Page 133 of Shadows of Ruin

She lowered her head, color returning to her eyes. “We’ve been ordered to return now. The length of time is unacceptable for handling the traitor.”

She did a double take at Storm’s arms wrapped around Ian, but then stepped away toward an empty bench. She brushed her hands over her arms. Storm loosened his hold, and Ian moved back toward me.

“He’s angry?” Jax asked.

Raya looked fearful briefly, then masked it back to the emotionless mask she so clearly preferred wearing. “There was something in his tone.” She swallowed. “We need to be prepared when we return. I don’t know for what, but”—Her gaze shot to Kade—“he feels different. Excited.”

Kade leaned back on the bench, setting down the soup heheld in his hands. Closing his eyes, he inhaled slowly. “Storm, Raya, Jax, we leave in three hours.”

“No,” I said, stepping forward, between his outstretched legs, blocking him from looking anywhere but at me.

“Raya is second to none at gauging his moods, and she has never been this rattled. You are not going back there,” he said, jaw grinding.

I glanced over at Vivienne. “We need answers. Cassandra is the only option for getting ones not laced in riddles. The dagger, the journal. If we don’t figure out what it means, this is all for nothing. It’s worth the risk to talk to her.”

He gripped my waist. “Then I will talk to her. I will return when I can.”

I pushed his hand from my waist. “And what are you going to say when you return without me? I hardly think your father will believe that you left me behind somewhere.”

“We can all go,” Ian suggested. “We’ll keep Lana somewhere safe.”

Jax scoffed and Kade moved my body to the side like it was nothing, rising from his seat. “There is no hiding in Mysthaven. I can’t protect all of you.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed on Kade. “The last time Lana was left in your hands, mere hours ago, she was taken.

I let out a breath. Kade’s shadows darkened, swarming the space around us. Ian’s mouth twitched. “I am not afraid of your shadows. No need to try to intimidate me.”

“I met the king, Ian.” I put a hand to his chest. “He barely tolerated me, and I have the threat of a crown with my name, should he try to hurt me. I refuse to put you in harm’s way unnecessarily, which is exactly what will happen.”

“Lan—”

“No, listen to me. I lived knowing you were in danger in those dungeons, and I will not be the one to put you in that position again,” I argued. “Which is exactly what could happen in Mysthaven. This is the right thing to do.”

“Your people need you both here.” Storm’s arms were crossed. “You need an army. You have to raise them up.”

“Ian is capable of raising an army in my name,” I said.

I would not back down. I would not allow Kade to go to Cassandra with my questions. My gut told me I needed to be in Mysthaven as much as it told me I would be returning sooner than I thought to Brookmere.

“Little Rebel.” The way Kade said my name nearly broke my heart. The desperation.

“Ian, you know who to ask.” I focused on my best friend. My best friend who I just got back and was leaving again. He hated this idea. “Track down those we aided with the Hidden Henchman. Every time we completed a drop, they wanted to know how they could help. You, Corbin, Kalliah—you can rally them.”

“Rally them where?” Kalliah asked from Corbin’s side. “We don’t have access to the palace, to weapons.”

“We provided weapons on many of the drops,” Corbin said. “We always added extra. They’ve been defending their homelands from dark ones for years. Once they know the Hidden Henchman was their princess, we’ll have their loyalty.”

He sounded so sure.

“Fates, we could even reach out to Ryland. He was an excellent swordsman and may be able to help,” Ian said as he rubbed his finger over his lips in thought. I smiled at the motion. It had been the same thing he did when I first approached him with the idea about the Hidden Henchman runs. He was onboard. “Can we stay here? Train here?”

“Not a bad idea,” Storm agreed. “The location is close to the void, which means easy access to and from Mysthaven. It also remains off the main roads enough that we might have a chance at hiding our actions from the palace.” He looked over at William. “But I’m not the one asking William for permission.”

I walked straight toward the bar, giving my best princess-worthy smile to the old innkeeper. “William, I have a favor to ask.”

He watched me warily, eyes narrowing.

“I’ll pay you three times what you made in the last three years for allowing us to set up camp on your property for my army.”

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