Page 65 of Shadows of Ruin

Kade didn’t look at or acknowledge me. My gaze met Cassandra’s, but she quickly glanced away.

It was enough to know we were under a microscope. Even more so than before. And there could be no errors.

Kade unsheathed the sword at his back, and then, in his empty hand, his shadows formed his second blade. His blade of shadows and darkness.

He held his head up, facing the traitors, and his eyes darkened along with the shadow blade until all that remained was destruction.

I shivered, and a part of my heart broke for Kade. For the man standing, weapons out, against his own people. People likely to be innocent.

One by one he lashed out, first with his sword, and then with the shadow blade. I didn’t look away as the latter left ashes in its wake.

When the last man’s body blew away on a phantom breeze in the ring, Kade’s shadow blade evaporated. He left the bloodied sword out, hanging by his side.

“And now, we celebrate,” the king shouted from the edge of the ring to the excited crowd around him.

Footsteps echoed as the spectators left the colosseum. Guardians walked toward the exit, like this hadn’t been devastating. Like they hadn’t lost their friends, ones they must have fought and trained beside for years.

I stepped toward Kade, but Raya grabbed my arm.

“We have a feast to attend.”

I thought I might be sick. This wasn’t like Canyon City. These deaths had to be real.

I looked over my shoulder and stared at Kade until he met my eyes. I poured every ounce of compassion I could into my gaze, but he merely trembled once and looked away.

Chapter 19

Lana

Istared at my washed and primped reflection in the guest room mirror, shocked that only a few hours had passed since the Blood Oath.

I’d achieved all the things Kalliah normally would have done if we had been together.

A lonely yet proud sense of accomplishment came over me for what I’d mastered in such a short amount of time. Even ifmasteredwas a stretch without Kalliah’s brilliant capabilities.

I rubbed at my chest as if that would somehow drown out the ache of worry for her. The ache of missing her.

Surprisingly, Raya had dropped off some beauty essentials on my bed shortly after we returned to the palace. I’m sure she was thrilled to share with me. On top of the supplies, she also left two dresses to choose from.

I selected the sleek fitted emerald-green satin dress. Black lace covered the bodice, wrapping around and zipping up the back. The pleats on the skirt of the dress made it appear as if I was gliding when I walked around the room. The loose skirt also allowed me to conceal a dagger on my thigh. Clearly necessary after the events that had transpired earlier today.

The other option had been an obnoxious pink dress, withfrilly sleeves and a corset back, which was entirely too low. It was probably one of the ugliest things I had ever seen, so picking between the two had not been difficult. Raya presumably thought it funny to leave me with such an atrocious choice.

I touched the braided crown I’d woven atop my head, pinning it just like Kalliah had shown me. It only took me three attempts this time, so my practice had been paying off. Again, I craved her presence. I missed her desperately. Besides needing her expertise in hair and makeup. I missed my best friend. My confidant.

I had no idea if she was okay. I had to get back to her. Back to my mother.

I had to return to Ian.

If Andras had hurt them, I swore on the Fates themselves I would destroy the man in even worse ways than I’d already planned.

I looked up from the vanity stationed in the far corner of the room, out the large arched window overlooking the gaping canyon I’d seen from the balcony earlier.

While this room did not have the homey feeling of my own back in Brookmere, it felt elegant and comfortable, and the view was spectacular.

I jumped when a quick rap sounded at my door.

I braced myself in case Kade stood on the other side, ready to scold me for being with his father. The moments with the king had certainly been an experience I did not wish to repeat.

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