Page 29 of Shadows of Ruin

I frowned. Swallowing, knowing I needed information aboutallof them. “And you, Raya?”

She went rigid in her saddle, riding next to Jax. “After being abandoned as a child on the steps of the palace, the king decided he’d like to hone my—what did you call it?—disgustingmind magic. I met this lot when I became a Guardian.”

My heart softened, marginally. I doubted she’d give me any additional information, but she’d obviously been through hell if the king, who they all clearly despised, had a hand in training her.

The need to apologize became instantly overwhelming. “Someone very—” I swallowed. “Someone who hurt many people I love has mind magic. He controlled what I could see. What I believed to be real. It was the only time I’ve encountered it beyond cautionary fairytales. His torture lasted for years, and his betrayal to our kingdom ran deep. I apologize for making a judgement without knowing you,” I said quietly.

She glanced over her shoulder at me. “Well, I don’t have illusion mind magic. Up until now, I’ve only ever been able to mentally communicate with the king. Don’t worry your precious princess head.”

Kade grumbled something toward her in warning but didn’t engage her further.

Raya looked away from me, and I wondered if her attention would cease altogether.

“Don’t feel bad,” Jax laughed. “Raya doesn’t like anyone.”

I returned to taking in the road before us. Not that there was much of a road. The vast openness made it impossible to miss anything.

“Where are we going?” I asked Storm.

“The king requested we take care of a problem on our way home,” he answered.

“Canyon City,” Jax sighed. “I haven’t been there since Alvira Synclair broke my heart.”

Raya reached out and punched his arm. “You slept with her sister after telling her she might be the one for you, you cad.”

Jax rubbed his arm. “In my defense, Opal’s mead had to have been a stronger concoction that evening, because she looked just like her.”

I pursed my lips together, holding back a memory-pained smile as I thought about how close they appeared. It reminded me of Ian and Kalliah. Of Brookmere. How would I ensurehe lived? If he had been thrown in the dungeons, where were the others? Leif? Corbin? I inhaled, shaking slightly.

Storm let go of the reins with one hand and squeezed my shoulder, but he didn’t say anything.

Kade’s shadows fell over his horse in the front, snaking back to us.

“Fucking Fates.” Jax shivered. “What are they doing?”

His shadows had almost reached me when, at Jax’s comment, they snapped back toward Kade, immediately restricting themselves to hovering beneath him.

“They do that now,” Storm said.

Jax shook his head in disbelief, all while Kade remained quiet. Refusing to turn around and engage, not even with his friends.

“What problem are you handling for the king?” I asked, continuing to prod until otherwise shut down.

“We’re soldiers, what do you think a problem entails,” Raya said, as if that would end the conversation.

Jax snorted. “To be fair, the question has merit. Especially since we know very well the problem isn’t a real traitor. It’s merely someone innocent the king wants to?—”

“No.” Kade tugged on the reins, turning and stopping our journey. “Not another word.”

I frowned. “So, I really am a prisoner? We letyouinto our fold in Brookmere. Happy to see the same courtesy isn’t extended here.”

“You have no idea what it’s like here,” Kade argued.

“Whose fault is that?”

Kade’s horse neighed, though seemed not to react too much to the shadows swirling around its hooves. “Mine. I know. I’d make this same choice every damn time though. I will not give him a reason to do anything to you. I refuse.”

“That’s enough,” Storm said quietly from behind me.

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