Page 16 of Shadows of Ruin (The Broken Prophecy #2)
Chapter 15
Kade
O f course my own cadre disrupted my brief moment of calm.
Despite knowing I unquestionably could not live without them, they had a penchant for interfering when I needed space.
Lana’s walls were finally breaking, crumbling. She believed me. Now I had to convince her to consider trusting me again. I refused to live in this or any other world where that woman did not believe me when I said how sorry I was for the pain I caused.
And the pain I had yet to cause. I knew there would be more, especially being here. The temptation to have remained in Brookmere, to have her choose me and stay there for good almost blinded me from coming home at all. But leaving my people to suffer at my father’s hand would have eaten away at me.
I’d been a fool to think I could shut off my feelings for her after taking her. For assuming that being in Mysthaven would alleviate my desperate need. Instead, everything I felt for Lana escalated, reminding me that the more time I spent in her company, the more I wanted to fall at her damn feet. The more I wanted to be hers . To give her complete power over me for whatever she wanted with me. Even if what she wanted was to hurt me for what I’d done to her.
I stretched my neck, wincing as the semi-healed wounds on my back pulled too tightly. Nadia had demanded I stay another ten minutes to heal my father’s lashes completely, but I needed to see Lana. I’d left her alone for too long. If I hadn’t been unconscious in the healer’s quarters, I would have been by her side immediately after speaking with my father. I should’ve anticipated the king’s offer for me to take on Storm, Jax, and Raya’s punishments as well. He knew I would do it. His desire to put me in my place outweighed his need to hurt them.
Storm frowned, scrutinizing the stiff way I moved. I straightened immediately, but he knew. He always did. My friend shook his head, clenching his fists. Thankfully he wouldn’t give away my secret to the others. Admitting to them that I accepted their punishments was never something I would burden them with. They carried enough.
Raya paced abnormally fast, back and forth, a few yards away. Her hands on her hips, exasperated by the entire situation before us. Like so many times before, I felt sorry for her. To be so close to knowing it all yet kept at arm’s length. Our relationship with Raya showed my monstrous side in yet another way. Even if the reasons were sound. Even if she understood. It didn’t make it right.
“So, who’s going to say it?” Jax said, looking between all of us, pausing. “Nobody? Okay, I will. Not only did we make it back in time to battle in the Festival of Swords, but now we must somehow pass the damned Blood Oath.”
A heavy silence hung in the air. It had been three years since the Blood Oath was last called, just after we started the rebellion.
“What is the Festival of Swords?” Lana asked. “And the Blood Oath?” Her hands wiped away the dirt left on her clothes from where I’d pinned her to the ground.
I drew in a breath through my teeth, staring at her. Having her delicious body beneath me, even for those few moments, scattered my brain, making it impossible to think about the vast problems that lay ahead of us.
No—focus, Kade, focus.
“The festival is a battle,” Jax offered. “Then a celebratory ball. But mostly a battle. It’s a time for the king to pit his Guardians against each other. But also for the Fates to allow any man or woman to be called into the arena to fight us. If they do, and survive to tell the tale, they earn a spot in the king’s army.”
“How does someone win?” Lana’s face paled as she asked.
Jax grinned. “Worried about me?” He winked. “To win, you must survive. If someone draws your blood three times, you’re disqualified. Although some die because they lose themselves in the heat of the battle.”
She swallowed audibly.
“The battle itself is then followed by the Guardians’ Ball,” Storm continued. “Winners rejoice and celebrate their newfound status in our kingdom. It is a night of revelry and allegiance. Only a few earn a spot in our army. Their families rise to the highest status possible for non-nobility.”
“That sounds bloodthirsty,” Lana said. Her nose crinkled, displaying her obvious disgust at Mysthaven’s traditions. “It’s like the marriage trials but on a larger, more frequent scale. And I thought those were barbaric.”
I couldn’t blame her—the Festival of Swords was barbaric. More people died than Jax alluded to. The whole festival was a far cry from the nature-filled gatherings she’d grown up with in Brookmere.
“Is the Blood Oath at the ball? Or the battles?” she pressed.
Her questions were valid, but it didn’t make answering them any easier. The more she learned about us, the more she’d realize the Kade she’d met back home didn’t exist here. I hated the thought of her knowing everything. Not just because I thought it might irrevocably keep us apart forever—I had such a slim chance now to win her heart—but because the more she knew, the more danger she would be in.
If my father had any inkling of the way I felt for her… I closed my eyes, breathing in the dusty sweat-stained ring and grounding myself. I couldn’t think of what Lana may face here, or I’d be useless to protect her.
