Page 111 of Shadows of Ruin

Kalliah rose. “I think I need to lie down,” she said. Walking toward me, she pulled me into a hug. “I’m so happy you’re back.”

“Me too. I love you.” I didn’t want to let her go, so I held her until she pulled away. “He’s going to be all right. We will go back for him,” I assured her, knowing her thoughts were on Leif.

Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded and went to one of the far tents.

Hale stood next. “Perhaps we should all rest.”

Everyone shifted, moving and packing up. Everyone except Ian and me.

I needed to talk to him, needed to hear he would be okay. He knew it, too, because he didn’t move at all.

Kade approached, standing next to me for only a moment, leaning down and placing a small kiss on the top of my head. “I’m here if you need me.”

I nodded at him, watching him retreat until even the shadows reluctantly followed.

Then, only Ian and I remained.

“What can I do?” I asked.

He took my hand again. “Sit with me. Remind me what’s real. The same as we’ve always done for each other, and I will be okay.”

“Always, Ian.” I wiped away another tear, so grateful to be by his side again. “How did you know to come here?” I asked.

“Your mother visited me in the cells.” Ian paused. “She told me she knew you had to come here. That something was here, something you needed to do. Your father made her promise to make you come if anything happened.”

“I have so much to tell you.” I let out a deep breath, pulling out the letter my father wrote me. “About me, and the Forgotten Kingdom.”

Ian snorted, smiling a real smile. “What does your favorite book have to do with anything?”

“Because it’s not just a fairytale. It’s real. Actually, it's where Kade and his friends are from.”

Ian ran a hand down over his face. “Next you’ll tell me he’s the king.”

“Prince,” I corrected.

“Fucking hell, Lan,” Ian said. “I’m listening.”

Chapter 31

Lana

The pit of my stomach continued to drop, as an anxious ball of energy buzzed in my veins the closer we got to my parents’ home.

My real parents.

Ian and I talked long into the night, his shock as heavy as mine had been the more I revealed, both in letting him read my father’s letter and discussing Mysthaven. Though I didn’t give away all Kade’s secrets, I did tell him about the prophecies. That brought out a string of expletives, which eventually turned into Ian reluctantly conceding the Fates must want all of us together.

Though he made it clear he still did not trust them.

Ian handled organizing everyone this morning, revealing only some parts of our plan. We knew we needed to find my parents’ home. Once we did, I had to find the journal my father said lay buried with my mother.

Now faced with the purpose of coming to Valeford, my slick palms were not merely caused by the summer heat. The anticipation of walking where they walked, seeing what they saw rattled me. My boots thudded on the ground with each step, pounding to the beat of my racing heart as I realized Iwould be face-to-face with the last place they ever lived. I would be able to have a glimpse of what my life might have looked like had they not been brutally murdered the night Vivienne and Elisabeth rescued me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as Kade’s shadows whispered up my sides.

We’re here,they seemed to say.

Ever since the night they came for me in Mysthaven to help Kade, I swore I could understand the thoughts of his shadows.

---