Page 118 of When Storms Ruin

“That’s enough,” a chilling voice spoke as the sound of boots rounded the corner of the building Warrick had disappeared behind.

My head hit the cobblestones as I lay back, my blood running cold. My palms were sweating, my mouth dry. Stormslayer still lay a few feet away from me, but I couldn’t reach it with the Araneoch standing in the way.

What had cut off my connection to the magic in the sky? I dipped into my core again…but was met with a sizzling energy that I recognized from training with Isaac.

There was another Stormshade here. Was it Isaac?

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the silky voice chided, crouching to get a better look at me splayed beneath the dark creature.

I set my jaw, biting the inside of my cheek. I wouldn’t let her see me afraid. A tall, blond man stood over Donika’s shoulder, his expression tight.

“Donika. I should have known.” When I spoke my voice was cold, no trace of the unease I felt lacing my words.

“Yes, you should have,” she snickered, lifting a lock of my blood-stained hair with the edge of her serpent staff. Her other hand held her onyx blade. “You’ve looked better, little Stormshade.”

“I could say the same about you,” I replied, making a show of looking her up and down slowly.

Her black eyes squinted in anger as she stood, nodding towards the blond man behind her and the Araneoch. The creatures retreated, allowing me to scramble to my feet before her. My gaze moved towards my dagger, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to grasp it before Donika ran me through with her own blade.

My mouth was tight as I met her searching gaze. I was surprised to see she hadn’t brought Corian with her, and I didn’t recognize the blond man that stood behind her. Had she replaced her second in command?

“So, you found us. Congratulations,” I seethed through my teeth.

“It wasn’t terribly difficult.” She shrugged, examining her perfectly manicured nails as I stood before her, covered in dirt and blood. “Your little Warrick made for an easy target.”

“Leave Warrick alone,” I ground out, my jaw tight.

“You defend him still?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. My eyes darted over her shoulder where Warrick stood, head down. He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “He all butjumpedat the chance to bring me to you when he found out his family had been captured in our little raid on your safe house in Prins. Blood comes first, after all.”

We hadn’t known any of his family had been captured. He hadn’t said anything. He had only spoken with Puck since holing himself up in the cottage. We knew he had told Puck he had lost family in the battle…but we had assumed that meant they were dead.

If Warrick had told us that members of his family had been captured and used as collateral, we could have come up witha plan. We could have raided the castle andsavedthem. Instead, he took Donika’s deal.

He betrayed us.

He hung his head in shame, avoiding our glares.

I knew he had bad blood with Nik, but I never imagined he would choose Donika’s deal and turn his back on the council. He had been with the resistance and on the council foryears, why hadn’t he come to us for help? Had he truly thought the only way to save his family was to sacrifice us to Donika?

Donika’s word couldn’t be trusted, he was a fool for thinking otherwise. All he accomplished was ensuring thatall of uswould suffer now.

Nik spit in the dirt, lunging against the hold Donika’s soldiers had around him, his gaze focused on the man over Donika’s shoulder.

“How dare you show your face,” Nik seethed, his jaw tight.

The man turned towards him, his expression blank. Almost bored.

“How lovely to see you too, son.”

Son?Thiswas Nik’s father?

This man abused him and abandoned him, only to join Donika’s army. My stomach turned as my gaze darted between them.

“Blood meansnothing,” I spat at her, holding her piercing gaze.

Nik hadn’t seen his father inyears, and he hadn’t known where he disappeared to. Had he been in The Stone Palace all this time? And did Warrick truly think Donika would give his family back after he led her to us? That they were safe now?

“Blood means nothing? Is that so, mother dearest?” Donika asked, her gaze darting towards where Annelise was restrained on her knees. “I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed your face again. And you haven’t learned your lesson, it seems. You are still on the wrong side of this war. I should have slit your throat when I had the chance.”

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