Page 16 of Ruined Kingdom

What is this magic? I could feel its sickly power reverberating through the air above me.

Fear crept into my chest, petrifying me.

Nikolai took slow, deliberate steps toward me, his face twisted with a menacing grin. He didn’t even blink. He just stared me down like I was the helpless bunny pinned by the ears this time.

And that was exactly what I felt like. Suddenly, all the strength I had accumulated had dissipated from my body.

“Aww, what’s the matter? Beast got your tongue?” He laughed to himself.

I had to pull myself together. The only thing standing between us was this conversation. I had to keep it going for as long as possible.

“Whatever you’re planning, you won’t get away with it. The Alpha King won’t allow you to harm his territory.” My mouth was the only thing still working on me.

“You really think he’ll stop me? He caught me off guard the last time. I don’t intend to make the same mistake twice. I’m prepared this time.” He tilted his head with disgusting delight as he flipped his long velvet cloak off his shoulder, revealing a gold-encrusted crossbow.

“That won’t save you from him,” I scoffed, but the nervous gulp right after gave me away.

While showing him my most vicious glare, I frantically prayed that none of those sharp golden bolts would ever come near Kaine, for they were clearly no ordinary arrows. They were giving off a stifling aura of darkness—likely enchanted—and something told me they were able to do a lot more harm than any regular bolts, too.

And Nikolai was the type of hunter to mount his beasts on a wall…

The thought of him doing that to Kaine?—

He was right in front of me now. “I see you tremble, Sophia,” the Prince murmured as he leaned in closer until I could feel his breath on my ear. “The fear that enters your heart at just the sight of me is delectable.”

On pure instinct, I raised my arms and shoved him away. This time, he hardly budged, though. He shook his head, rolling his eyes in annoyance. “Don’t worry your pretty little head. I’m not here for you.”

He pressed his hands to my chest and pushed me back so hard that the ground disappeared from under my feet. I hit the forest floor hard, knocking the wind out of me.

“Soph!”

The ringing in my ears was so loud that I could barely hear Lexi and Sharra fussing over me. When I opened my eyes, I was in the forest again with the afternoon light sprinkling through the leaves above.

“What happened? Where did you go?” Lexi brushed my hair out of my face.

Sharra pulled my chin to her, forcing my eyes to meet hers. “You were there one second and gone the next!”

Panic plagued her eyes as she checked to make sure that I wasn’t injured.

“I’m all right… I just—” My words were cut short as soon as I looked away from them.

My eyes caught something surprising. A jet-black beast eclipsed the view before me, red liquid dripping from its maw to the ground.

“Kaine?” I breathed in disbelief.

I scrambled to my feet, and I suddenly realized what Kaine’s teeth were sunken into. He bit down into Prince Nikolai even more, but it only made his prey laugh harder.

The Prince pulled Kaine closer while making eye contact with me. “The Fae King sends his regards.”

My eyes widened and filled with tears as the sound of tearing flesh echoed into my ears. He’d taken one of the gold-encrusted bolts and thrust it into the Beast’s front leg.

I clutched my arm as I felt the stabbing pain jolt through my own forearm as if I myself had been stabbed.

Sophia, did he hurt you? Kaine’s voice flooded my mind.

No… I’m fine… But your arm… That bolt, it’s?—

Go back and notify Eugin about the Prince’s men in the forest. Don’t worry about me, my love. Go.

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