Page 132 of Blooms of Darkness

KADE

My shadows whipped around us as we rode at breakneck pace across the Kingdom of Brookmere, closer to safety.

Lana’s body remained limp against my own and I tightened my arms around her, to keep her from jostling too much.

I worried about the bruises covering her body when she awoke, but I knew in the end, a few bruises paled in comparison to the death and torture had we stayed.

She is strong. She will survive, physically.

Emotionally, I couldn’t be so sure.

Killing her father in her arms felt like the worst kind of pain. I’d been used for years by my own father, his shadow-wielding weapon. Death wasn’t new.

But knowing what I did would cause her pain punched me in the gut. The hatred in her eyes as we left broke me in ways I hadn’t been prepared for. Losing her father so close to Elisabeth would likely take her to the edge of her sanity.

Hopefully when she woke, I could explain what actually happened compared to what she believed she saw. I had to trust she would listen enough to know it wasn’t my choice.

I did it athisrequest. I tried to say no.

I would do everything I could to help make her whole, while completing our plan. A small voice inside of me, tucked so far in my shadows, told me I may do everything I could to make her whole, even at the risk ofnotfulfilling my mission. Fates be damned.

I reached into my horse's satchel, putting my hands on the letter her father insisted I give to her, reassuring myself it hadn’t fallen out. Hopefully, it would provide some answers for her.

The horses in the stables had been running wild during the chaos of the palace attack. Storm and I were lucky to have found the two we had to make this journey, but it meant Lana was stuck with me. If she woke and wanted to be with Storm instead, I’d oblige.

I think.

You will not, my shadows seemed to say as they flared at the thought of her riding alongside anyone but me. Even if it was Storm.

I brought the reins up to rub my face. Fates, this was not supposed to happen. When had my focus shifted from my mission to this beautifully infuriating Fae princess?

Storm kept by my side, riding silently beside me for two hours. I knew he was just as upset over what happened. He didn’t like many people in this world, but he liked Ian. He respected Ian. Hell, I respected Ian, too.

This had all gone to shit.

Knocking him out in the palace after he witnessed the king's shadowy death, would only add to the seeming betrayal of whatever friendship we had formed over the last few weeks. With himandher other friends.

Leaving him unconscious by the king’s dead body was not at all what either of us wanted. Especially when we had no idea of knowing how much longer the battle would rage inside the palace, and out. But we had to get out of there.

I had to get Lana out, and to safety.

But Ian had to survive in order to protect the current queen. To help Brookmere survive so there would be something for Lana to return to when she did ascend the throne.

It would be safer for all of them if the queen survived and stayed in power, but with the magic Andras had been collecting, it seemed unlikely she’d remain on the throne. And losing her mate? It would be a miracle if she could take over with a sound state of mind.

Her mate. I still hadn’t worked out how it was possible the king thought he’d been with his mate.

The horses were tiring, as was I.

Storm finally spoke, “Brookmere will be in ruins.”

“It wasn’t the plan,” I grunted. “None of this was part of the plan.”

“You don’t say. I didn’t think killing the king was even an option,” Storm grumbled.

“I told you what happened. I told you why?—”

Storm’s fire lit, a sign of his distress and anger, which rarely presented itself. “I know. I know. But we need her. We planned this for three years, Kade. Three. Years.”

---