I needed to talk to Cassandra. With Lana. Then find a way to get her the hell out of Mysthaven.
None of which would happen before the Festival of Swords.
I wanted to kill someone. Hurt something. I needed to. The more I thought about this…
Storm punched my arm, snapping me out of my internal spiral. The others stared, and I realized my shadows had darkened, encompassing me as my mood declined.
“The Blood Oath occurs every blood moon,” I said, focusing on the thing I least looked forward to Lana experiencing. “The last one occurred three years ago. We swear our fealty to our king by offering our blood as a sacrifice to the Fates. The act symbolizes not only our loyalty to our king and his cause, but to the Fates themselves.”
Knowing my father, he’d timed this purposefully. There probably wasn’t even a blood moon set to rise. I’d stupidly believed we could slip into the palace, visit Cassandra, and leave so Lana could return home.
If I thought for a moment the king would enact the festival at our appearance, I never would have brought Lana back here. I tensed, letting the ache of my wounds distract me. She was in so much danger here. All because of me.
“Ah yes, but it’s not just any offering of blood for your king. The oath reveals who is truly loyal,” Jax jumped in. “The magic behind it is said to show the king who is a faithful warrior and who is a traitor in hiding. Traitors are dealt with harshly. Normally by death. Very publicly.” His gaze flicked toward me. “At the hands of the Monster of Mysthaven.”
“Do you have to be so…you?” Raya asked, waving her hands at Jax.
He shrugged. “What? It’s not like we think he’s actually a monster.”
“She does.” Raya jerked her head toward Lana.
Normally I wouldn’t mind Jax’s taunting. I’d grown accustomed to it, and I had done monstrous things. I deserved the reminder. With Lana here now though, I hated it. I didn’t need a reminder of how unworthy I was of her. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my emotions at bay so I didn’t lose control of my magic. Again.
Lana’s eyes widened as she turned to look at me. I’m not sure if it was fear or disgust swirling in those gorgeous icy blue eyes.
“Which leads us to our very big problem,” Storm said, taking over once more. “How can we pass the Blood Oath and avoid our best friend murdering us?”
Lana dragged her hands down her face. Tendrils of her rose-gold hair swayed in the breeze, whipping around her face. I’d had my hands in that hair. I’d been so damn close to having her heart too. She stood so close right now, I could easily reach out and touch her.
My shadows moved along the ground, crawling toward her like they somehow thought they could sneak up on her.
“Why would you not pass the Blood Oath?” Lana asked. She looked at me, noticing the shadows, and cocked an eyebrow.
I couldn’t help but smile and shrug, putting my hands up.
The shadows curled around her ankles, not bothering to stop. The only other time they’d reacted so autonomously was fighting me against the king’s orders .
Jax blatantly stared at the shadows before glancing at me, wide-eyed. I’d spent so many years concerned about the destruction my shadows might cause outside of actual battles, I rarely let my magic loose. Seeing them interacting with Lana, dancing around her, drawn to her, shocked all of them.
Fates, it shocked me too. With Lana, my magic didn’t seem as horrific. It strengthened, daring my preconceived beliefs to shatter and accept that my shadows could be more than just a death sentence.
Storm sighed. “We’ve spent the last few years as traitors ourselves.”
Lana met my gaze, frowning before looking back at Storm and the others. “So what you’re saying is that Kade, Prince Kade, murders all the traitors in Mysthaven every three years when the Blood Oath is given? And this year in particular will be difficult, since you’re no longer loyal to your king?” Lana asked, hands on her hips.
“Precisely!” Raya yelled, throwing her hands in the air from where she’d resumed pacing in the corner of the training ring. Her footsteps carving a figure eight in the dirt.
“That’s enough information,” I said, earning a furious glare from the woman I’d fallen hard for.
Not just a glare. She took three steps to reach me and shoved her finger into my chest. “You want me to trust you? You want to prove you care at all? That you are sorry for not telling me things?” She pressed up against me now, tapping her finger above my heart to each word. “Then start talking—now.”
Damn it, this woman.
I sighed, waiting for her to back down, even though I knew it wouldn’t happen. I’d have to choose. My secrets, which kept pushing her away, or my truth. Which could get her killed. I needed to protect her from the evil lurking in this castle. I had seen what my father did to things I cared about. He’d inflicted years of pain on my mother, knowing it would keep me in line. He hadn’t had a person to control me with since her death years ago. I shuddered at what he might do to Lana.
“Kade.” Storm said my name and I didn’t need to look at him to know what he’d insist I do.
“She could die,” I growled toward my oldest friend. My first friend, really. One who knew exactly how dangerous this entire thing was.
