Page 151 of Shadows of Ruin

And Kade had no idea.

I had to do something, warn him in some way. I bit the guard’s hand, and he yelped in pain as I thrust myself forward. “Kade—” But the king shoved me backward, sending me careening into a line of guards behind him.

The force of the motion caught me so off guard, I landed at a Guardian’s feet, who forcefully picked me up underneath my arms. He wasted no time, his hand clasped over my mouth and a dagger held to my side.

For the first time since I’d met Kade, he looked terrified. His cool demeanor cracking at the sight of me struggling before him. I would be dead in an instant if the king willed it.

“I said I will submit,” Kade growled. “On the condition Lana and my friends go free.”

All I could do was shake my head, unable to communicate that Kade would be giving the king exactly what he wanted.

The king’s eyes glimmered in giddiness as he readied the whip he’d picked up. “On your knees.”

Kade started to drop to his knees where he stood on the other side of the study, but King Dargan stopped him. “No, boy, not there.” He pointed toward me. “There.”

I screamed against the guard’s palm as I fought unsuccessfully to free myself from his grip. His armor too thick for me to do any damage, more likely to injure myself in the process.

Kade slowly stood to his full height and made his way across the room, cautiously lowering himself once more, this time at my feet.

King Dargan strode toward Kade as he removed his shirt. It had to be an automatic response from his past. He placed his hands on his knees and his back remained as straight as board, ready and waiting for his punishment.

I tried once more to scream at him, to tell him not to do this. His father has no intention of letting either of us leave here. At least not alive.

Kade looked me straight in the eye and mouthed, “I love you,” before schooling his expression into a blank stare.

The sound of the whip cracked in the air as leather met flesh. My whole body revolted at the sound, flinching as the aroma of copper filled the air. Kade didn’t even flinch as the second crack echoed in the silence of the study. Droplets of blood laced the darkened leather and splattered across the stone floor.

“You dare defy your master?” the king whispered as he stalked from one side of Kade’s body to the other. “I created you. I made you the Fae you are today, and this betrayal is how you repay me?”

Tears streamed down my face as I watched while Kade was whipped three more times. Blood freely flowing down his back now. The king collected the flowing liquid into a vial.

The blood of an heir, willingly given.

Kade remained unmoving, his eyes staring straight into mine.

“I have been feeding the darkness into you for years.” Dargan was brazen in his explanation. “Haven’t you ever wondered about your little blackouts? The way your magic intensified?”

Kade didn’t say anything, but I could practically see the wheels turning in his mind. Replaying every interaction with this newfound knowledge.

“You are my monster, and once Thames is released, you will not be able to ignore darkness’s call. You will stand by my side.”

“Never,” Kade grunted through gritted teeth.

The king scoffed and pivoted to face Raya, Storm, and Jax, still trapped behind his magical barrier. I had almost forgotten they were even here because I was so focused on Kade. Tears still flowed down my face. Dargan flicked his wrist and the barrier fell away, their screams now audible in the once quiet study.

“Thank you, Raya. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. You will be rewarded for your loyalty to your king.”

All their heads turned to look at Raya. Everything they had done to safeguard their plans from the king was for nothing.

Raya let a single tear fall down her face as she stood there, unable to move despite the dispersion of the magical barrier.

“Now the time has come!” King Dargan started. “Thames has waited a thousand years. It is time for him to be released.”

He still needed my blood, and I would not give it up willingly. There was no way I would be the cause of the release of this murderous void monster living between our lands, sucking it dry, infecting our people.

“Why?” Kade asked.

A single word. The power of the question unmistakable. The king froze and pivoted to face Kade.

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