Page 32 of Shadows of Ruin

Terror gripped me. They were all insane. Taking pleasure in this? It didn’t feel right. Why this show if the man wasn’t truly a traitor?

The shadow loosened from Richard’s mouth. “No, please. She had nothing to do with this. She’s done nothing. I’ve done nothing.”

“Silence!” Kade roared. He nodded toward Jax.

The crowd parted as Jax walked through them, and my stomach twisted. No one defended the man, and no one did anything to protect a woman who cried a few rows from the wooden platform.

Jax grabbed her arm and escorted her forward. This time, when my stomach heaved, I thought I might vomit.

Tears streamed down her face. No, Kade wouldn’t do anything to her. He wouldn’t. Harming a woman seemed so out of character for even this level of crazy.

A shadow scooped under her chin. The shadows that had made me feel safe, now wreaked terror on the Fae here.

“Would you care to explain your choices before you die alongside your husband?”

“No, Kade,” I yelled, stepping forward.

Storm grabbed me, holding my arms behind my back.

I struggled against him. “What do you think you’re doing? Get off me.”

“Shut up,” Raya seethed angrily behind me.

“You said they weren’t even?—”

Storm silenced me, covering my mouth with his hand.

I fought against his hold. He’d told me to stay quiet, and there had to be a reason, but logic was the furthest thing from my mind right now.

“Please,” the woman said. That’s all, one word.

Kade’s shadows tied her up around her shoulders. “You should have thought about the consequences before betraying the crown.” He lifted her in the air, putting her next to her husband. He didn’t prevent the woman from grabbing onto her husband as they huddled together, looking out.

“We never aided the dark ones,” she shouted at Kade. “We’ve protected our people from them. From the king. From you monsters,” she yelled louder.

Was he really going to do this? This couldn’t be happening.

Kade merely stared at his fingers, brushing them on his shirt before looking back at his prisoners. “Anything else you have to say? These words will be your last.”

“I hope you die alongside the king, Monster of Mysthaven.”

Kade grinned. “I would say I grew tired of teachingtraitors lessons.” He looked to his group, Jax smiling, and I assumed Storm and Raya were doing something similar, but I couldn't see them. “But I’d be lying. It brings me great pleasure to show you what the crown thinks of those who disobey.”

Storm still covered my mouth and gripped me with unmovable strength, forcing me to watch the torture before me. I couldn't look away from the woman holding her husband on the platform.

Kade turned to the crowd. “Let this be a reminder of what will happen if you defy the crown.”

His shadows hurtled toward the couple on stage, and they disappeared.

I screamed behind Storm’s hand, as he kept his hold on me, pulling my arms together with one hand. “Stop it, Illiana. Now.”

I bit down, hard on his damn hand, but he didn’t relent. Didn’t even flinch.

The smoke cleared, and I gagged when Storm finally moved his hand. One look at the ashy particles floating in the breeze near a cloud of shadows where the couple stood seconds before had me spilling my stomach on the dusty ground.

Kade had killed them. Even though Jax and the others believed they were innocent. He murdered them.

I heaved, tears pouring from my face.

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