Page 109 of Shadows of Ruin

Hale shook his head, red coloring his skin. The boyish features I remembered seemed to have disappeared completely from his face. “Illiana needed Ian. Needed all of you.”

“Thank you.” I squeezed his hand.

Jax cleared his throat from behind us. “Princess, I’m appalled at your manners,” he teased. “How dare you ignore us.”

“You’re impossible to ignore,” Ian grumbled.

“Kade and Storm you all know.” I pointed to where Kade stood, arms crossed and defenses clearly up. “This is Jax and Raya.” Pointing out each of my friends, I ran through those here. “Jax, Raya, this is Hale, Corbin, and Kalliah. Ian you sort of met already.”

“What are they doing here.” Kalliah’s hands clenched into fists as she spoke. Ian flashed her a proud smile.

“We’re going to work together,” I said, then sighed. “There’s a lot to discuss.”

The stillness overcoming my friends brought back the feeling of uneasiness I’d been trying to ignore. Kalliah attempted a smile, but her eyes welled with tears.

“What is it?” I asked, looking between each of them.

No one answered.

Ian’s face fell, but he took a step toward me.

“I can show you all where we set up camp.” Corbin moved to the Mysthaven group, but Raya stilled.

I didn’t take my eyes off Ian, even as the others shuffled around me. Kade’s presence loomed at my back as shadows sprawled around me in the grass.

“Ian?” I whispered. All the fears of the unknown, some awful atrocity occurring, crashed into my bones so hard, it could no longer be ignored.

Kade’s hand squeezed mine before he stepped back to give us a moment.

Ian still hadn’t spoken a word. Kalliah stood slightly behind him, tears falling freely now.

“What the hell is going on? You’re acting as if someone—” I froze. Icy dread prickled down my back. “Ian?” I asked again, my voice cracking.

“Lan,” he mustered, his voice hollow, “your mother?—"

I shook my head. “No, no,” I begged. “Do not say it.” My stomach dropped, and I took a small step back. I could not lose anyone else. It couldn’t be true. I refused to believe thewords about to come out of their mouths. What would I do if I lost my mother too? I would have no one.

My family would all be gone.

“Lana, I’m so sorry,” Kalliah said, stepping forward, closing the distance between us. Her green eyes brimming with tears.

I stretched my arms in front of me as I looked between the two of them, like keeping them at bay would keep the truth from reaching me. “Please.” It came out as barely a whisper.

When they didn’t continue, both with tears falling down their faces, I turned away from them, coming face to face with Raya. I clung to a feeling separate from despair.

Clenching my hands to stop them from shaking, I whispered to her, “You knew.”

“I’m so sorry, Lana,” Raya uttered, barely audible, unable to hold back her own tears. “I couldn’t.”

Grief, hard and debilitating, hit me. I stumbled back, knees giving out. Kade lunged forward, but another pair of arms had me first. Ones I’d escaped into since childhood.

I screamed, as Ian held me from behind, arms wrapped around my waist. When I ran out of breath, Ian slowly allowed my body to fall to the ground.

I screamed again, this time at the sky. I screamed at nature, at any Fates listening.

“Please,” I begged them.Begged. “Please don’t let it be true.”

My screams turned to sobs. Ian stroked my back, holding my head against his chest as I wept. Kalliah kneeled beside me, whispering words that didn’t reach my ears, even with her soothing tone.

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