Page 31 of Shadows of Ruin

Every cell in my body remained frozen in place on the horse, even as Storm slipped off behind me, stalking toward Kade in the wake of his shadows.

Storm gripped the hilt of his blade, unsheathing it while Jax and Raya dismounted, following close behind.

“I believe you were given a fair ultimatum,” Storm said, running his hand over his blade.

My heart thumped so hard in my chest, it hurt.

The reaction to Kade, to all of them, made no sense for soldiers who were meant to be Guardians. Their own people didn’t trust them. They outright feared them.

I slipped off the horse, remaining close to the beast in case I needed to flee. Not like the group wouldn’t catch me, but the thought tempted me.

Kade curled a shadow up and over a man trembling in the front of the crowd. A crowd huddled together like animals being herded for slaughter as more time passed.

“Tell me now,” he said as his shadow circled the man’s throat. “And live.”

The man raised a shaking arm, pointing toward aretreating figure at the edge of the square. Upon seeing he’d been outed, the figure turned to run.

Kade’s shadows lashed outward, flashing past everyone and darkening the square in their wake. They grabbed the man from behind, lifting him at the waist and dragging him back to the center of town as he screamed.

“I’ve committed no crime,” he spat at Kade.

I inched closer, observing the purely vengeful look on Kade’s face. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself.

“We’ll see.” He grinned at his captive. Surely he’d listen to the man though. Especially if Jax thought him innocent.

A small wooden platform backed up to a building wall to the left of the square, and Kade…well, Kade’s shadows set the man down on it, wrapping his arms and legs in the inky-black magic.

The crowd parted, refocusing their attention from our group to the platform. Raya startled me, approaching hastily, and hooked her arm around my side as she led me to stand between Storm and Jax. She remained behind me.

None of the group looked at me.

Kade paced back and forth in front of the wooden platform. “Richard, you have been accused of conspiring against the king, aiding dark ones, and spreading their poison.”

“It’s a lie,” the man cried out.

Kade whipped another tendril of shadow to cover his mouth. My eyes widened, and I wiped my palm against my thigh.

“It’s not your turn,” he hissed. “Where was I?” He tapped his finger against his chin.

His words from last night filtered into my mind.

The longer we stay here, the more you’ll learn. The more you’ll hate me.

“Ah yes, you’ve been accused of conspiring against theking. Is there anyone who can speak on behalf of Richard? Anyone at all?”

The crowd cowered, no one making a sound. No one moving.

It was as if they remained rooted in place, unable to do anything but stare at Kade. Which had been the truth? This man terrorizing Fae with his mere presence? Or the man who’d begged for me not to die. The man who made my soul feel at peace.

Kade tsked. “Looks like they agree that you’re a traitor.” An evil grin spread across his lips, although it didn’t seem right to call it that. I met his gaze, his dark, colorless eyes, and gasped. The black stood out so much more than it had in Brookmere.

Storm put a subtle hand on my back as I involuntarily shifted.

My breathing shallowed, quickening as I waited to see what came next.

“You didn’t work alone though, did you?” Kade said, pacing again. “Your wife, what is her name again?”

Kade looked back and Jax lifted his chin. “Bridget.” His voice, too, was cold, and he smiled back at Kade.

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