Page 44 of Shadows of Ruin

I cracked my neck, preparing for another battle. Apparently, the Fates took my need for a distraction literally.

Storm dismounted, sending a massive fireball toward the incoming attackers, creating a space for us to gather ourselves.

Jax and Raya paired up together instantly, working on slaughtering the assailants to the left side of the tree tunnel. The two slashed their blades from their horses with ease. Itwas clear why they were Mysthaven’s elite Guardians in the way they moved.

My gaze remained transfixed on them and their deadly dance of swords and magic.

Jax moved as if he knew exactly where Raya would be next. The two proved to be an absolutely lethal combination.

Kade, Storm, and I shifted to the right side of the tunnel.

I went to unsheathe my dagger as Kade produced a sword from the horse’s pack, thrusting it into my hands.

“Show them what you’ve got, Little Rebel,” Kade said with a wink as he dismounted in a smooth movement. Shadows swirled around his feet, billowing into clouds around him.

His arrogance really did know no bounds; we were being attacked, for Fates’ sake, and he managed to wink. My skin warmed at the gesture, which felt much more like the Kade I knew. A weight clearly lifted in him after telling me the truth about my father last night.

He pulled his sword from his waist and then, with his right hand, conjured shadows into the shape of a sword. An actual sword.

A freaking shadow sword.

My jaw dropped as the shadows thickened, matching his other blade, becoming less and less transparent.

“Is it bigger than before?” Jax shouted, stabbing through a dark one while still on his horse.

Storm grunted. “Definitely more solid. Harder and longer too.”

“Hopefully he knows how to wield it,” Jax laughed.

“Shut up, you idiots,” Raya scolded, cutting off Storm and Jax from continuing their teasing.

A dark one screamed and stole my attention, running toward me. Crouching slightly, I welcomed the attack. I would prove to all of these Guardians I could hold my own too.

Kade’s shadows exploded outward from his body,knocking out a group of ten dark ones before my feet even landed on the dusty ground. From the corner of my eye, I saw fireballs fly through the air.

Rushing forward, I took the opportunity to deliver the killing blow to a dark one Kade was battling. Slicing into the man’s stomach, I hummed in satisfaction as blood gushed from the wound while he fell to the ground.

Without a moment’s hesitation I turned, moving on to my next target.

A caress skimmed over the length of my back. Kade’s shadows. At first, they lingered, but as I approached the next attacker, the shadows formed a solid cover over my body. Like armor.

Shadow armor.

Well, that was kind of cool.

“You were holding back in Brookmere,” I shouted over my shoulder.

Kade chuckled behind me but didn’t answer.

Using the techniques Ian taught me, I skillfully took down two more dark ones without receiving a single scratch.

He would be proud of me. The thought stuck in my gut, and a void hollowed out inside of me. I missed him desperately.

Jax and Raya left a pile of bodies in their wake as they moved swiftly through the onslaught.

Kade moved off to the side to deal with another group of dark ones, while Storm backed himself closer to me.

Back-to-back, we battled a few more charging around us. Storm was an incredible fighter, and his fire magic was entrancing. If Ian could ever forgive Storm for knocking him out, together they could be unstoppable.

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