Page 104 of Shadows of Ruin

“She’s not telling us everything.”

Kade hummed in agreement. “We’re going to get through this. You’ll be able to see Ian tomorrow.”

“In Valeford.” I chewed on my lip. The weight of what awaited lay heavy on me.

His lips touched my cheek. “I will help you get every answer you want. Even those you don’t. You won’t face this alone.”

Kade shifted, positioning us so my head lay on his chest. It was a damn perfect fit, and I sighed, feeling his lips again as my eyes turned heavy. His calming scent mixed with the comfort of his arms was intoxicating. For a brief minute I worried if I did this much more, Kade would be right. There would be no going back.

“Tomorrow,” I said, almost to myself, before drifting off completely.

The five of us stood facing the dark, misty void. The ominous heaviness of the vast dead area loomed like a silent threat.

“Everyone has to be touching me, understand?” Kade said.

The group muttered their agreements. Jax held the reins of three horses behind him, Raya held the other two. With the need to touch Kade to pass through, we couldn’t all be on horseback.

A shadow brushed under my chin, tilting my head toward Kade. “No running from me this time, right?”

I smirked, despite the tiny amount of fear in Kade’s eyes. “I don’t know. I kind of enjoy making you chase me.”

The comment erased the fear and turned his gaze darker. “Careful, Little Rebel.”

“I think I liked it better when she wanted to stab you,” Jax said. “Don’t we have somewhere to be?”

Kade blinked a few times, as if to clear his thoughts before returning his focus to the task at hand.

We all reached out, Raya and Jax behind him, Storm on one side, me on the other. The tug in my stomach as we crossed the barrier felt familiar this time, and when we made it into the void itself, I shivered remembering the lifelessness of the place.

One of the horses reared, and Jax cursed.

“I hate it in here,” I said, rolling my shoulders back.

“Same,” Jax agreed. “It’s why Storm always went with him instead of us.”

“Baby,” Storm tossed over his shoulder. He drew his blade as we marched through the mist.

“It’s quieter,” Raya said.

The sound of her speaking in the deathly silence made me jump. They were the only words she’d spoken to anyone this morning. She’d barely acknowledged my presence, her eyes trained anywhere else, never meeting my own. The silent treatment she gave me did nothing to quell my nervousness.

Before long, we reached the barrier on the other side. Kade instructed us to grab hold of him again, and we traveled through.

Finally, I was home.

Even though it had been less than a week, I inhaled as if it had been years, breathing in the crisp air. The lush green of Brookmere’s vibrant environment stole my breath. The contrast between Brookmere and Mysthaven stood out even more now that I was back.

“This part will never get old,” Storm murmured, standingat my side. “The first time we came through the void I thought maybe I’d died, and this was the afterlife. The beauty here is unlike anything we knew growing up.”

I smiled. “There is beauty in your home too, just a different kind.”

Kade approached with Onyx, holding the reins to my horse. I cocked an eyebrow. “No temper tantrum about me riding alone? I’m shocked at the growth you’ve shown in one short day.”

Storm laughed and bumped into me. “I had to give him a pep talk this morning so he could do it. He’s still…him.”

“Not true,” Kade grumbled, but I noticed the slight upturn of his lips.

I took the reins of my horse, mounting as I joined in his laughter. It felt incredible to genuinely laugh.

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