Page 82 of Shadows of Ruin

“So, something about that blade in particular called that side of you forward?” I theorized, not wanting to use the wordmonsterin regard to Kade. Not ever again now that I had begun to grasp what it meant to him. The pain it caused. “Do you think the king is poisoning people? It wouldn’t be the first time a poisoned blade would be used by someone evil.”

I unconsciously rubbed the scar on my side as my arms wrapped around myself.

Kade caught the motion, and his body tensed.

Storm’s face dropped as he rubbed the spot where he was stabbed. “The blade from our journey here was powerful magic. It left a scar.” He paused and my eyes flared.

What are we dealing with here?

Storm shook his head, like he couldn’t comprehend it. “No, he’s the king. He wouldn’t…”

“Wouldn’t what?” Raya asked as she came to stand beside me.

“You think he is infecting people with the darkness using that blade.” I said it knowing that was exactly the conclusion Kade had drawn. One that seemed obvious, given my own history. Had Andras tried to force the darkness into me in Brookmere unsuccessfully?

Raya sucked in a breath. “Or testing if hecaninfect people.”

“I don’t feel any different,” Storm said, his brow deeply furrowed.

“Seems pretty ballsy if you ask me,” Jax stated. “How would he have bottled evil? That’s essentially what you’re saying. Beyond that, what would make him choose to do something so aggressive now?”

“Nothing is out of the realm of possibility,” Kade remarked. “We need to think of all of the times we have seen blades like that before.” He stopped, frowning. “This isn’t the first time he’s used something like this.” Kade’s voice lowered to the point where I didn’t know if he meant for the words to be for all of us. “He used whips and other devices on me. When Cassandra used to heal me growing up, my blood leeched black occasionally.”

An emotional ache erupted inside of me. He’d been tortured.

By his own father.

The possessive part of me that balked against his father’s words during the festival came alive again. I wanted to go to him, to touch him. Instead, I closed my eyes, clenching my hands into fists. I needed to regain control of myself.

Jax and Raya didn’t say a word, but Storm turned away from his friend and us.

“I thought it was because of my shadows, but if we follow the train of thought we’re on—” Kade waved a hand.

“But you don’t act like a dark one,” I whispered.

“He does when he can’t control it,” Storm added. “You’ve seen a very controlled version of Kade here and in Brookmere, Lana. Before, it…it could be seen as akin to the dark ones.”

“Well, we clearly have a place to start. But how do we get our hands on that blade to see if we’re right?” Jax asked.

Storm stepped closer to Jax. “Cassandra may know a way.”

Storm, Kade, and Jax huddled together, discussing this new revelation. Raya and I remained on the outside, neither of us able to add anything more to the conversation. When their voices lowered, she stepped back. A flash of hurt in her eyes lingered for a moment before returning to their hardened nature.

“It can suck to be the one on the outside,” I said. It sounded dumb now that the words were out of my mouth, and not at all comforting.

“Yeah, well. The outside isn’t so bad sometimes.”

Silence fell between us. I sat down on the outer rim of the ring, hopping up onto the wall.

A few more moments passed, and Raya looked at me, fear furrowing her brow.

These flashes of emotion seemed so unlike her.

She cleared her throat. “I know you’re not the biggest fan of mind magic, and I get that, most aren’t. But I could try to check on your friend again if you wanted. I can’t guarantee it will work; I normally can’t get into others’ minds like that, especially at such a distance, but I am willing to try.”

Her offer caught me completely off guard. “You would do that for me?”

“Yeah, well, I—” She rolled her shoulders, so obviously uncomfortable with the situation, I couldn’t help but smile. I barely knew her, and yet I knew without a doubt this generosity was not given to many. “I didn’t realize how being stuck with those three assholes my entire life might mean I missed out on some fun, until your tipsy ranting about dancing on a table. I surprisingly, and against my better judgement, didn’t mind our talk.”

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