Page 28 of Shade of Ruin

“Why would the Prince of Flames need to collect a bounty?” Lee asks. “If he wanted you dead, he’d just kill you.”

I blink again, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming. More lies. More secrets. Is that all there is anymore?

“The Prince of Flames?” I ask as Cole’s shoulders slump. “Really? I assume it was your father who attacked the Houses of Earth and Shadows? Again, I ask why I should trust you?”

What was I thinking? I knew not to trust a Fae.

Cole shakes his head and huffs. “The last time I checked, you’re the one who forced me to take you with me after I saved your life. While we’re talking about that, why would I keep saving your life if I wanted you dead? Why would I be teaching you to fight? Wyrdling, you wanted to come with me, and I’m doing my best to keep you alive. I’m not entirely sure why I’m doing that, by the way.”

“Because you’ve always liked a girl that wears pants?” Darian asks.

“Because you’re a sucker for a damsel in distress?” Lee asks at the same time.

I glance at the two High Fae before my eyes settle on Cole again. They’re all quiet as I watch them. I don’t know what the right answer is.

“You didn’t tell me why the drakelings don’t have enough magic,” I say, not sure I believe any of it. At the same time, he’s right. I forced him to take me with him.

It’s not Cole that answers. Lee grins in that awkward way that I’m quickly realizing is just her normal. “Oh, that’s because the world is breaking, and no one’s doing anything about it. But I’m not entirely sure there’s anything to be done.”

She puts her hand under her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. “See, there are four thrones, one for each Great House. No one can sit in the ones for Shadow and Earth, and ever since there wasn’t a King to sit on those thrones, the world has steadily become more and more broken. At first, it was barely noticeable. But now…”

Cole finishes, “Now, there hasn’t been a live Immortal birth in the last ten years. The Immortal animals have so few live births that each one seems like a miracle. Themagicalworld is breaking because only two of the caretakers are still there.”

I don’t know what to say to that. Cole doesn’t let me try, though. “I won’t kill one of the only people that could sit on one of the vacant thrones.”

My eyes open wide at that thought. “You… wantmeto become a queen?”

“Or your mother, if she’s still alive. I don’t know exactly what I was planning, but it certainly wasn’t killing any of the few people left in the world that could help to fix things.” He pauses for a moment and sighs. “Bringing back the House of Shadow is a long shot, and it’s not something that we can act on since my father would murder you if he found out you were from that House. But it’s important to keep you safe. If you’re bound and determined to go to Draenyth, then I’m going to make sure you live through your little quest.”

There’s no way I could be a queen of anything. I’m still struggling very hard to just survive walking long distances. I don’t think I’d survive even a day wearing any kind of crown. I made a promise to Hazel to fix her. That’s what I’m going to do.

But it’s impossible to ignore the drakeling’s life. And no more Fae children? I’d say that this is a Fae problem to deal with, but it’s not just in their world anymore. It’s spilling over into the animals that I’ve spent my life around. Those turkey poultsI found on the way to Draenyth. Those broken things that were born so wrong.

If it’s spilling over into the human world now, after only thirty years, how terrible will it be in fifty years? In a hundred? Was I right in thinking the entire world was dying? And can I really walk away from that if there’s any way to help?

But I’m just a stupid Wyrdling. I don’t have the power it takes to become queen of the Fae. I’ve only just realized that there are Fae out there that aren’t actively trying to eat humans. More than anything, I have to fix Hazel first. After that… maybe.

“I can’t be what you’re looking for, Cole. At least not right now. My cousin is going to die if I don’t get to Calyr. I would love it if I could save the world, but this entire world of magic and Fae and Houses is all so new. Maybe after I’ve had more than a few weeks to get adjusted to it and my cousin’s safe, we can talk.”

Lee and Darian look at Cole, not trying to hide their confusion from me. It’s not surprising since I still haven’t actually been introduced to them. Cole doesn’t look confused, though.

“That’s fine, Wyrdling. I won’t try to force you to become the queen of anything. I’m just trying to keep you from dying. Maybe I’ll be able to convince you that the Immortal world is worth saving. If not, it’s been… interesting.”

That tingling runs down my spine, just like when I would hunt and know not to leave the safety of my hiding place. Something about what he’s saying is off. I don’t know what, butsomething is wrong.

I shake my head, not sure what to do. I’d thought… I’d thought that everything I’d been told had been wrong. That maybe Cole was a broody but otherwise good High Fae. He’s done nothing that makes me suspect that he’s got ulterior motives, but I can’t shake that feeling. He’s hiding something, and it’s a big something.

What other choice do I have, though? I still have to make it to Draenyth. I still have to find Calyr. Cole’s still the best option for getting me there safely. Especially now that I know that I’m officially one of the most hunted people in the world.

But can I trust him? Absolutely not.

I turn around and look at the drakeling. She’s still staring at me, those big shimmering eyes calling to me once more. It’s not nearly as strong a need to be near her this time, though. “What are you going to do with her?” I ask.

Cole’s face loses that intensity, and he just shrugs. “Not my drakeling,” he says.

Darian quickly says, “We were waiting for you to get here. We can let it go any time. I don’t think she’ll stick around now that she was caught once.”

“Yes,” Lee adds. “And now that you’re here, if she decides to burn the village down…”

---