Page 118 of Shadows of Ruin

Chapter 33

Ian

Istared at Lana across the fire as she spoke to Kalliah in hushed tones.

Kalliah always helped her to process her thoughts through their conversations. I didn’t realize how much I missed the sound of their voices together until now.

Exhaustion from recent events looked like it threatened to take all of us under. The anticipation of finding the journal, then not finding the journal crushed most of our spirits. Another obstacle to overcome in this war we didn’t understand that we’d already been fighting for years. On top of already being behind, anyone who may have had any answers to aid us was dead.

My body still ached slightly from the numerous rounds of torture, but being out in nature significantly improved the healing process. The scar on my side remained, and I wondered if it would ever fully heal.

Kade’s shadows lingered around Lana’s ankles. A pool of swirling mist. He had been particularly quiet since our groups joined forces, but always watching. He never let Lana out of his sight, not even for a moment. Those shadows too always stayed near her. I didn’t remember them being so presentduring our time in the trials. It was unnerving, but he had kept her safe. And he’d brought her home. For that, I would be forever grateful.

Ugh. How could she stand him after everything he did to her? Prophecy or not, that Fae remained full of too many secrets.

A dark anger filled me just watching him. Black circled my vision, like it had in the dungeons, and I shut my eyes hard, shaking my head.

When I opened them, the feelings were gone.

Jax strutted toward Kalliah with a wink. “Care for any more stew? I’m not sure if you heard, but this was my catch today.”

She promptly rolled her eyes. “Not interested.”

Jax chuckled. “What? You are gorgeous. And since that one”—he pointed toward Lana—“is taken, and that one,” he continued, this time pointing to Raya, “is angrier than a panther in heat on any given day…well, you can’t blame a Fae for trying.”

“Still not interested,” Kalliah said again. “But no, I can’t blame you for trying.”

“I knew I liked you.” He smiled, taking the seat right next to her.

Raya sighed heavily. “Some things never change.”

Storm laughed, and even Lana let out a small giggle at Jax. I had to give it to him, he seemed to be trying to bring us together. I imagined his penchant for humor in darker times alleviated some of Lana’s anxieties too.

Returning my attention to the fire and those around it, Lana finally spoke. “I’m sorry this did not work out how we hoped. I wish I knew what to say, but I don’t know what to do or where to go from here. This note is just words, nonsense. Though we know someone clearly stole my birth mother’s journal, there’s nothing else to go on.”

Kalliah rubbed Lana’s arm. “We’ll figure it out.”

“I am supposed to be queen, and yet I have no answers.” Lana stared at the fire, disappointment clear on her face in the way her nose wrinkled, the weariness in her eyes. All the signs were there, and I knew what she heard right now in her head.

Andras’s words.

Worthless. Magicless.

“This burden isn’t yours to bear alone.” I stared at her until I knew she felt my gaze. When she finally gathered the courage to meet it, I tried to convey everything I normally did in these moments. “We are a team. We always have been.”

“He’s right,” Kalliah exclaimed. “All of us. Together. The fact that there’s an entire other kingdom, and two prophecies bringing us together? That’s fate. Even if you hate it. We’re meant to do this, and so we shall.”

Lana squeezed Kalliah’s hand in silent appreciation. “Too bad Vivienne can’t produce visions on command,” Lana said almost absentmindedly. “What good is being a seer if you can’t even predict important things when necessary?”

I glanced at Kade, whose brows furrowed as if he were deep in thought.

I stood, cracking my neck. My muscles still ached from the past several weeks. “It’s too dangerous to return to Ellevail to get to her, you know that, Lan.”

“We’re not going to figure it out tonight,” Raya butted in. “It has been a long day, and we are sure to have longer ones ahead. Rest now, for battles are in our future. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Did your mind magic tell you that?” I scoffed.

Raya glared across the fire at me. “I thought we weren’t speaking?”

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