Page 21 of Shadows of Ruin

Murmurs hummed through the night, and I stilled, turning my head in the direction of the noise, beyond the small gathering of rocks around me.

As they continued, I rose quietly, tucking my letter back into my pants pocket. Walking around the rocks past a few trees, I peeked past my hiding place.

Kade and Storm sat side by side facing out toward an ominous-looking mountain range.

“Want to tell me why you let it overtake you so spectacularly earlier?” Storm asked.

Kade shook his head. “I know Jax was merely running his mouth as usual, but the thought of the king knowing she is here—” He paused, picking something up and tossing it forward into the night.

They’re talking about me.

“And?” Storm prodded.

“The thought of him using her, hurting her,” Kade sighed. “I couldn’t stop it.”

Silence fell between them, but only for a moment before Storm sighed. “It sounds like your own magic destroyed it, overcame it even as it escaped you. Your shadows made sure she was safe.”

“Don’t.” Kade’s voice held a warning toward his friend. “It’s stronger here. She isn’t safe with me. And we damn well know she won’t be safe with him.”

Him.Kade continuously referencedhim.

The king.

“This was always the plan. We needed a queen for whatever purpose Cassandra foresaw.”

A prickling sensation stirred in me. Foresaw? It sounded too familiar. Too much like a prophecy. Hadn’t Kade mentioned a prophecy when we were fleeing? I thought it had been mine, but what else did Storm mean?

I needed to hear more. Needed to know what I was doing here. I stepped forward to hear better, and a dried twig snapped beneath my eager feet.

The men startled, but before they could catch me, I fled.

I barely made it a few paces before shadows wrapped around my waist, followed quickly by a pair of arms.

Kade tsked. “Spying is so unbecoming, Little Rebel.”

I backed a step away from him, shocked he let me. “What were you talking about with Storm? I heard you. I’m not safe here. Who is Cassandra?”

Kade’s eyes narrowed, those beautiful grey swirls standing out against his skin in the moonlight.

“Taking your time to fabricate another lie?” I pressed. “I guess I shouldn't expect anything honest fromyou.”

“I never lied to you.” Kade’s gaze flitted to my mouth, staring as the grey in his eyes twisted with black, which seemed more prevalent here.

My jaw twitched. “How can you say that? You lied to get me to sleep with you and?—”

He took the one step remaining between us, my back hitting a deadened tree. “Ineverlied to you,” he growled. He braced a hand on the side of my head while grasping my chin in his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. “And I didn’t coerce you into what we shared. Don’t you dare twist what happened between us.”

My lip curled as I snorted, yanking my head from his grasp. “Yes, well when you said you were in Brookmere for a queen just to get me in bed, I didn’t think you meant you’d be kidnapping me.”

He leaned in so close that I felt his breath against my skin. Fury radiated off him as his shadows pulsed. We stood barely an inch apart as his chest pressed against mine, rising and falling in rhythm with my own.

I needed to move. Now. Otherwise, my traitorous body might do something like lean into him. My eyes prickled, damn it all. Damnhim. He wouldn’t get any more of my tears.

But Kade saw it all.

Every flutter of emotion.

He leaned down, almost like he wanted to kiss me, but instead grasped a strand of my rose-gold hair between his fingers. His eyes cleared to grey as he swallowed, not breaking eye contact.

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