Ruin

RUIN KINDRED: THE FATED BOOK TWO DONNA GRANT® This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. RUIN © 2023 by DL Grant, LLC Cover Design © 2023 by Charity Hendry Designs Formatting © 2023 by Charity Hendry Designs ISBN 13: 978-1-942017-99-8 Available in ebook. All rights reserved. Coming Soon: REIGN © 2023 by DL Grant, LLC Cover Design © 2023 by Charity Hendry Designs A Look Back from: EVERKIN © 2017 by DL Grant, LLC Cover Design © 2017 by Charity Hendry All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce or transmit this book, or a portion thereof, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. www.DonnaGrant.com www.MotherofDragonsBooks.com CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Epilogue Glimpse of the next Kindred: The Fated Book Look back at the KINDRED series Don’t miss these other novels About the Author 1 Fall Northern Scotland An icy north wind cut across Asa’s face, ruffling her pet owl’s pristine white feathers where Frida perched on her arm. From the dock, Asa stared out over the turbulent waters of the sea, but it wasn’t the boats in the harbor or the inky night sky that held her attention. It was the memories. Of the home she had left behind. Of friends she hadn’t told about her departure. Of a younger sister she had left crying in the middle of the night. It had only been seven years. It wasn’t a great deal of time, yet it felt as if it had been a lifetime. So much had happened. In many ways, Asa barely remembered the girl she had been when she first stepped foot on Scottish soil. She wasn’t the same person. Would anyone from her life before even recognize her? Frida cooed softly. Asa looked at her friend and smiled. “Aye, my beauty. Go hunt.” The small owl flew away in search of food. Asa sighed. She didn’t want to return to Norway, but she had a promise to keep. She should’ve gone back sooner, but the Coven had grown at such a rapid pace that she hadn’t had a chance before now. With the Coven defeated, it was time for Asa to return. Though she didn’t know what might await her there. Would her sister remember her? Liss had only been ten when she left. Old enough to know what was happening—and to be upset about it. And old enough that she wouldn’t forget Asa. Anything could have happened in those years, though. She had seen it firsthand. Asa looked over her shoulder. She had made a family here. One the Coven had destroyed. She had barely made it out alive. Yet she hadn’t left Scotland. She couldn’t shake the regret of not being with her friends during the battle. For so long, she had felt as if she were torn in two. Wanting to remain with the family she had found, yet knowing she had to return to Norway. She was strong enough now to face what she hadn’t been able to before. However, every day she wasted with one excuse or another made going home that much harder. At least she knew that Liss wouldn’t be targeted. Her sister didn’t have magic. That would save her. Asa hugged her arms around her middle. She had lingered long enough. Tomorrow, she would find a ship bound for Norway. It wouldn’t be difficult to get information about Ivar once she landed. Though she expected him to still be in power. If he wasn’t, then one of his sons would’ve likely taken over as chieftain. They were all cut from the same violent, brutal cloth. All but Hosvir. He had a kindness his older brothers reviled. Asa would find Liss and get her sister out quickly. No one need ever know that she had even been there—at least not until she and Liss were long gone. She expected her sister to worry about leaving her homeland for another country, but Asa had everything sorted on that front. All she had to do was find Liss. A cat’s hiss snapped her head to the side. Asa slowly turned and studied the shadows cast by a bunch of stacked boxes, bundles of nets, and the rocking boats tied to the dock. Water lapped on the shore and against the wooden hulls. Rope creaked as it kept the ships moored. Raucous laughter drifted from a nearby pub. Wind whistled softly, almost as if teasing her that something was out there. Asa tensed as her gaze continued to scan the area. A small, dark shape darted from between some stacks of crates and ran away. She watched the cat disappear before swinging her gaze back to the boxes. Someone was there. She lifted her head and spotted Frida flying above her. Even in the dark, she knew when Frida met her gaze. The owl flew to the left and quickly swung around, letting out a whistle. Asa lowered her gaze to the area Frida had shown her. She didn’t want to use magic out in the open like this. It would bring attention to her, and there were too many superstitious people for her liking. She pulled the knife from its sheath at her waist and widened her stance like Radnar had taught her. Emotion rose in her throat when she thought about the knight and Edra, his wife, who the Coven had killed, along with so many others. But now wasn’t the time to allow that sorrow to take her. “Show yourself,” Asa demanded. There was