Page 84 of Shadows of Fate

“Cora. She got me out of the castle when he tried to kill me… b-but I think… no, I know she’s the reason I couldn’t remember. She wanted me to forget,” I told him. The look in his eye shifted from pain and concern to something darker.

“She left you defenseless?” Cedar chided. I looked up at him as he started pacing the room.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions when we don’t have all the facts,” Bastian reasoned. Times like this reminded me why Bastian was the leader of Raiden’s armies. The sounding board of reason.

Raiden let out a long breath and Cedar shook his head, walking to the other side of the room. He was guarding the window when he turned to look at all of us.

“I’m staying behind,” he told us.

A tight feeling began in my chest. “What? Why?” I asked before anyone else could speak.

“Someone needs to keep watch and see what’s truly going on here. Someone needs to be the eyes and ears, Silv. I have nothing holding me anywhere. I’m a ghost no one will notice or watch.” He shrugged.

I got up from the bed and wrapped my arms tightly around him. “You’re not a ghost. You’re my best friend.”

He buried his face in my hair and whispered, “I have to do this, Silv. I can’t let this monster continue on with what he did to you. We need proof. Let me save you like you saved me.”

I nodded my head and then walked back to sit by Raiden.

“The sun is setting soon, let’s get our things together and get out of this ice-cold hell,” Raiden muttered.

As I gathered my small bag of things, all I could think about was the anxious pit in my stomach that had been telling me nothing would be the same after this. That leaving my best friend here would change everything for us.

Chapter42

We Can Trust Them

Raiden

The ride back to the Court of Shadows took a few nights, but it was uneventful. Paine flew off once we reached the end of The Broken Ruins Pass, leaving just Silvana, Bastian, and me to ride in mostly silence.

I knew there was a great deal on everyone’s mind. The situation with Viktor hadn’t turned out the way I expected it to, the way I hoped it would. Was I thrilled he was dead, and no longer in my court? Of course. But it didn’t feel like enough for the vengeance thriving through my veins.

We were also no closer to ending Keres and his reign of terror that we knew was happening in that icy fortress. Without proof, Paine and I couldn’t just kill a ruler of another court without starting a war. And, truly, I had no idea what sort of forces Keres had amassed over the years. No one did.

Leaving Cedar behind in a place she saw as a prison hadn’t been easy for Silvana. I knew by her level of anxiety that she didn’t think he’d be coming home again, and I truly couldn’t tell her she was wrong or far off with those thoughts. Cedar had ridden out of the castle with us in his raven form before flying off without a word. Words weren’t needed for that—I understood it well. Goodbyes were hard enough with people you only sort of liked. With people who had a bond like Silvana and Cedar did? It was almost like losing a limb.

For me personally, I wouldn’t sleep well until the male who tortured my mate for most of her life was a pile of dust, and unable to ever be brought back in a form. Until things with her sister were figured out. Until the people I loved were safe, and not in constant danger every day.

By the time we rode across the bridge and into the manor, the three of us were exhausted and ready to sleep for the next few nights at least.

However, Micah was at the door when we walked up, a smile on his face. “We have guests.”

I arched a brow at him. “And who would that be?” I asked.

Before he could reply, Arabella, Anwen, and Allie walked out.

“We need to talk, Silvana,” Arabella said sadly.

Silvana let out a breath. “Yeah, I knew this was coming. Can I at least change first?”

Arabella dipped her head in confirmation as my mate walked past her and toward our chambers.

“I just need a few moments and I’ll be down, I promise,”she whispered through the bond. Every protective instinct in me wanted to follow her, to ensure she was okay and safe. But I also knew my queen. I knew that sometimes she needed the space to just be with herself and her thoughts.

“Well, let’s head inside and see what all the excitement is about. You did at least leave a note for your mate, right? He won’t be tearing apart my court searching for you?” I asked teasingly as I walked into the manor.

Arabella smiled and shook her head. “He knew as soon as Silvana left that I was heading here. We’ve been here since they went to get you from that foul male. I hope you killed him painfully, by the way. If not, I can always bring him back and we can have another go at it.”

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