Ryan rolls to the ground, finding Ramsey’s sword and tossing it at the monster, striking the edge of his foot, succeeding in only angering it more. The serpent flies near Ryan and opens its mouth, spraying a stream of potent poison that lands Ryan on his back. He doesn’t move, and the serpent settles back to the ground and slowly walks towards Ryan’s lifeless body. I look towards Lucas, trying to get his attention to interrupt the fight for me, but he purposely ignores me, and I begin to wonder why until I see him nod towards Rein. Everyone stands, believing the finale is about to be seen. I stare hard at Ryan, trying to will him up, but he doesn’t move. I can’t tell if he is breathing or frozen by the poison, fully aware that he is going to die at any moment. The serpent raises his wings out over Ryan, boasts his chest way out, and screams with pride. A step in and he leans down with his mouth open wide, steadying himself for the final kill, but his deadly bite is stopped midair and broken off. The serpent steps back, shrieking out in pain as Ryan stands, holding the jaw of the winged monster. The pain must have thrown him off his game because he aims at Ryan with a wicked war cry only to meet the swirling eyes of the devil in front of him. A fire begins to erupt within the belly of the monster, spreading throughout its screaming flesh until he is incinerated to dust. Ryan stumbles forward before dropping to his knees. My excitement is suddenly reduced to fear again. The scrambling from the ninth’s overlook grabs my attention, and I catch sight of Nick grabbing his son and rushing out to meet Ryan, both taking his hand and helping him up before holding up the victor’s hand over his head. He’s okay? Everyone stands and applauds Ryan while I cry for him.