Page 12 of Shadows of Ruin

The thought turned my stomach.

Kade’s voice broke through my thoughts. “I’ll figure out how to explain her presence to the king on the way.”

Right. They had a king.Here.

Kade and these Fae must work for him. My mind raced, desperately trying to piece together why he’d brought me here.Which was hard to ascertain when I lacked any details and didn’t even really know whereherewas.

“As exciting as this reunion has been, you’ve got some explaining to do. If we don’t get back to Mount Legion hastily, we’ll probably all be dead soon,” the man said. He approached me, holding a hand to his chest and bowing slightly. “I’m Jax. The polite, attractive, well-mannered male of this lot. So you’re in good hands now.”

A low grumble came from Kade’s direction.

“You wish for death, Jax,” Storm muttered under his breath.

I stared in quiet shock, processing the sudden reverent introduction. I wondered if he knew my title or if this simply served as the typical form of greeting here.

“Lana,” I said, bowing my head but not mimicking the hand gesture.

“That’s Raya.” Jax smiled, a dimple popped on his cheek, giving him a boyish look underneath his mop of sleek, curly black hair, completely at odds with the dark stubble and strong jawline. He stood slightly shorter than Kade and Storm, and yet still a few inches taller than me.

Raya nodded, appraising me. I took the time to size her up as well. She started it, after all.

The female's entire physique screamed predator. Her braided strands of hair were pulled back, woven into a bun on top of her head. Her dark skin shone with sweat underneath her leather tunic. I caught sight of the same inky mark I’d seen on Storm and Kade disappearing at her collarbone.

Raya was all warrior. Her face showed no hint of emotion. Hardened. Unshakeable.

“We need to move,” she said, her gaze flitting away as if she’d discovered nothing of value in me.

“Where were you holed up?” Storm asked the new Fae.

Jax rubbed his neck. “Sleeping on rocks just half a milewest. The screams of the beast sent us running this way. I’ve got plenty of antidotes if anyone needs?—”

“We’re fine,” Kade cut him off. He moved wordlessly in the direction Jax pointed.

What crawled into his shadows?

Raya and Jax followed behind Kade closely, but Storm stayed still, watching me.

“Being here is hard for him. He?—”

“Stop,” I said, abruptly cutting him off. “It can’t be harder than watching someone you lo—” I stopped myself this time. Adjusting. Love wasnotwhat I had felt for Kade. “Someone you trusted kill your father and take you from your home against your will.”

I looked back at the void we’d passed through. Somehow, I had to get away from them and find a way back to Brookmere. If I went with them traveling around their world, how would I ever know how to make it home?

“You’ll need him to cross it again.” Storm’s voice made me jump. He remained beside me, a small smile playing over his lips.

I scowled, hating it. Hating that he thought we could continue to develop the companionship we’d begun to forge.

“Don’t,” I said. “We aren’t friends anymore. I don’t want your fake smiles. You successfully deceived me, so you can drop the act now.”

His shoulders slouched. “It wasn’t an act.”

I turned on my heel, reluctantly moving in the direction of the others, but paused. “If I get home and something is wrong with Ian, I’ll slit your throat and feed you to the beasts of this void myself.”

“One day, you’ll care for me just as you care for Ian, Princess. I wouldn’t mind another fiercely loyal friend.” He bowed his head and moved, taking the lead as though he knew I’d made up my mind to go with them. Maybe he had been babysitting to ensure I didn’t run.

But where would I go?

The void wouldn’t let me through alone, and I doubted I’d be a match for these four Fae.

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