“I doubt you’d allow that,” he said, trying to smile.
My shadows flared along with my temper. I stepped away from her and toward Storm. “I can’t be everywhere. I can’t lose—” I stopped myself. Stopped and took a breath.
Letting Lana know just how much I needed her would do no one any good. That part needed to stay locked inside. I barely admitted these feelings to myself, I couldn’t admit them out loud. Especially not to her when I was the last person she’d ever willingly rely on again.
Storm refused to relent his unyielding stare. Lana still stood a foot from me, waiting for me to disappoint her again.
Damn it. A part of me, a quiet part, agreed with Storm. Letting her in was the right thing to do.
I had to tell her something. Tell her almost everything, most likely. And pray to the Fates that it didn’t ruin it all. I blinked once, in time with a deep breath.
“About three years ago, we decided we didn’t like the way the king was running our lands,” I said. Lana’s shoulders relaxed and her face brightened. She hadn’t expected me to actually open up. “As I’m sure you’ve noticed in the brief moments you’ve seen him, he is dark. There is an evil to him that is unexplainable. We didn’t approve of his tyranny. While he trained me, used me as a monster to do his bidding for my entire life, it has escalated over the past few years. Even my magic, my shadows, began to rebel against his commands. So we decided to do something about it.”
“No, no, you’re leaving parts out,” Jax interjected .
I grimaced, shooting him a look, wishing it would shut him up. “What part?”
“Cassandra.” He turned to Lana. “You saw her come with our healer, Nadia, to take Storm. Cassandra is our seer.”
Lana’s eyebrows shot up.
“She gave Kade a prophecy.” Jax grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. “Something about rebels, which provided the additional encouragement that our tyrant king should be put in his place.”
It took most of my willpower to keep from knocking Jax out. A good fist to the face might remind him to bite his tongue. Storm’s smirk didn’t help the situation either. He was all for letting Jax run his mouth and tell her everything. How could they not see how dangerous this was for her?
“You better sit, Princess. This is a tale that will knock you off your feet if you’re this into it already,” Jax quipped as he sat himself along the edge of the training pit, pulling an apple from his pocket. The man never stopped eating. It was like he had a damn tree down his fucking pants.
Lana didn’t move. She barely even acknowledged Jax. Instead, she took one step toward me, mouth still open. I cocked my head to the side, watching her. Confusion danced across her face. I wanted to know what made her look that way. She knew of seers—Vivienne lived at the palace in Brookmere. So why the strange look?
I waved my hand at Lana to take a seat near Jax, if it was what she wished to do. She closed her mouth, blinking a few times before she stood straighter and snapped out of whatever had come over her.
Once her back turned to me, I gave Jax a look that said, you better behave, or else.
He shrugged, biting into his apple. Storm took a seat as well, but Raya still paced. I’d have to make sure what I said didn’t involve more than she knew. Which should be a safe amount of information for Lana. As safe as it could be, at least.
“Now that you're comfortable, Jax, may I continue?”
“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 the traitors to 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 will not put 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 now how are we going to pass the Blood Oath? The rebellion had only just begun the last time we took the oath. With only one half-assed save under our belt, we were able to pass. It’s been three years now. 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 upper walls 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. “You will stay 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.”
A tendril reached for her, wrapping around her waist, panic clawing at me in a way it hadn’t since I saw her incapacitated with a blade lodged in her side while fighting in Brookmere. “You don’t know what my father is like,” I shouted.
Lana stormed closer, standing so close her chest touched my body.
“I will not be treated like some useless pet,” she seethed. “You never treated me like I couldn’t handle myself in Brookmere. I’ll be damned if you start this overprotective Fae male bullshit now.”
My shadows flowed heavier, rising around her. I felt the tension of the others, still not used to the fact that my shadows refused to harm her. I stared directly into her eyes. “This has nothing to do with your abilities and everything to do with how tyrannical my father is. You will do as I ask.”
“Tits and freaking daggers! You are insufferable!”
“Is it always like this?” Jax asked Storm. I saw him nod, even in my periphery, to which Jax snorted. “I get it now.”
“Illiana, you will stay with Raya. You will absolutely avoid the king at all costs ,” I stated with conviction. “And Raya, you will not leave her side. You will protect her, and you will keep her safe.”
Raya threw her hands up in the air again, opening her mouth to argue yet again.
“That is my final word.”
I walked off, wrapping myself in my shadows to keep me from hearing Lana’s protests and steeling myself to face the king. I needed to calm myself and my magic, because if he had any suspicion, any idea of what Illiana Dresden meant to me, she’d be taken. Used .
And I’d burn the entire kingdom in retribution.