Page 54 of Shadows of Ruin

“Oh, please do,” Jax mumbled as he chewed. “I’m dying for more.”

I rolled my eyes before returning my gaze to Lana.

“Even though we’re Guardians, sworn to our king and kingdom, we took matters into our own hands. With Storm’s help, I no longer murdered the ‘traitors,’ as my father called them. We created a system to keep the illusion that I remained his faithful monster, while also ensuring no other innocents died.” I shuffled my feet, uncomfortable at the memory of Lana’s horrified gaze during the most recent fake deaths in Canyon City. It had been the worst torture to let her believe what everyone else in this kingdom did.

I cleared my throat. “We created a network of trusted people and began moving thetraitorsto a safe house. We have been harboring them there until I’ve been able to take them across the void myself.” I looked toward Raya, eyes softening now that she’d stilled her pacing. “I cannot say where, so please don’t ask. Raya’s connection with the king is too strong, so for her safety and ours, we don’t speak of it out loud. We cannot risk everything we have built over these last few years.”

Storm moved to stand beside me, placing his hand on my shoulder.Strength. He knew all too well about the guilt eating at me, not being able to fully include Raya.

Lana’s gaze finally left mine to look at Raya. “He can read all of your thoughts?”

Raya shrugged, as if she could brush off the comment, even though I knew how hard this was for her. “I’ve worked incredibly hard to learn how to protect my thoughts and mind from the king. For the most part, he only sees what I want him to. But…” She looked to me, nodding. “…in an abundance of caution, we limit my knowledge as best we can. I won’t risk the only people who have ever cared about me.”

She’d been treated as an outsider because of her magic her entire life. But the minute my father’s hold on her lessened, I’d make it up to her. I had to.

“We originally came to Brookmere looking for a way to allow our people to integrate into your kingdom,” Storm continued, shifting the attention from Raya as she would want, thankfully leaving out the prophecy bit for now. “While there, we heard inklings of the Hidden Henchman, so we figured we’d try to get some supplies for our people who left everything for a chance at life. The supplies we requested from you were for those people. It gave us an opportunity to provide more for those we saved. It also gave us a chance to meet someone who may have been like-minded, someone brave enough to stand up for those who needed help.” Storm rubbed his neck. “We wrongly assumed your father ruled like King Dargan, given the hardships our people faced in the border villages of Brookmere. We certainly didn’t realize the Hidden Henchman and the princess were one and the same.”

I could see Lana trying to process everything, her facial expressions providing a mirror to her feelings within. Horror, sadness, concern. Fates, I could practically see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to comprehend it all.

Watching her process her feelings ignited my own worry. Everything we’d just revealed made her a potential target for the king. The reminder felt like ice trickling through my body. “We cannot and will not tell you anymore. I willnotput you in any more danger than I already have.”

She stared at me, searching for something, or maybe simply deciding whether to keep trying to kill me or not. I didn’t think I’d mind the latter since it usually ended with one of us on top of the other.

“None of this helps us get through tomorrow!” Raya jumped in impatiently. “She knows why we're not loyal, but nowhoware we going to pass the Blood Oath? The rebellion had only just begun the last time we took the oath. With onlyone half-assed save under our belt, we were able to pass. It’s beenthree yearsnow. We have committed hundreds of treasonous acts. We have no idea if the magic of the Blood Oath can cut through my careful defenses, let alone if you lot can keep your secrets hidden.”

Lana froze, her chest rising and falling rapidly as realization dawned on her face about the rationality of Raya’s concern. “If they don’t pass, you’ll have to kill them.”

I nodded, not shying away from her stare. Fates, I wanted to tell her it would be okay. I wanted to get her out of here. Maybe I should forget my prophecy and return to Brookmere. Perhaps she’d let us stay there for a time.

But he’d find us. I’d leave too many defenseless. I had no doubt my father would find new ways to harm innocent people, with or without my help.

“Raya, you are technically still following all the king’s orders exactly as intended. You know nothing about where the rebellion is hiding and have never been informed of details because of it,” I stated plainly, ignoring Raya’s huff. “You should be fine.”

“Yeah, it’s just the rest of us that are fucked.” Jax grinned. Storm lunged toward him, slugging him in the arm, much to Jax’s amusement.

“Cassandra oversees the oaths,” I said, thinking out loud. “I have to talk to her anyway, so maybe she will have some insight about how we can stay alive.”

“And you trust her?” Lana asked.

“Implicitly.”

I’d picked up that Lana didn’t seem particularly fond of Vivienne in Brookmere. But Cassandra had saved my life too many times to count, keeping whatever darkness lurked inside of me at bay. Though I had no idea if her role in my life was due to her caring about me or ensuring the prophecy was fulfilled.

I glanced up, noting the sun dipping behind the upperwalls of the training pit. “I have a meeting with the king,” I sighed. “But I do not want Illiana anywhere near him. Not at any time. Especially should anything go wrong during the oath.”

I met Raya’s stare first. “You will stay with her. You’re the only one we know for sure will pass. She can stay in her room for the beginning of the festival, and then you can escort her to the ball. It would be too strange for her not to attend the finale, but we can at least keep her hidden away for the festival.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not staying with her,” Lana chimed in. “She’s more likely to kill me than anyone else.”

I narrowed my eyes onto my ever-argumentative Little Rebel. “Youwillstay with her, and that is final. You are in over your head here.”

“I am far from incapable, and you know that. I can take care of myself. Besides, it sounds like you should be more concerned about yourself than me. You forget I’ve had years of surviving a royal court.”

Shadows seeped from my fingertips, my anger fueling their request for release.

“You have survived nothing compared to what you will see here.”

She stepped toward me. “If I can survive Andras, then I can certainly survive your father.”

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