Page 146 of Shadows of Ruin

I closed my eyes. It was Ian all over again. But this time I had what the king wanted to make him stop. I may not possess magic that could have saved Ian from Andras’s torture, but my blood I could give. I pursed my lips, holding back with everything I had. I could end his pain though. I sucked in a breath and the flame receded.

The king narrowed his eyes. “Interesting. You may not doit for Storm. But I’ve seen how you look at my son. I bet you would do anything to save him. To save Kade.”

Panic coursed through my veins. Pure terror. Iwoulddo just about anything to save Kade.

The king smiled. “I will give you time to decide. When I return, loosen your tongue or prepare for Storm to die. Then we’ll move on to my son.” He glided around me, his hand dragging across my collarbone before he left.

I didn’t speak until the door shut behind him. “I’m sorry, Storm,” I sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t you dare apologize,” he groaned. “But you can tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“Kade and I learned that a thousand years ago, a Fae named Thames had grown too powerful, threatening the entire world. With a sacrifice from a queen and king, he was trapped in the void, splitting the world in two. Apparently, now he wants to get out.” I tried to recap quickly without saying Cassandra’s name, knowing the king had no idea his own seer was the sorceresses he sought. “We thought there was no way to free him, but apparently, he has his own prophecy just as Kade and I have ours. Fucking seers.”

“You can say that again.”

“What can I do?” I asked.

“You’re as trapped as I am right now, Lana.” Storm coughed. “Kade will come.”

I shivered, and even in pain, Storm noticed.

“He won’t kill Kade. Not if he needs his blood willingly too.”

I looked up and met Storm’s eyes. There was so much courage there. He hung, bloodied, burned, and beaten. Yet he still sought to reassure me, and perhaps himself too.

“You’re right.” I inhaled an unsteady breath. “Are you able to access your healing abilities despite what he’s done to you?” I tried not to let my voice crack.

Storm nodded once. “It will take time in this state. But yes,I can heal the major injuries to make them bearable with this reprieve.”

“Good.” I nodded back, letting his words comfort me. Hopefully Dargan took his time coming back.

“When I was younger, Andras tortured me to try to get my magic free,” I said softly. “He would bring Ian down and make me think he was hurting him, even though Ian’s pain was all in my mind. If there had been a way to fake having magic, I would have done it to save him.” I sighed, emotions clogging my throat. “But this time, Icansave you from the pain. I don’t know that I will be able to deny him if he comes back.”

“You can and you will,” Storm commanded. “He knows if he kills me, Kade would never cooperate. You wouldn’t either. You must stay strong. I can withstand this, and so can you.”

I didn’t respond, but I refused to look away from him. Holding eye contact right now grounded me, reminded me he was able to handle it.

“I was right when I said you would care for me as much as Ian one day,” he laughed.

I smiled through my tears. “Never.”

“If you repeat what I am about to tell you, I will deny it.” He sighed dramatically, but I noticed the rattling had lessened in his voice. “And then find a way to retaliate.”

I widened my stare, waiting for the rest.

“My first name is?—”

He paused, watching me just as I watched him. “Tell me!”

“Chester.”

I laughed, my entire body shaking as he shook his head at my reaction.

"A little torture and you are spilling your deepest secret,” I teased.

He smiled before wincing. “Never speak of this weak moment.”

The door flung open, startling both of us from our conversation. The sound of the door creaking on its hingeswas the only thing I allowed to pull my gaze away from Storm.

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