Page 20 of Eternal Ruin

Kidan’s fist came down, her whole face igniting. The blood on the table spilling over the sides. “You can’t do that. I need to set a law within my house.”

A sharp look possessed the dean’s features. “Everyone in Uxlay wants to set their own law, but we don’t function to feed individual greed here. It is a community that must have Border Houses and strong middle houses.”

Kidan bit her lip, fists bunched. Susenyos’s still form told her everything about his rage. Unlike her, however, he masked his emotions well.

But even he must have reached his limit because he released a humorless breath. “You allow the Border Houses a chance at the middle position and Uxlay will run red with violence as they vie for power. The Founding Houses must remain as the proper heads as it has always been. Either Faris or Adane must be the dean.”

Every member appeared to deliberate the proposed change quietly.

Panic grew into a thousand birds in Kidan’s chest. Without Adane House, she had nothing.Wasnothing. June and Susenyos would have no use for her. And GK… GK would die the moment Samson learned of this.

“You can’t do this,” Kidan almost pleaded, sitting forward. “My ancestors founded Uxlay. It’s their right to claim the middle position as Founders.”

There was no trace of emotion on their faces.

Makary sat back, running his fingers through his gray-streaked oily hair. “You speak of tradition, but your parents broke it the day they assigned a dranaic to inherit your house.”

Delarus’s mouth twisted in agreement, a rose stitched to his tailored suit.

Kidan blinked, a drum pounding in her ears. The others stared at Susenyos, their collective distrust gathering like clouds. It didn’t matter how much they bickered among each other, they were united in their distrust of vampires. They would rather let Adane House dissolve into the background than have it be commanded by a vampire.

Susenyos’s eyes were sharp blades, aimed toward the dean, a tight line along his dark jaw. If it was any other place but here, he might have truly killed her.

“That won’t be a problem,” Kidan said, trying to calm her shaking voice. “Because Susenyos has agreed to sign over Adane House to me.”

He went rigid behind her, his piercing gaze a scorching wave down her skull. Kidan’s heart raced but she didn’t drop her chin.

And of course, because it was a lie, the mixture in front of her turned pure black.

Fuck.

9.

KIDAN

Why are you lying to us?” Delarus laughed. “This is what happens when you have children at the table.”

A few glances were exchanged around the room, some intrigued, some wary. All were staring at the black liquid pooled before Kidan.

Kidan’s entire face was burning, but she scrambled to clarify. “Imeanthewillsign the house over to me.”

Remarkably, despite the dark wave of energy coming off him, Susenyos remained silent.

“Why would Susenyos relinquish such a gift?” Rojit’s house master, a woman with one eye, spoke.

“Because he’s tried to master the house for fourteen years and failed,” