Page 3 of Shadows of Ruin (The Broken Prophecy #2)

Chapter 2

Lana

I am Illiana Dresden, and I am stronger than the darkness within me.

After all, I’d survived torture as a child.

I survived the panic attacks in the aftermath.

The never-ending barrage of pain and grief.

I survived by reminding myself of what I knew. What was real. Now, all of it crumbled at my feet, threatening to pull me under for good.

Holding on to reality? Now that would be impossible. My truth was all a lie.

It seemed as if everything, my entire existence, had been built on a throne of lies, exacerbated by the king of Brookmere.

The king. My father...or who I thought to be my father.

For now, the distinction between king and father would have to wait. As would processing the remaining shattered pieces of my heart crumbling inside me, and the other revelations his last words ushered. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Like how I could possibly be standing in a desolate, drained, mist-filled land where the border of Brookmere, a vast ocean, had been not a second before.

I turned to the infuriating male standing stiffly beside me, seething. “Mysthaven?” I repeated the name he’d said.

Slowly he turned to meet my gaze. Kade Blackthorn pursed his lips, his brow furrowed almost as if he were the one in pain. But I knew better.

Kade Blackthorn’s betrayal ran as deep as the rest of the lies I believed.

Storm cleared his throat. “Technically, Mysthaven lies on the other side of this lovely monstrosity.”

Kade ignored him. “Welcome to the void, Little Rebel. The space between our worlds. A space no one may enter without being blessed by our king.”

Storm, his loyal sidekick and friend to the betrayer, snorted.

“ Our king is dead thanks to you,” I seethed, spitting the words at him.

Kade’s stormy grey eyes held my own. “Your king may be dead, but my king is still very much alive.”

My mind reeled. There was another world. A place nobody knew about. Well, no one in Brookmere at least.

Another world with its own king.

“And I suppose you are one of the king’s chosen few then. Blessed with such powers to cross?” My eyes rolled in condemnation.

Kade’s lips twitched ever so slightly, like they always did when we fought, tipping his head as his only response.

My heart pounded in my chest. The ball of nerves in my stomach grew into something vile, forcing its way down to the soles of my feet and tips of my toes. My breath stuttered, panting in and out in short bursts.

For the first time, I’d allowed someone into my life. Someone new, beyond Ian and my few friends. Someone whom I believed worthy. A man I thought would fight for me and our kingdom. But in an instant, the dream my heart had begun to craft brutally broke into a thousand pieces.

The life I’d dared to imagine, where Kade stood by my side as king, had deteriorated to nothing when I found him standing with a knife in my father’s chest.

And if that weren’t enough? He’d used his powerful shadow magic to finish the job by snapping the king’s neck as I held him in my arms, begging for him to live.

That was the man I thought I could trust with more than my secrets.

My heart .

He’d ripped it from me unapologetically.

I pushed away the painfully fresh memory. Shoved every last emotion into a small box deep within me and locked it. Swallowing hard, as if I could seal it away.

Wallowing would get me nowhere. Being out of my element wasn’t a luxury I could afford right now. So I cleared my throat, steadying myself to take in the void, as Kade called it. I had no other option, since the two of them allowed me to walk on my own but never let me out of their sights.

The land around me lay dead. Shriveled like powerful magic sucked every ounce of life from the soil.

A loud roar scattered the tiny pebbles across the ground as I braced myself, feeling the world shudder beneath my feet.

“What in the Fates was that?” I hissed.

Kade met my gaze, his normally grey eyes dark, black in a way I’d only seen a handful of times before. His jaw clenched as he kneeled before me, taking hold of my leg and running his hand upward until he gripped my thigh.

I jerked, trying to pull away. “What are you doing?”

“I hardly think this is the time to make things up to her,” Storm snorted.

I shot him a look .

“Bastard,” Kade muttered under his breath, yanking something from his pack.

I wobbled, not ready for him to be on his knees before me. His other hand gripped my hip and steadied me. Thankfully, this time Storm kept his thoughts to himself.

Kade moved swiftly, not looking at me once as he wrapped my sheath around my leg, securing it forcefully before placing my dagger inside.

“Stay with Storm if anything happens,” he said.

I reached for him, grabbing his shoulder before he rose. I couldn’t help the movement. “What are you talking about?”

His hardened face masked any emotion. Most likely on purpose, but I didn’t know why. He took my arm, standing and pulling his blade over his head from where it rested on his back. “This place was created to separate our kingdoms long ago. A powerful sacrifice created it. It’s not just the land that’s dangerous, but the beasts inside. We must travel through, and quickly.”

