Page 30 of Shadows of Ruin

Kade’s gaze flicked toward Raya, and he inhaled a breath. “It doesn’t matter if the mark is guilty or not. We’re under the king’s orders. We ride.”

With that, Kade jerked the reins on his horse and led us once more, this time increasing the pace.

“What is going on?” I asked Storm.

“More than we can tell you right now. But Lana, please, when we get to Canyon City, do as you’re told, when you’re told,” he answered, voice lowered more than before.

On the horizon, the outlines of buildings appeared, breaking the monotony of the red valley around us.

We had almost arrived at our destination and hadn’t undergone a single attack from beast or Fae. In fact, we hadn’t seen anyone at all.

“Are there dark ones in Mysthaven?” I asked, suddenly aware that apart from the attack in the void by the creature, there didn’t seem to be a soul around this place but us.

Storm grunted in confirmation behind me. “Not nearly as many as we faced in Brookmere. The ones who attack here do so closer to our cities.”

“Which means everyone needs to stop talking and be on alert,” Kade snapped, turning slightly from his horse. I met his gaze but immediately looked away. I didn’t want to try to understand the pain I felt at his hollow stare.

“Let’s get this over with so I can find Opal,” Jax said. “Now that I brought up her mead, I’m going to need to bring some home.”

“This isn’t a pleasure trip. We know the rules,” Kade said.

Raya snorted, pulling her horse to ride beside Kade again. “Doyouremember them? We’re not the ones who have been gone for months.”

I saw his shoulders stiffen, even from here. “I remember.”

The silence that fell over the friends now held a somber air.

The view of the city cleared the closer we rode. The name made sense as we approached; a huge canyon ran along theleft of the outskirts. Up north in Brookmere, there was something similar, much shallower, and with a stream cutting through it. I wondered if this one contained something so beautiful, or if the bottom was dry like the land.

The buildings of the city weren’t tall, made up of rough white exteriors with clay-colored roofs. The homes on the outskirts had yard space containing livestock, surprising given the climate. We passed through until the structures became larger, built much closer together, with business fronts sprinkled in between the homes.

Shouts echoed in the streets, and a buzz of noise surrounded us. Still, the group stayed quiet, riding through.

A few Fae noticed Kade, and shrank into the shadows of their homes, some even slamming their door before hiding.

I glanced over my shoulder at Storm, but he didn’t acknowledge me. Instead, his steady gaze focused ahead as his jaw ticked. When I faced forward though, his mouth came to my ear. “Whatever you see, stay with one of us at all times. Do what you’re told, no matter how you may feel about what you witness.”

My heartbeat stuttered and breath hitched. Why in the Fates did Storm feel so anxious that he needed to prepare me in such a manner? If the man truly wasn’t a traitor as Jax had insinuated, shouldn’t this detour be simple?

We broke through the scattered buildings and approached a very crowded center of town. The architecture surrounded a large open area, the city radiating outward in a circle from this bustling epicenter. Fae laughed, others bargained, noises rising around the market square in a symphony of chaotic sounds.

Yet as the Fae noticed our arrival, the hustle of the city center ceased.

Everyone stared at our party as the haunting silence hung thickly over us.

A few stray souls braved making a noise by whispering in tones of disbelief, but I didn’t see where they came from.

I thought I caught the wordmonster.

Kade slung his leg over his horse, shadows flinging outward. The Fae standing closest to us, backed up hurriedly. He clasped his hands behind his back, slowly making his way toward the crowd, until theycouldn’tcontinue their retreat.

“Someone has been causing problems for the king,” Kade shouted. His voice, the one that teased me by calling me Little Rebel, swearing to the Fates as it caressed my body in bed, sounded so hard and different now. Goosebumps pebbled along my skin.

“And unless you all want to die”—he lifted his hand, and his shadows erupted outward as the Fae in the front gasped—“you’ll tell me where RichardDraven is. Now.”

Chapter 9

Lana

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