RUIN

I sit in His Resplendence's study sipping my tea as calmly as I can manage. Yaris is wearing his impeccable glamour again, all lengthy black waves, sharp blue eyes, and pasty pale skin. I've noticed that his height doesn't ever change, no matter the glamour—he's shown me a few other options already—but his weight can. He looks like a man made of iron and brass, all hard edges and flowery elegance. I have so many questions for him, about his story, his people, his plans, but I can't find a way to start asking. I fear each question will be a kink in his armor and he'll fall apart, and it will be my fault. It isn't lost on me that he'll fuck me but avoid my questions with pretty words and painful vagueness.

"What troubles you?" He asks, leaning his tall frame against the wall and frowning at me.

I sigh. I can't start this conversation now. Maybe not ever, if I'm lucky.

"Later," I say quietly and stand as His Resplendence enters. He waves me away and I sit back down, gripping my cup harder than is necessary. Sunlight from the gardens streams in through the windows and casts him in a brilliant light, truly making him look as his title calls.

"I hear you have something for me," he says as he sits. My grip on my teacup tightens even further. Of course, he knows something, but just how much? This will be difficult.

I nod.

"Yes, Your Highness," I say quietly. "We must travel to the Oscillan border to investigate further."

He raises an eyebrow .

"You believe it is spreading?"

"We know it is, Your Majesty," Yaris says with a nod, coming forward. "We just are not sure how much."

His Resplendence nods and looks at me expectantly.

"I also hear you made contact with the Galaens."

Shit. Shit. He obviously has some insider knowledge that I'm unaware of. This is going to be a very delicate conversation because the crown already doesn't like them, and I feel like I need to protect them. But who is giving him this information? One of my guards? Fuck. I didn't think they'd do this, but… maybe they've been motivated by… something. Money? No. Power? Possibly. Blackmail? That's the most likely. But who and what?

"We did," I say with a nod, looking at him steadily. "They attacked us, but it was a misunderstanding. They have concerns about the magic as well, Your Majesty."

King Oathblade glances at Yaris and I don't like that look. It's oozing suspicion. Yaris, to his credit, doesn't react. He just continues sipping his tea.

"I see. Well, I've sent out a patrol to monitor the situation," he says dismissively. "But I am disappointed this was not in your report. I've also sent a team to start mining the Dainamha. But…" He leans forward, looking me over, obviously unhappy. "Do you distrust me, Ruin? I can't imagine the scandal if the court found out."

Yaris' merciless words in my ears and I take a steadying breath. I want to throw my teacup at him and yell "you let your son rape his way across court, you overinflated dickwad! Of course I distrust you!"

I congratulate myself as something more reasonable comes out.

"I apologize. It didn't seem that relevant. It won't happen again."

But I know the patrol is a bad sign. Lainodola needs to move her people, and I have to warn her. Or Yaris does. He uses birds as easily as some people write. I need to talk to him, alone, in a privacy bubble. And now.

"Of course not," King Oathblade says with an icy look. "I assure you it will not be because if you do it again, I'll have you replaced."

We all know "replacement" of a Grand Maestro is more like a silent assassination and less like a quiet dismissal.

I always knew he didn't value me, but this is painful. It's always disgusting when people show their true colors.

"Of course, Your Majesty," I say politely. "If you'll excuse us, we're tired from traveling and need to rest."

He waves me away.

"You can go. I need to discuss specifics with Tobiah. I believe Miguel is looking for you."

I go cold. I had some hope that His Resplendence didn't know but this is serving me on a silver platter to his rapist son and he doesn't seem to care. He has known this entire time and doesn't just turn a blind eye but enables it. He enables it.

I shake as I put down my teacup, the clattering filling the ominous silence. Why am I so furiously afraid? So hurt? I'm a fucking dragon rider. I could squash this whole palace—maybe? —but… I feel helpless now, full of doubt and pain that stabs me as deep as it can go. I'm going to collapse into a void of nothingness.

"Pardon me, Your Highness," Yaris' voice is far away. "But I believe Captain Shatterjaw needs to check in with Ruin."

He makes brief eye contact with me. He knows we're outnumbered so he's trying to get me to safety while he risks himself. Who knows what the king wants.

"I will stay here and speak to His Resplendence," Yaris says firmly. "You should meet the captain at your tower, Your Grace."

I want to object, to take him with me, but I can't. I just need to go.