The roar sounded again. This time I noticed a cawing tapering off at the end of its cry. Like the beast lurking in the mist grew excited. Almost as if it knew it no longer remained alone. The echoes of its song bounced off the jagged rocks and cracked earth.

Kade’s shadows twisted around us. I didn’t miss how his body trembled, darkening the shadows closest to his skin.

This other kingdom apparently sucked.

Before the echoes of the beast died down, a fresh round of screeching ricocheted through the air, this time so close it forced Storm to grab my arm and tug urgently. “Run,” he commanded. “Now.”

Not wanting to meet this beast, I obeyed, keeping pace with Storm, allowing him to release my arm.

“Dagger,” Kade said, his voice gruff and tight.

I unsheathed my weapon, trying to keep my own fears at bay. This couldn’t be happening. Not only had Kade kidnapped me, but he brought me somewhere even more dangerous than where we were before. Somewhere the mist originated. I hadn’t missed the way it leeched from the void before we crossed.

The same strange mist that appeared around dark ones, spreading the darkness throughout Brookmere. The reason my biological parents had died. The reason Andras, the king’s horrid advisor, had grown so powerful.

Kade brought me right in the middle of it all.

The two men slowed, whispering between themselves. We shuffled through the rocky terrain hastily, the sounds of the beast not heard again.

My thundering heartbeat pounded in my ears, this time for a different reason than fear from the mysterious roars of a creature in this place. This time, it pounded with an idea. An idea that may kill me but would give me a chance at going home.

I clasped my dagger tightly in my hand, grateful for the mistake Kade made returning it to me, and a smile spread over my lips. The mist hid our surroundings, but we hadn’t run far enough that I couldn’t turn back.

The second Kade spoke again to Storm, I turned and sprinted back the way we’d come.

“Lana!” Kade shouted, fear tinging his voice.

His fear wasn’t enough to deter me. I ran faster than I’d ever run before. The mist thickening before us, but I didn’t care. I pushed forward.

Whispered sounds whipped around me, forcing my heart to beat faster and faster, but I would not be afraid. Not now, when this may be my best, and only, chance to break free.

A cool breeze stirred around me, caressing the damp skin on my neck. I almost had a chance to savor the moment before something slammed into my side, knocking me to the ground and taking my breath with it .

This time, the roar echoing through the void blasted directly into my face.

I stared into the spittle-filled mouth of a horrific-looking creature. Three rows of sharp fangs jutted out from its gums, as well as a maroon tongue larger than my thigh. Three times my size, the creature reared back onto its hind legs for a moment before hovering over me once more.

I screamed, stabbing my dagger into the creature’s side, only for it to bounce off the beast’s hardened, scale-like exterior. The iridescent hues of blues and blacks along its scales melded perfectly into the mist.

Shouting, I struggled beneath the weight of the creature on my stomach, thrashing back and forth in an effort to garner enough space to swing the blade with a more forceful momentum. It hissed in my face again, the stench of its breath overpowering my senses. I drew back my dagger, readying myself to slash into its neck instead.

The beast opened its maw, tongue curling back, ready to bite into my neck.

Pitch-black shadows engulfed the creature, freezing it mid roar, instantly snapping its body with a loud crack. The snap echoed around us almost as long as the beast’s caw.

The weight of the animal lifted as it rolled off me, but the way the creature had attacked me, forcefully knocking my breath from my lungs, left me struggling for air. I scurried backward on the ground while trying to sit up.

“Did it bite you? Lick you?” Kade slammed down in front of me on his knees, running his hands over my face, my hair. “Did any saliva touch your skin?” His hand traced my neck.

I whimpered, jerking back. “What was that thing?” My body shook, the fear I’d shoved down while running decided to make a grand, inconvenient entrance now.

“Lana!” he shouted. “I need to know. I don’t have enough antidote?— ”

“No,” I answered, finally getting a full breath in. “Nothing. It just slammed into me.”

His shoulders sagged, but his labored breathing didn’t ease.

“What was that thing, Kade?” I asked again. I gritted my teeth, shoving my hands to the dirt so I could stand.

Kade’s shadows wrapped around my waist, holding me in place, even as I tried to back away. In my periphery, Storm’s body solidified more clearly through the mist, poised and ready to catch me if I somehow escaped Kade’s shadow hold.

