Page 33 of Shadows of Ruin

He killed them.

“Carry on.” Kade waved a hand toward the crowd. “Opal,” he shouted.

A thin woman, donning a worn floral apron and long wildly braided red hair, shuffled over. She hung her head, hands clasped in front of her.

“We need two rooms for the night. You’ll accommodate us or share their fate.”

She bowed, retreating with the rest of the crowd.

The town square emptied, Fae fleeing until only the five of us remained.

I wanted to run toward Kade and stab him in his lying heart. Everythinghadbeen a lie. Everything. A man like that couldn’t love. Not that what we shared was love—I refused to accept that. An infatuation, an intense pull, I’d admit to those. But I couldn’t believe I’d love someone who murdered so easily. Regardless of what the king claimed they’d done, they hadn’t even had a chance to defend themselves. No trial. Nothing.

He approached me, unafraid of my reaction, and took my chin between his fingers. “You run, and I’ll find you. No matter where you flee, even to the other side of the void, my shadows will find you, Little Rebel. Do you understand?” He searched my eyes, an unyielding determination glinting in his own. “Stay with Raya.” He looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. “Can I trust you to handle her?”

“I’ll handle you, you lyingmonster,” I spat.

His brows furrowed. “I’d tell you to look deeper than what you see, but we both know you won’t listen to the words of amonster.” His shoulders slumped, despite the tilt to his chin. Then he walked away with Storm and Jax, back toward the cloud of shadows that had destroyed the supposed traitors.

“Are you coming with me nicely, or will I get to use a weapon on you?” Raya said, a corner of her lips lifted.

“I will kill you if you touch me.”

I meant it too. I followed Raya with a new resolve to do exactly as I’d intended to the other night—flee. Now I just needed an opening to get away from these psychotic killers.

Because there was one thing I knew for sure now: the Kade Blackthorn I thought cared about me didn’t exist here.

If he ever existed at all.

Chapter 10

Lana

The door across the hall slammed as heavy footfalls thudded inside.

A few murmurs followed as the door in the hallway shut more quietly the second time around.

I glanced at my new warden, but Raya ignored me, sharpening her blades with the stone in her hand. The steady grinding of the metal hitting the rock’s surface didn’t falter, even with the commotion of the others returning.

We’d been here for almost an hour and she’d said nothing to me since leaving the center of town.

“Feeling left out?” I asked, not sure why I thought taunting her made sense. She hated me already. Not that I cared.

She cocked an eyebrow, avoiding my gaze. “Typical behavior of a spoiled princess, throwing around childish taunts to get attention.”

I gritted my teeth.

A knock at the door forced her to stop and answer it. Jax whispered something to her, and she looked over her shoulder. “Kade is in the room across from us and will know if you try to leave. The rest of us are heading downstairs; one of us will bring your dinner up shortly. Stay put.”

She shut the door before I could think of a retort.

“Stay put,” I mimicked once she left. I paced around the small room, letting out an agitated huff.

I glanced toward the door. If Kade waited alone in his room, and the others were downstairs in the tavern, now would be my best chance to flee. There had to be an exit from somewhere other than the front door. I’d get to the horses and return the way we’d come. Kade couldn’t be the only person in the kingdom with the blessing from the king to cross the void. I wouldn’t accept that.

If I could escape back to the void, I could find a way. I knew about the voidlings now, too, and would be more prepared. Iwouldfind a way.

Stepping from the bed and keeping as light on my feet as possible, I tiptoed to the side of the room where I’d discarded Raya’s cloak and threw it on. Twisting my hair into a quick braid, I hid it inside the hood. I inhaled, slowly, quietly, before opening the door, thankful the hinges didn’t squeak. As I entered the hall, I stopped, standing rigid outside my room, holding my breath. No sounds came from the room across the hall. If Kade was in there as the others said, I couldn’t hear him.

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