My tower has wards. Wards that can keep anyone out. Yaris knows this.

I want to sob. He wants to protect me and I'm just a pathetic mess.

I can't think straight so I stand and am vaguely aware of dismissing myself before stumbling out into the hall. The king's oath guard is there and so is Pennbrooke. He takes one look at me and herds me outside. I don't remember the walk to the tower, my mind overtaken with terror for me, for Yaris, for my guards. Something is very wrong, and I don't know how to fix it.

I must fix it. I must, before it's too late. Before Yaris is strung up. Before Miguel touches me again. Before whatever guard is being blackmailed breaks and tells His Resplendence everything.

It's all a blur as I'm herded inside my haven and Shatterjaw says something to me. I'm left alone for a few minutes and then I can feel someone else in the room with me. Shatterjaw, maybe? It doesn't matter. What matters is that I am here, and Yaris is there and who knows what's happening and I must stop it.

Fuck. Gods give me strength.

I come around in my favorite chair. How I got inside is a mystery and I'm holding a warm cup of tea. Shatterjaw is by the window, watching the sun set in all its brilliant stunning oranges, dark blues, and dusky pinks. She leans her hip on the windowsill, and I smell the mountain irises from the palace gardens. Shame fills me. I shouldn't be this upset.

"Yaris?" I whisper and she looks at me. It isn't lost on me that she's wearing full armor, refusing to relax. It's a jolt after seeing her with her people.

She finally shakes her head.

"He can take care of himself."

I freeze at that.

"Where is he?" I ask and when she doesn't answer immediately, panic sets in. "What did he do to him?"

She sighs softly.

"I don't know, Your Grace. Yaris told me you're my priority and not to worry about him. His Resplendence came to court about an hour ago. I… haven't been able to locate Yaris and I don't know that I trust my men to find him at the moment. I haven't had time to look."

I draw myself up.

"You will find him. Now. It isn't safe, Nylana. His Resplendence isn't… can't be trusted. Fuck. I knew he was up to something. Fuck!"

Panic is overtaking me. I know Yaris is something else, powerful and ancient, but so were the dragons and look where that got them.

Dammit.

"Ruin—" Shatterjaw starts and stops when there's knocking at the door. She quickly crosses the room and opens the door. She and Greentree are speaking in low tones, but I hear them anyway.

"Prince Miguel is hosting a welcome back dinner and is looking for His Grace," she says quietly and Shatterjaw twitches. She can't tell him to shove it without him suspecting something or causing more harm to me.

But it's okay. I can keep him distracted while Shatterjaw looks for Yaris. I've done it before and as numbness takes over, I know I can do it again.

I must.

"I'll go," I say and stand, steadier than I feel. Shatterjaw turns to object, to rail against me, but I hold up a hand.

"I'm still in charge here, Captain. Find Yaris. I need to know what they've done with him. And we need to leave. Prep for that."

She hesitates.

"Ruin, we can't just—"

"We can and we will," I say firmly. "Gather supplies. Scatter everyone else. I don't trust them. Just you, me, and Yaris. Go. Now."

Everything is in slow motion as she argues and I pull rank, heading out with Greentree. Shatterjaw curses, swearing that I'll be the death of her as she disappears into the shadows to find Yaris. Who knows what they've been doing to him as I've been literally sitting around. Has he been tortured before? Does that make him more or less likely to survive?

I can hear the revelries from the garden and turn to Greentree.

"I don't know which of you is spying but you all need to leave if you hope to survive," I say lowly. "I'm sorry. But you have to go."

She looks at me with wide eyes and nods curtly. She doesn't debate like Shatterjaw would and, for that, I'm grateful.

"Thank you. You've been a good guard."

I turn away and step towards the center of the party. Greentree pulls on my arm.

"Please don't," she whispers. "It isn't worth it. I can't let him touch you again."

She's so sincere, so worried, and I know the leak isn't her. That makes me all the more determined to protect her.

"But it is worth it," I say quietly. "Go, while you still can."

She releases me, looking as tortured as I feel and, for a moment, I hate myself for letting myself be hired in the first place. I told myself it was to help the greater good but what is the greater good worth if it comes at the cost of haunting everyone?

"Go," I say softly. "It's okay."

And then I'm headed towards my doom, hoping desperately that Yaris isn't dead in a ditch somewhere.

That would destroy me more than anything Miguel could ever do to me.