Storm spoke while Kade tipped his head back, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. “We call them voidlings. They don’t exist outside of this place. Their venom will kill you in minutes.”

“I told you we had to move quickly,” Kade said, ignoring Storm’s explanation, “and you thought now was the time to run?” His shoulders heaved along with his ragged breaths.

I opened my mouth to put the arrogant prick in his place, but he took a step toward me.

“No, you will listen to me, Little Rebel,” he continued. “I will not lose you to the void. I will not lose you to these beasts, to any monster, any dark one, any fucking Fae that threatens you—” He stopped, eyes widening frantically for the briefest moment before he snapped his mouth shut. “You cannot cross the void without me. Trying will get you killed.”

He didn’t release his shadows’ hold on me but turned his back to face Storm.

“We run,” Kade said. “Stay with her, I’ll scout a few feet ahead.”

The mist thickened, making Kade almost invisible as he left us behind. I forced myself to push down the panic triggered by his absence. Even if Kade had been blessed by his king, part of me worried for his safety. I hated it.

Storm came to my side and grabbed my hand. “Sorry, but I’ll be holding on this time. I think if you get lost in here, we’d be at risk of him destroying both of our kingdoms to get you back.”

“Your assumption about his feelings for me are ridiculous.” I swiped with my free hand at the dust layering my body. My failed escape attempt hit me hard, and a shiver of fury ran through my body, causing me to physically shake. “Just get me out of here.”

Storm’s grip tightened marginally, but he didn’t have any retort for me. I hated being coddled, but I wasn’t stupid enough to try to escape his grasp. Not until I could at least see all my surroundings with my own eyes.

We jogged after Kade, Storm maintaining a steady pace.

It immediately reminded me of my training with Ian. Running with my best friend. Fates, I’d run every moment of every day to be back home with him and know he was safe. To know they were all safe. Even if that likelihood was merely wishful thinking.

Ian.

Tears formed, daring to break free, but I discreetly wiped them away on my shoulder before they could fall. Both Storm and Kade assured me Ian wasn’t injured by whatever Storm had done to him at the palace. Trusting them didn’t seem possible, no matter what they said. Yet I couldn’t keep from asking again.

“Swear to me you didn’t seriously injure Ian?” My voice cracked.

Storm’s head whipped toward me. “I used a very old magic my grandmother taught me. It merely knocks a Fae out momentarily. I’m sure he’s already awake and cursing my name.”

I believed him, even before he squeezed my hand reassuringly.

I didn’t want to trust Storm, but for some reason with this, I did.

“How much farther does this place go on for?” I asked .

“Not very. The void is small. A sliver of evil in the world.”

He didn’t say anything else, but sure enough we slowed only minutes later, Kade’s figure formed in front of us so abruptly we almost slammed into him.

As soon as we stood by his side, the mist lessened, and my racing heart slowed marginally.

Kade put himself between Storm and me and took our hands before surging us forward. This time I knew we were leaving the void instantly as the mist faded and the tugging sensation returned.

We stumbled through and I caught myself, yanking away from Kade’s firm grip as soon as I knew we were free from the void’s hold. His shadows finally slipped away from my waist, allowing me to stand on my own.

I let out a sigh, relieved to be free of the void. I brushed at my clothes and stared ahead, and my jaw dropped. The sight before me looked nothing like Brookmere.

In the distance, ice-covered mountains poked through dark storm clouds. Lightning flashed among them, illuminating the dark and beautiful jagged peaks and slopes.

A rumble in the distance to the east of the mountains showed a blaze shooting skyward. Like fire erupting from a funneled mountain. I’d never seen anything like it before.

Vicious. The scenery appeared vicious and powerful. Just like the Fae next to me.

Nearby, rocks and dirt in hues of crimson protruded from the ground in massive clusters. Sharp-looking shrubs of greenery poked from the dry land. Pink florals bloomed from a bush nearby, but its pointy leaves warned there was more to their charm. The diversity of the land between the dry, cracked ground, the luscious florals, and the mountains painting the distant sky hardly made sense.

It was the opposite of home in every way, and yet it thrived with a terrifying beauty .

Words failed to come to me. How could somewhere so vastly different exist in the same world as Brookmere?

A growl, more human than beast, reverberated from a cluster of nearby rocks. “I’m armed with more damn weaponry than the king’s entire armory.”

Kade grabbed my arm, yanking me closer to his side.

I gripped my dagger as the deep voice bellowed again.

“I swear to the Fates, come forward now from the mist or I’ll slaughter you before you take your next breath.”