Page 197 of Eternal Ruin

I never wanted any of this. I hate that you’re suffering. Warde will free you, and take you to the ivory house we visited once. Do you remember? The last acti the Nefrasi had died there. And when I cried because I couldn’t save him, I saw your tears too. It was only for a second, but now I’m sure. I know you’re angry. You’re always angry.

But I also know you truly care for the Nefrasi.

Warde will restrain you in the ivory house but don’t try to fight him, please. You will lose.

Wait for me there. I have followed your every command since the night you showed up in my garden, and it is only fair you listen to me now.

I know what you want. I know you want Talaa.

I will bring you the mask artifact.

And you will give me the blade artifact.

I will help you break the binds.

With love,

June

70.

KIDAN

Kidan watched Susenyos in the throne room, talking with members of the Nefrasi. At least three dozen of them huddled around him, smiling broadly and punching his shoulder.

He laughed, the sound carrying over in joyful waves to the high ceiling. It made his features beautiful, the new ease to his movements, almost unburdened. Kidan didn’t know when it had happened, but his happiness stirred hers. By simply watching him, she was smiling at a joke she couldn’t hear.

It was extremely worrying and… nice. How her emotions shifted and heightened at the quirk of his lips or under his heated gaze, almost like at Adane House.

Susenyos paused mid-conversation, turning his back to find her by the door.

His pupils shone, and a thrilling rush went through her. He said a few words to his people and they nodded, eyeing her curiously as they left. Unlike earlier, this group didn’t seem to want her dead. It took a while to empty the room, and when the final footsteps faded, it was just Kidan and Susenyos.

Being alone with him felt dangerous. There was a switch in her body that flicked on whenever she realized nothing could stop her from touching him now. Even kissing him, very carefully, so she wouldn’t die. Access to him in such a way was exhilarating. A secret of their own.

Susenyos took off his bloodstained shirt, coming to her. He wiped her cheek. Kidan blinked in surprise, all thoughts leaving her mind.

It took her a second to realize he was cleaning the sprayed blood from earlier. Samson’s blood.

“You’re still here.” His voice was rough, low, and earthy.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

When he took in her face, a gold streak bloomed in his pupils. But beneath it, there was marvel.

As if he couldn’t believe she was alive.

No, that wasn’t it. He hadn’t thoughthe’dbe alive. Not because of the fight with Samson, but the compulsion.

Kidan grabbed his wrist, a spasm of panic taking root. “Would you really have died?”

His hand rested at her waist, burning into her skin as his other hand dragged his shirt down her neck. “I’m done running.”

“But this—I don’t understand any of this.”

“I know. I thought this secret would keep costing me everything. I don’t understand how June knew all this. Your sister saved us today.”

Relief and confusion spun inside Kidan. Her sister seemed entirely clueless until she didn’t. Kidan still didn’t believe she’d learned everything from a vampire—Rasi. But what other explanation was there?