Page 147 of Shadows of Ruin

Raya stumbled forward, falling to her knees.

“Raya!” I shouted.

The chains holding Storm clinked and I saw him fighting against the hold. He didn’t fear the king, but right now, his determination told me he was worried. “Whatever he’s doing, fight it, Raya,” he shouted across the room.

Raya crawled, slowly inching forward. Her haggard breathing was evident, but she didn’t stop. Even as she barely made progress, she continued.

She looked up, tears streaming down her face, and still, she moved toward me.

“You’re all right,” I lied, trying to reach her with my words. The pain etched on her face was too much. “Raya, it is okay.”

She pulled herself up on her hands and knees in front of me. Her body convulsed, shaking uncontrollably.

Then she let out a terrifying, blood-curdling scream.

Chapter 42

Ian

Corbin and I stared at the makeshift map we’d made from mugs of ale and utensils, courtesy of William.

I rubbed my temples, taking in the sight.

It only struck me now how many people we’d helped over the two years of Hidden Henchman work. Pride swelled in my chest at what Lan had accomplished in such a short time, just because she loved her people.

“Oh, and here.” Corbin set down a spoon up toward the coastal towns. “It was out of the way, one we completed a year in. Leif and I ran it.”

I nodded. “I remember. Good work. This is—” I paused.

“Incredible,” Kalliah finished, setting down plates of food for both of us. “Now eat something before you get back to it.”

“There’s too much to do. We have no idea how long we have,” I argued, rubbing my temple. A headache had formed an hour ago, only growing stronger as we worked.

“You won’t accomplish anything if you starve yourselves. They only just left last night. According to Raya’s estimate, they should have arrived in Mysthaven not too long ago.”

“Raya’s estimate?” I pressed. Hearing her name clawed at my brain, raking over my spine, and not at all in the disgustedway I pretended to believe. Spending time with her in my head had been strange. In person, awful.

Kalliah glared at me. “She was nice to me. Even when you were a dickhead to her.”

“I was not,” I argued.

Corbin wiped a hand over his mouth, coughing as though covering a laugh. I shoved his shoulder. He stepped away from the map with his hands up. “It was intense. Your behavior. I’ve never seen you treat someone so poorly before.”

“Her magic?—”

“Saved your life and told Lana where to find us,” Kalliah huffed. “I knew you could be dense, but I never took you for an inconsiderate idiot."

“You don’t understand,” I sighed.

Kalliah refused to back down, cocking her right eyebrow the way she always did when determined to get to the bottom of Lana’s or my lies.

I grabbed the plate of food on the table and moved to the bench Corbin and I had dragged away earlier. Before I could take my seat, I stumbled. I heard the plate clatter to the floor, but I was no longer in The Knotted Willow.

I was in my own mind, like I had been in the dungeons.

And someone was screaming.

A hazy form took shape in front of me and screamed again.

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