Page 141 of Shadows of Ruin

Kade’s hand tightened over mine as we left Cassandra’s room.

“Are you all right?” I asked, knowing the moment between him and Cassandra at the end got to him.

He paused and smiled at me reassuringly. “I am.” He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss on my knuckles before pulling me alongside him again.

Neither of us spoke as we walked the halls with purpose. I knew it would be too risky to repeat anything out loud. Inside though, my mind churned.

Cassandra’s words to find her sister immediately made me think of Vivienne. The only other seer I knew of in either kingdom.

She had found us though, showing up at The Knotted Willow after I found the dagger, even if she had been trapped in one of her usual episodes.

I ran my fingers over it at my thigh.

Kade squeezed my hand again. I stared at his profile, focused and unyielding as he led us through the halls of the palace.

Cassandra’s comment to him about mates burned over myskin. An ugly, jealous rage blossomed inside of me at the mere thought of Kade having a mate. He hadn’t denied her words though.

No.

That didn’t matter right now. Even if the thought pulsated in my chest, threatening to knock me off my feet. The strange thrum of energy present around Kade now lingered as a constant buzz.

I inhaled deeply, rubbing my chest as if I could relieve the knot inside the center of me. It had grown last night, only settling when I awoke to Kade’s lips kissing up and down my body.

We burst into the training room, walking to the ring.

We were alone so far; the others hadn’t arrived.

“Well,” I breathed out, blowing the air purposefully.

Kade ran his other hand over his face.

“This Thames has to be able to communicate with Andras,” I said, the words Cassandra spoke replaying in my head. “Using Casimir to siphon magic into gems? It sounds like your father’s amulet is essentially the same thing.”

“Thames is trapped, according to Cassandra.” Kade frowned. “But it’s that or my father communicating with Andras, and I don’t believe that’s possible.”

“Let’s hope he’s trapped for now. We don’t know what your father is doing. The darknessisspreading with similar magics on both sides of the void."

Kade nodded. “I think you’re right.” He pulled me close to him, kissing the top of my head. “Whatever is happening, it’s you and me, Little Rebel. We will figure this out together.”

“The end of your prophecy.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Say it again.”

“Fuck, I know,” he answered. “Though evil will free and be bound no more, Fate still awaits one final war.”

The doors opened, and Jax and Raya jogged in.

“Storm?” Kade immediately tensed, shadows swirling around him.

“Fine, checking on something for the king,” Raya answered. Her eyes bounced back and forth between the two of us. Dark circles marred her face.

“How did it go?” Kade asked, and she turned her attention to him.

She shrugged. “He seemed angrier in my mind than he actually was. In fact, he barely cared for the details.” She closed her eyes and shook her head like she wanted to rid herself of her thoughts. “He’s too calm.”

She balled her hands into fists once, twice.

“I say we take that as a blessing. Maybe the Fates decided to let us catch a break for once,” Jax grumbled. “There’s nothing here. No rumors. No curious inquiries about where we were. Everything is merely continuing on as usual.”

Kade released a sharp breath. “That’s good. So right now, everything is okay.”

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