Page 50 of Fade With Me

With a smooth motion, Zeke slid the key into the ignition and turned it. The old minivan roared to life with a throaty rumble, vibrating beneath us. He shot me a wide-eyed glance, and I offered a reassuring smile before we both settled into the rhythm of the engine’s growl. Then, without warning, he slammed his foot on the gas, launching us out of the garage and onto the road. The van lurched forward, its tires squealing in protest.

One hand on the wheel, he reached for the radio with the other, flipping through stations until a rap song blared through the speakers. His nose wrinkled in clear disapproval, and with a swift flick of his wrist, he shut it off, leaving behind a nearly stifling silence. A playful glint flashed in his eyes as he turned to me. “I could always serenade you instead.”

A soft, almost reluctant laugh slipped out, and I hesitated, pretending to consider it. “Nah, I’m good.”

Zeke smirked, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. “Your loss.”

I fidgeted in my seat, angling toward him as intrigue got the better of me. “So, what do we know aboutthis witch so far?”

His jaw clenched, a shadow darkening his expression as his gaze grew sharper. “As I said before, her husband’s a Shadowweaver.She’sthe one who supposedly found the rubies, though it wasn’t pretty,” his voice dropped, as if the words themselves were too heavy to speak aloud. “A lot of magical beings died in the hunt. She was exiled for what she did, and the rings were thought to be destroyed.”

I glanced down at the ruby on my finger, its cold gleam catching the low light. “Destroyed, huh?” I whispered, the irony of it all sinking in. “Do you think she knows how to get it off?” My voice dropped, tinged with hope and a bite of resentment I hadn’t meant to show.

His grip on the wheel tightened, and he released a slow breath. “Before she was exiled, the rings were just a myth,” he said. His voice stayed even, but his jaw flexed, tension coiled beneath the words. “She’s been the best lead I’ve had. Most people remain unconvinced of their existence.”

His gaze drifted to the window, as if the passing scenery could offer him clarity. For a brief moment, an emotion creased his features, something unsaid. “People have their theories about why the queen disappeared,” he muttered. “Some believe me, that you were captured. Others don’t. Some even think you joined forces with Reggie—the Shadow King, as they call him.”

The title echoed in my mind:The Shadow King.

“After you were taken, the guild came with promises of peace, claiming their dark magic would bring strength and security. But it was a lie. Many of our people were deceived. Some defected to the Shadow King’s side. Now the kingdom is tearing itself apart in brutal war, with innocent lives lost and families destroyed. Our way of life is hanging by a thread.” He turned to me briefly, the corner of his mouth twitching into a half-smile. “No pressure, right?”

A dry laugh slipped out, thin and unconvincing. “Yeah, no pressure. Just the fate of an entire kingdom resting on whether I can get my powers back.”

“And memories,” he added, tapping his temple. “Those are important too.”

I nudged him with my shoulder, chuckling. “Yes, those too would be nice.”

The minivan rolled into the parking lot of Charla Mae’s, and I shot Zeke a puzzled glance, my brow knitting together. “She works at the boutique?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve only got her name, Sadalia Valtor, but it hasn’t led me anywhere yet.”

The name hit me like a wave, and I stilled, my hand trailing along the side of the seat as my mind reeled. “Sadalia…” I murmured, a spark of recognition igniting. “Beautiful name, but…eerily familiar.” My eyes shot wide as the connection clicked. “Wait—Sadie? She runs a local thrift store a few blocks up. I go there all the time. I love Sadie, she’s amazing!”

Zeke raised a brow before shifting into drive. “That’s definitely her. We met recently. She told me her name wasMary. Here I thought I was being charming…guess she saw right through me.” He shot me a teasing glance, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I see why you two get along.”

I patted his shoulder, arching a brow. “You see…the real problem here is that youthoughtyou were charming.”

His eyes stayed on the road, but a silent laugh tugged at the edges of his mouth.

When we pulled up to the thrift store, we climbed out and headed for the entrance. The bell above the door chimed as we stepped inside, and Sadie’s eyes met mine from behind the register.

“Bryn! Nice to—”

Her gaze snapped to Zeke behind me, and her expression shifted instantly. Horror? Disgust? I couldn’t quite tell.

As we approached the counter, she froze, her face paling like she’d seen a ghost.

“Hey, Sadie, how are you?” I asked gently, keeping my tone soft so I wouldn’t startle her. I stepped closer. She stumbled back a few paces, hand brushing her hair behind her ear, eyes still wide.

“B-Bryn…w-who’s your friend?” she stammered, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her gaze flicked to Zeke but reverted to me just as fast, as if she couldn’t decide whether to acknowledge him or avoid him entirely.

Zeke’s lips curled into a sly grin, but his stare was icy as he tilted his head slightly. “Oh, you remember me, don’t you—Mary?”

Sadie stiffened, the blood draining from her cheeks. She whipped around to face him, fists clenched at her sides. “I know exactly who you are,Nemora,” she spat, her voice low and venomous. “You need to leave. Now!” Her body tensed, fury radiating from her as she glared at him.

Zeke clutched his chest dramatically, eyes widening as if offended. “HA! That’s rich,” he sneered, lifting his lip in disgust as he took a slow step toward her. “Coming from you, Weaver.” He leaned in slightly, his head tilting just enough to mock her.

I quickly stepped between them, holding my hands up in a calming gesture. I kept my body angled toward Sadie, trying to soften the tension between us. “Sorry about him,” I apologized sweetly, flashing a smile that felt a little too forced. “He doesn’t take insults well.” I threw a quick glance over my shoulder, catching Zeke rolling his eyes exaggeratedly, his arms casually crossed over his chest.

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