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She gasps at the heat. At thedepth.

And I hold there. Buried to the hilt.

I don’t speak. I just breathe.

Heavy and ragged against her skin as she trembles underneath me.

Because this moment means everything.

And I don’t care if she hates us tomorrow.

Because tonight, her body told the truth.

That it belongs to us.

Chapter 33

Seanna

He’swatchingmeagain.

Same armchair. Same posture. Same silent stare like I’m a painting he keeps trying to memorize in case I disappear.

As though he didn’t wake me last night with his cock already buried deep inside me. As though he didn’t fuck me until my body melted into the mattress and I couldn't remember why I hated them.

As though he didn’t leave me raw, shaking, and wide-eyed in the dark.

But now? Now he just sits there like the model of fucking restraint while I stir under the covers, pretending I didn’t notice the way my thighs are still sticky from him.

I don’t give him the satisfaction of a hello.

I throw the blanket off and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, head pounding, body sore, mouth dry. My oversized shirt clings to my skin and smells faintly like sweat and him, which only pisses me off more.

Ruin’s voice breaks the quiet. Low. Even. Like I haven’t been fantasizing about driving a knife through his ribcage since I opened my eyes.

“Rule told you because he had to.” His tone is quiet, like he’s being reasonable. “It was time. Even if it’s not the whole truth yet.”

I snort. “Not the whole truth?” I shoot him a glare sharp enough to draw blood. “What does it matter if it's thewholetruth? You think hiding the fact that he’s Reyes’ little prince isn’tjust slightlyrelevant?”

“He’s not hiding anymore,” Ruin answers carefully, voice still modulated beneath the mask. “He knew it would cost him something. He told you anyway.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, standing and shoving my fingers through my hair. “Because nothing says trust like kidnapping and then revealing that you're cartel fucking royalty.”

Ruin watches me, silent for a beat. Then he leans forward slightly, arms on his knees. “You would’ve found out eventually.”

“That supposed to make it better?” I ask flatly, walking to the dresser and yanking out a fresh shirt and clean underwear. “Newsflash, I don’t feelgrateful.”

He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t rise to the bait.

“He still hasn’t told you everything,” he says, voice low and honest. “Neither have I. But this… this was a start.”

I stare at him for a long moment, then shake my head. “You know what I hate most?” I ask quietly. “You fuckers think that because you know me—because you’vewatchedme—I’m going to roll over and play nice once the truth starts dripping out.”

“You don’t roll over,” Ruin replies calmly. “You bare your teeth and tear out throats.”

“Damn right,” I snap, turning away from him and storming into the bathroom. I shut the door harder than necessary, but not hard enough to break anything. Not yet.

I stay in there longer than I need to. Take care of business. Wash my face. Avoid looking at myself in the mirror.