Page 183 of Eternal Ruin

She must be talking about the blade artifact, Kidan thought.

It took a while for Samson’s followers to leave, murder written on their faces. But they were outnumbered and for a reason Kidan couldn’t understand, they all respected Arin enough to follow her order.

“You’ve finally returned, Malak Sagad, to whom the angels bow.” Arin’s feline eyes ran from the crown of his head to his bloodied shoes. “Stronger than before.”

He nodded.

Susenyos’s blade slid a little in his hand. A small relief.

The chanting began slowly, a tall man with gray eyes smacked his chest twice. It boomed and echoed through each Nefrasi, cries of “Sagad! Sagad!” climbing to the roof.

Kidan had glimpsed this loyalty in Susenyos’s memories, a love he coveted most of all. He spun with his hand raised, a radiant glow to his face. She couldn’t help but smile. He’d always belonged here. Not as a member of Uxlay, among laws and companionship, but as an emperor who saved his court from death.

Samson groaned, making them look at the puddle of blood he was in, face dark with pain.

“Take him to the dungeons,” Arin ordered, and a group of Nefrasi jumped into action, dragging Samson out.

The word “dungeons” finally shook Kidan out of her haze.

“GK,” she said quickly. “Where is he?”

Arin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Flicked to Susenyos.

Kidan recalled the deathly grip around her wrist. Arin could have killed her, but she didn’t. And there was something else. Her feline eyes, they’d been completely red, poisoned.

“I’ll take you to him,” Arin said.

A choked sound came out of Kidan.

So he’s alive.

Thank God he’s alive.

Susenyos moved before Kidan. Arin fixed her gaze on him.

“You don’t trust me?”

The remaining crowd was watching and if Susenyos made a move against Arin, he would lose the support he’d just gained.

Kidan rested a hand on his warm shoulder. “It’s fine.

“Take Iniko with you,” Susenyos said. “Be careful.”

Kidan nodded, catching his blood-speckled face. There were a thousand questions she had for him, but they’d have to wait. A long line of Nefrasi were drawing closer, waiting to speak with him.

And Kidan would finally see GK.

66.

KIDAN

The Nefrasi had chosen a beautiful mansion with decor and furniture in a style Kidan suspected was of Farah custom, a city Susenyos mentioned as his favorite. The curtains were rich and dark, and candles were used more than light bulbs. It felt like a fever dream from another world.

Kidan’s neck prickled with the sensation of being watched. A small huddle of Nefrasi vampires directed menacing glares at her. She walked away quickly, following Arin and Iniko into a secluded pillared garden.

Spring rain was in the air, and she inhaled deeply, letting it kiss her face. The jingle of finger bones sounded lightly, and her heart rate picked up. GK was close. She could feel it. In the garden, a set of stone stairs led down to a door, just off the shrubbery.

Iniko’s piercing gaze never left Arin.