Page 134 of Shadows of Ruin

William sighed. “Hosting an army?”

I didn’t miss the flicker of light in his eyes; whether it was the money or the prospect of an army, I didn’t know.

“Throw in making some of them cook and helping around here and it’s a deal.”

I bowed my head and shot out my hand toward his. “Deal.”

I turned triumphantly back toward the group. Kalliah smirked, shaking her head. Corbin nodded reassuringly.

Ian sighed. “I don’t like this.”

“I need you to take care of Vivienne too,” I said.

“Illiana,” Kade said again. “You cannot?—”

I marched up to him, taking his face in both my hands. My time for indecision, for second-guessing things was over. No longer would Brookmere’s princess—no, queen—sit idly by and do nothing for her kingdom.

“I will be with you in Mysthaven. We will get the answers we need from Cassandra and we will come back here. Away from your father.”

His shadows enveloped us. Ian and Corbin shouted, but I heard Storm mutter, “Again?” under his breath with a clear tone of exasperation.

“Do you think I want to leave you?” The gentle way he cupped my face was so at odds with the harshness and fear coating his tone. “My father could harm you in ways I cannot even begin to think about. Do not ask me to bring you back to a place where you are not safe.”

I leaned into his touch. “I will be in danger here or there.There is nowhere safe for me to be. You know that. But I will find the answers we need at your side. Do not put me on the sidelines in a misguided effort to keep me unharmed. I refuse to live that way. I will not ask for your permission, for the decision is mine to make."

He pulled back, the argument strong in his gaze, but instead, Kade shook his head. Taking my hands in his, he kissed my fingertips as his shadows fell from around us. “I suppose I’m at your command, Little Rebel.” He straightened. “We ride in three hours.”

Chapter 38

Kade

The near-constant worry about returning to Mount Legion clung to me as thickly as my shadows.

The exhaustion I should feel from keeping everyone atop their horses through the night barely registered. We all agreed getting to the palace expeditiously might allow me to rest and recharge my magic before seeing Cassandra at first light and facing my father. Dusk crawled through the pass as the last rays of sunshine crested over the peaks of the mountains.

We spent our time traveling, planning, and scheming. Exploring all possibilities for what Lana’s mother’s journal could contain and where it may be. We repeated both our prophecies so many times, I never wanted to hear them again. We only stopped for a few hours to allow the horses, and ourselves, to rest. Otherwise, we rode furiously back toward my father’s home.

It would never be mine again.

No, my home now remained firmly wherever Lana was.

Raya and Storm agreed to go straight to the king for an update, stalling him to allow Lana and me time to speak with Cassandra. If anyone could possibly push us in the rightdirection, it would be her. That is, if she decided her input would not harm the Fates’ plan.

I doubted I could force her, but I was on edge and willing to give anything to get the answers we so desperately needed to save our worlds.

Arriving late in the night would grant us a few extra hours to make our strategy work. The plan was solidified, and while I knew it was good, my hands clenched Onyx’s reins as another bout of terror coursed through me. The tether to Lana bordered on painful if I lingered on thoughts of my father too long.

“Do we need to go over the plan one more time?” I dismounted, looking at the others who did the same. We planned to arrive on foot, Jax taking the horses through the side gates opposite where the rest of us would enter. He swore to me he’d leave two saddled in case Lana needed to escape. She refused, but one look at Storm and I knew I had the silent promise from my brother that he would get her out.

No matter what.

I could practically hear Raya rolling her eyes as she spoke from behind me. “Storm and I will go meet with the king. Tell him of the troubles with the traitor. Make up some bullshit excuse why you can’t be the one to tell him yourself. Exhaustion perhaps?”

“And I’m going to be looking pretty—” Jax started but was cut off by Raya.

“For once, could you be serious?”

Jax laughed as he reached for the reins of our horses. “It’s not in my nature, but for you, since you askedsooonicely, I could try.” He gave her a wink. “I’ll be finding those we trust and ensuring their loyalty.”

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