Page 24 of Shadows of Ruin

Finally, the pulsing magical glow settled into the ring.

“It will be nice to question him without all of that bravado hiding behind his meager power,” Andras said, sounding bored. He held up the ring in the dim torch lights of the dungeon. “And to do so with his own magic working against him.”

Andras pulled me toward him again with just the flick of his wrist.

This time, the hold he had on me felt insurmountable. How was this possible?

He grinned. “Ah yes, the power is there.”

Grabbing my arm through the bar, his fingers elongated. His nails became pointed and sharp, almost like the claws of a hawk. Andras cocked his head to the side, then twisted my arm.

Thecrackof snapping bone would have been more prominent had I not shouted in agony.

He released my arm, touching my forehead, and a searing pain radiated throughout my body, throbbing over the pain of my broken arm. “Your defenses will be nothing now,” he whispered giddily.

The agony in my head lessened almost immediately.

“No,” he snarled, pulling his hand back. I collapsed to the floor again. “No, it’s gone already.”

He slammed Casimir into the wall. “Figure out a way to make it stay. I know it works.” He pulled Lord West toward him and then slammed him back again. “He told me it would work.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I will not fail you again,” Casimir promised, bending on a knee.

“You’re disgusting, groveling before a mad man.” I grimaced through the pain, refusing to let them keep me down.

Casimir stalked toward the cell again, squatting in front of it. “When I discover where your princess is, I’ll have my fun with her. Did you hear that,Captain?” He smiled, licking hislips. “I can’t wait to taste her. To see what you and Kade were so worked up?—”

“I’ll kill you,” I shouted, raging against the bars between us. “I’ll get out of here, wrap my hands around your neck and enjoy every second of watching you beg for mercy if you even think about looking at her.”

Casimir didn’t say a word, just wriggled his fingers in a wave and walked away.

“No!” I screamed again. I was losing. Failing at all of this, with no way to protect Lana.

Especially not when Andras had some plan to siphon others’ magic. It hadn’t worked today, but what was to keep them from finding a way to make it last? How unstoppable could he become?

With Casimir on the prowl, searching for her, I prayed she hadn’t left Brookmere by herself. I didn’t want her with Kade and Storm, those traitors. But if she were with them, it would make it more difficult for Casimir to capture her.

I refocused my breathing, refocused my mind on surviving. Gathering what I knew in order to use everything against the man still standing in front of me. I might be failing Lana right now, but I wouldn’t forever.

“It was I who gave the blessing for him to do what he wishes with Illiana,” Andras said. “As long as he ultimately brings her to me for my uses.”

I clenched my teeth.

“I do love to watch the hope fade from my playthings,” Andras chuckled. “Now the real fun can begin.”

A shout from down the corridor forced Andras’s attention away from me to acknowledge the intruder. A flurry of whispers, too quiet even for my superior hearing to pick up, passed quickly before Andras returned from the shadows.

“Prepare yourself. I’ll be back later for somequalitytime together.”

I grasped the bars and shouted at the man receding downthe hall. “You will never be king. I will make sure of it. On my father’s grave, I swear I will kill you.”

Andras stopped midway down the hall and laughed. An evil, sinister laugh. “You have no idea what I’m capable of, boy. I’ll be king before the year is up either by using the queen or forcing Illiana to ascend by my side. Once the crown sits atop my head, I’ll destroy her. And you. Just you wait.”

The click of Andras’s shoes slowly retreated. I remained kneeling on the cold floor. Alone again.

He’d never get to her. I wouldn’t allow it. I needed to escape from these dungeons. Somehow.

Shuffling scraped on the stones down the hall. More than one pair of feet made their way toward me. I stared into the darkness, watching until Corbin emerged with a cup of water and a tray containing bread and soup. Guards flanked him, one on each side.

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