Page 153 of Shadows of Ruin

Thrashing out and entangling with the king, he had no choice but to drop me to the ground. The fighting around us closed in as battle waged. I searched for where I could grab a weapon, not daring to take out my white dagger for fear the king may see it.

A dead guard lay feet from me, and I crawled forward, nicking the palm of my hand as I pulled his sword from his limp hand. Turning, I ran back toward the king and Kade. Raising my blade over my head, the king turned his head and threw his hand out in my direction, sending me sideways—not hard, but enough to push me from his fight with Kade.

“Lana!” Kade shouted, but more Guardians moved toward him purposefully. A group surrounded him, reaching to hold him back, but his shadows took them out. Yet the minute one fell, another Guardian stepped forward to take his place. They were pouring in from the door as if they were waiting in a never-ending supply.

“You cannot defeat me,” Dargan yelled excitedly.

A sword came toward me, and I blocked it vigorously, engaging my threat. I refused to back down. This would not be our final stand.

I lost sight of Kade in the chaos.

Stabbing my attacker in the stomach, I continued, trying to get close to the others.

Raya shouted my name. I whipped around to find a lumbering giant of a Guardian whipping his axe in an arc directly over my head. I jumped out of the way, spinning to shove my sword into him. In the time it took him to dislodge his axe from the floor, I had gotten a good hit into his arm.

The wound did nothing.

Raya met me at my side, looking pale and unsteady. She squeezed her eyes closed and grunted as if under pressure.

The giant paused, his eyes glossing over.

A whimper came out of Raya’s mouth before the man toppled over. She opened her eyes but immediately fell slack against me.

“Tell them I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t do that,” I said, dropping my weapon to drag her toward the side of the room. “Do not act as though this is the end.”

“I can’t—” Her eyes rolled as her head lobbed backward.

“No, no, Raya.” I laid her down, slapping her face. “Wake up. Wake up right now. Raya.”

Nothing I did mattered.

A boot kicked me hard at my waist, sending me flying sideways. I snarled, lifting myself up despite the arduous effort it took. The Guardian lunged, continuing his onslaught. As if I weighed nothing, he lifted me and slammed me against the wall.

His dark eyes gave away where his extra boost of power came from.

He was a dark one.

Far more in control than the crazed Fae. This Guardian had willingly turned.

I thrashed against his body, but it was no use. My vision blackened at the edges. I couldn’t lose consciousness. Not now, while everyone I loved fought around me.

A caress against my cheek came a second before I could breathe again. The guard collapsed, shadows pulling away from him as I gulped in air.

I fell to my knees. Kade stood feet away from me, still fighting his father.

Kade.I needed to get to him. To fight by his side.

Storm charged toward where the king and Kade faced off, taking Kade’s place as if planned, and Kade ran from the fight to my side.

He flung a wall of shadows around us, blocking the room as much as possible.

“How are there so many Guardians?” I asked.

Kade shook his head. “There are dark ones too.”

“We have to get out of here with the amulet or he is going to release Thames.”

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