Page 59 of Shadows of Ruin

“Are you ready?” the king shouted, and the crowd roared, rising to their feet. “Let your blades strike true, Guardians of Mysthaven.”

I shuddered, wondering why on earth the king would revel in his own warriors destroying each other unnecessarily or hoping their blades struck true. It seemed like such a waste of good men.

“With blood may you reign,” he announced. My jaw dropped as the crowd chanted the line. This kingdom’s vicious mantra, I realized. So incredibly different from our “May nature guide you”motto.

Suddenly, fire exploded into the air, spreading around the arena in billowing strands. The fight had begun. Below me a flurry of movement took over the arena, and Guardiansdescended on one another. I jumped back, startled at the immediate intensity of their attacks.

I dared to look at the king, who sat watching with rapt fascination. “Marvelous, isn’t it?” he cooed without looking away from the fight.

“I assumed it would be one-on-one fighting,” I admitted.

He turned toward me. “Where would be the fun in that? This way, they can turn on each other. Weed out the weak.”

Keeping my face as neutral as possible, I watched. The king’s maliciousness unnerved me.

In Brookmere, it had been evident Kade and Storm possessed skills, both with magic and blades, far surpassing most of our soldiers. Evidently, the same could be said of the others in Mysthaven as well. Watching them fight, even in such a bloody and extreme tradition, mesmerized me. Then again, the fluidity and grace warriors possessed always held a certain allure for me. Even as a child, watching Ian train and hone his skills had been breathtaking.

Screams echoed around us, a Guardian falling. Clashing swords rang in the pit below. Some purposefully sought out individuals to attack alone, while others teamed up in groups, making it nearly impossible to survive their concerted attack. The brutality of their aggression grew the longer the fight continued. My gaze remained focused on each of those I knew. My hands clasped the edge of the seat in anticipation. Storm, Jax, and Raya were all safe, fighting their way among their fellow warriors.

Though there were those walking to the edge of the ring, merely bloodied, a few bodies littered the dirt floor of the ring too.

I’d never considered myself bloodthirsty, but watching the others move with grace and a ruthless efficiency stirred something inside of me. Especially Kade.

My eyes lingered on his form, his physique. I shifted in my seat. He battled, his sword whipping through the air swiftly,marking other Guardians with three strikes before they even had a chance to raise their blades in their own attack. All the while, he kept his blows shallow, never injuring those he battled more than necessary to disqualify them.

I let out a breath as he disarmed another attacker, one that got far too close for my liking.

“Careful now, Illiana.” The king’s voice sounded too close to my ear. I’d been so entranced with Kade, I hadn’t noticed him shift toward me. “One might think you have eyes for a different Guardian. I do feel obligated to tell you though, my son is off-limits for the likes of you. He has far too many options as it is.” The king brought his hand to my knee.

I wanted to rip it off.

“Dalliances distract him from his true purpose. Beyond whoever is selected to be his wife and bear him an heir, he’s mine.”

His purpose? Slaughtering traitors. At the king's command. What would my life have been if my parents had treated me like this man treated Kade? How was it possible he ever learned to thrive when this bloodthirsty king served as his only example of a man at a young age.

He stroked my knee. “If you’re interested in someone outside ofStorm, do let me know. I have space for an additional consort, even if you are a lesser Fae.”

My body chilled. I was through with men touching what wasn’t theirs. Right now, every fiber of my being raged in response to his unwanted advances. That rage only burned fiercer as an internal voice screamed that Kade was more mine than his.

And my damn leg the king so eagerly pawed at, my body—those certainly belonged to me as well.

"I suggest, Your Majesty, you remove your hand. I don’t appreciate being touched without permission.” I cocked an eyebrow, knowing I treaded a dangerous line with my words. “I have no desire to be a consort. Unfortunately, though generous of you to offer, my heart lies elsewhere.”

The king’s cold smile grew at my words. He slowly removed his hand, one finger at a time, but his expression seemed far too victorious. He looked nothing like his son. I may struggle to know the true Kade, but I knew that no one owned him.

Including this tyrant.

I clenched my teeth, wanting to run. Or shove the king off the balcony.

A deafening roar from the arena drew our attention back to the fight. A Guardian came up behind Kade, sword over his head as though he meant to kill, not injure. Kade had just knocked a Guardian in front of him out of the competition and hadn’t turned around yet. I gripped the railing of the chair, helpless.

Kade twisted at the last minute, easily disarming the man and slashing his blade across the right arm of his attacker. He ducked, then sliced his opponent’s leg and opposite arm. Three strokes and it was over. Blood pooled from the minor wounds of the Guardian Kade defeated, his expression hateful even from up here in the stands.

I closed my eyes, loosening my death grip.

“You give yourself away too easily,” the king drawled, his eyes still on the ring. “My son bows to my command, whether he likes it or not. If I say you’re gone, so you shall be. I’d remember that before you get too comfortable running your mouth.”

I raised my chin.

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