Page 10 of Shadows of Ruin

The man held up his hands. “Be as angry as you’d like. You better know how to explain your absence—and her, whoever she is. Actually…” He strode toward me and took my hand in his, kissing my knuckles. “Seeing as you’ve been in their company for so long, I can only imagine the lack of respect and dignity you’ve been afforded. How about I show you how a real man of Mysthaven treats a lady?”

“Hewill not touch her.” Kade’s menacing threat came out low and eerily quiet. “And neither will you.”

The behavior made it seem like these people weren’t friends, and yet they spoke like they knew each other.

“Kade?” Storm asked, taking a step closer to his friend.

The black in Kade’s eyes shifted from his normal beautiful grey. His darkened pupils growing so large, he looked more beast than man.

Something wasn’t right. Though his eyes had darkened like this before, the added tremor of his shadows was new.

Despite my hatred toward him, Storm’s concern only solidified that Kade’s rapidly shifting demeanor meant trouble.

“Fuck, not now,” Storm grumbled. He walked over, shoving the new man from my side.

As he stumbled, he threw up his hands and stood close enough for me to see the dramatic eye roll aimed at Kade. “I’m not going to hurt her. I merely thought you needed a reminder of who we’re dealing with now that you’re back?—”

The shadows around Kade darkened into pitch-black night, shuddering with what could only be rage.

“Kade?” I asked.

Though deep, his breathing choked out erratically, each time forcing the shadows to take up more and more space around him. The escalating situation made me fearfulforhim instead of angryathim for the first time since everything that happened in Brookmere. Whatever rage took root in Kade right now refused to let go.

I tried to step closer to him, but Storm grabbed me forcefully, holding me back and taking me by complete surprise.

Kade’s snarl rattled around us. “Get away from her.”

“Get yourself under control and I will.” Though firm,Storm’s tone held a compassion so unlike their hardened warrior exteriors.

The shadows around Kade intensified, not just in height but in density, their tendrils exploding in all directions.

“Shield!” the female in the group shouted.

Storm yelled Kade’s name as magic exploded. His shadows swirled around me, ripping me from Storm’s side before hovering around me in some sort of cocoon.

“Don’t you dare.” I slammed my hand through their haze, but the barrier they formed remained. “If you’re protecting me from whoever those people are, I don’t need it. I don’t need or want any help from you.”

“Get to her now,” Storm’s voice sounded from outside.

For some reason, logic abandoned me and the thought of Kade’s shadows coddling me in some kind of fight infuriated me.

Good. The angrier I remained at him, the easier the hate building inside of me could flourish.

I tried whipping my hands through his shadow magic, but I couldn’t see a damn thing. A male shouted in pain. Tits and daggers,were these friends or not? Why wasn’t I allowed to see what the hell they were doing?

“Let. Me. Go,” I said, emphasizing each word. “You dragged me here and I will not be kept in some sort of shadow prison.”

The shadows dissipated moments later.

“How dare you—” My words fell short as I stomped toward the last place I’d seen Kade.

Except, he no longer stood menacingly in front of the group. Instead, he kneeled hunched on the ground, propped on his hands. Tremors skated over him and his breaths came in ragged, rapid pants.

My reckless heart hurt at the sight.

Storm and their two “friends” were crouched behind a ring of fire, clearly coming from Storm’s fire magic. I’d seenhim wield his fire magic before as we fought the dark ones in Brookmere. The flames receded slowly, and the man I didn’t know stood from their midst, clutching his arm to his chest.

It was only then I noticed the charred surroundings we found ourselves in. The few trees hadn’t been vibrant before, but they were charcoal now. The little bit of greenery burned. Everything surrounding us had been destroyed. Even the reddish tinted ground had a cracked grey look to it.

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