Page 47 of Shadows of Ruin

Reaching the edge of the stairs, Jax leapt off his horse and disappeared through a smaller side door hidden under the stairs. He moved with steady purpose to retrieve a healer for Storm.

A group of Fae emerged from the front of the castle, descending leisurely down the stairs. One man stood a head above the rest, dressed in all black. A strange power emanated from him, as my feet unconsciously slid back a few inches, before I realized who stood before me.

The king.

His long black cape billowed in the crisp breeze and a glittering obsidian crown sat upon his head. Guards in bright red dress uniforms flanked him on either side and marched down the stairs, stopping every couple of steps and assuming their positions as the king slowly made his way down toward us.

We dismounted, and Kade assisted Storm to his feet. Storm’s arm slumped limply over Kade’s neck as he barely maintained the ability to stand. My chest tightened as the formidable warrior appeared so weak in Kade’s arms. Blood soaked through his pants and dripped down his leg onto the ground. The wound must have opened again on the ride, or perhaps it had never truly begun to heal in the first place. A lanky man adorned by a robe a size too small lifted his chin haughtily. “Announcing King Dargan.” He waved his hand and bowed, scrambling backward as the king descended the remaining stairs.

Kade, Storm, and Raya bowed their heads as the king reached the bottom step. I instantly followed. The last thing I wanted to do was upset a king when I so desperately needed to be able to leave this land. None of those gatheredon the steps in front of us bothered to look in my direction though.

Kade tensed beside me as we waited for the king to speak.

“You finally decided to grace us with your presence.” The king’s deep voice echoed, filled with barely restrained rage. “You have kept me waiting.”

Kade said nothing, keeping his head bowed. Weren’t there more pressing matters than the king belittling his soldiers? Like one of his elite Guardians bleeding out in front of him. The others followed suit after Kade’s, remaining bowed, as did I, watching through my eyelashes as best I could.

“Waiting formonths,” he seethed. The ice in the king’s tone sent an eerie chill racing down my spine. The king sucked in a breath. “In your absence, the traitors of this kingdom have run rampant. Your cadre was left to serve as the enforcers, for which they are clearly not equipped.”

He walked toward Kade and circled him like a razorven. A predator through and through, stalking around Kade as if playing with his prey, waiting to strike. I shivered, unaccustomed to the heavy magic lingering in the air around the king, raising the hairs on my neck. I didn’t dare lift my head to take in the scene more.

I’d never felt a magic like this before, but with it came an additional sensation. Something dark and foreboding slithering off him. A warning radiated outward, threatening and imposing.

The king stroked a pewter-colored amulet around his neck. “Disobeying me again will not be tolerated. Ever. Lest I remind you of how you will be punished. We do not want another public display, do we? I thought you’d grown tired of it, but perhaps my lessons didn’t sink in if you think you can disappear and neglect your duties for so long.”

Kade’s restraint weakened and his shadows slowly spilled from his fingertips, pooling at his feet. Out of the corner ofmy eye I saw him raise his head and stare at the king, who now stood directly in front of him.

My heartbeat quickened watching Kade appear so submissive. Except for his shadows, ready for a fight.

I wasn’t the only one to notice that either. The king grinned as Kade’s shadows grew exponentially.

“We’ll have to get that magic back under control, won’t we?”

I raised my head enough to see Kade’s face. His eyes darkened, that blackness taking over as he watched the king.

Kade dipped his chin. “Storm has been injured and we need to get him to Nadia right away. Dark ones attacked with some sort of poisoned weapon that’s preventing him from healing properly.”

The king cocked an eyebrow and took a step back, flicking his wrist in a gesture I assumed meant we could stop bowing since the others finally lifted their heads.

Murmurs sounded behind us, and I turned, seeing people standing on the other side of the gates we’d passed through.

My neck ached from keeping it bowed for so long, but I could finally take in my surroundings better. A tingle trailed my spine, the familiar warmth of Kade’s presence soothing my anxious soul. I glanced down, noticing it had been from a quick touch of his shadows along my calves.

The king stared at each Guardian, making no move to hurry despite Kade’s report on Storm’s injury, and the obvious pain of the injured Guardian before him. His strength faded with each moment we stood here.

Finally, King Dargan’s gaze landed on me, and a cruel smirk eliminated the warmth I’d felt a second earlier. “And who, may I ask, is this fair maiden? I don’t remember picking up strays being one of your missions.”

“We found her along our journey and Storm took a liking to her,” Kade answered without missing a beat.

Storm nodded in agreement. Even in pain, he winked at me. Though he moaned when he turned his head back.

What the hell are these two doing?

The king’s eyes narrowed. “And you think she is welcome here? In my home?”

Kade’s jaw ticked.

The king hummed. “I trained my Guardians to be stronger than that. Your soft hearts will get you killed." He looked me over purposefully, lingering on my chest before taking in the rest of my body. His gaze violated my space. It made me feel…less than. He clicked his tongue. “I suppose she’s pleasing to the eye. The Guardians already treat my palace like a brothel, so what is one more whore to add to their never-ending list?”

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