Page 112 of Eternal Ruin

The fire, holy and unforgiving, scorching buildings to rubble and his people to ash.

Memories of every failure cut at him, led by his father’s mighty sword.Weak.

Arin’s ultimatum—kill your companion.

All of it scraped along his mind like claws, robbing him of any peace.

Panting, he braced forward, a drop of sweat falling to the shinning marble. Hisvision whirled. He couldn’t remember how many hours he’d spent in here, but it had to be at least five.

Human Yos could never lead an army. He could barely save his own mother and betrothed. And if he wanted his strength and people back, he had to kill the only good thing in his life.

Kidan.

A gasp tore from deep in his throat, the merciless torture of the room increasing suddenly.

Shenever showed up until he was at the edge of death. Until he nearly lost consciousness.

Enough, Yos.The Sage’s voice came to him as sinful comfort, clinking like bells at a holy temple.Walk away from this room.

He first heard her voice when he was nineteen, in the forest with black vines and spoiled roots. Mighty as the sun, brandishing two swords, a bloodred ring, and a whirling wooden mask with golden accents. Ever since then, he’d seen her four hundred and fourteen times, all at the brink of death. He had scoured all the books and consulted every scholar to understand why he could still hear her when he was most afraid. But their responses had all boiled down to deep childhood trauma, a coping mechanism against his worst fear.

Everyone sought comfort when they neared death.

She might not be real, but she was a part of his soul. His goddess. His guard against death.

I can do it, he strained in his mind.Just a little longer.

Your heart will stop if you keep pushing.

He collapsed forward, and the slam to his head made the world shimmer, then go dark.

Leathery fingers stirred him awake, the scent of warm bread close.

“Come.”

Swaying, Susenyos stood and walked out of his torture room like he had done so many times before, inhaling deeply in the hallway.

“One day,” Etete said in a tired voice, resting him on the floor gently. “All I ask is for one day I don’t find you on your back.”

Despite every muscle hurting, Susenyos offered her a small smile. “Thank you.”

She tipped a glass of water down his dry throat.

Watching Etete, he could hardly believe she once belonged to the poison that was the Eagle Order.

“How are your kids?” he asked.

She gave a small smile. “Well-fed.”

Etete visited the acti orphans in the vampire-free boarding school multiple times a week. To her, they were her children. She was a mother without children. It was her very nature to care.

He’d met her thirty years ago and tried to slam the door on her. Adane House didn’t need another potential traitor. Especially not from the Eagle Order. Now, though, it bothered him to know her cells were dying, her movements slowing, that ache in her wrist growing worse each year.

Susenyos didn’t watch the people he cared about die. He’d told her that once and she’d said, “Well, I’ll do my best to go into town and die.”

Etete regarded him and a severe look possessed her gentle eyes. He straightened for a scolding. What had he done now?

“Are you being kind to her?” she asked.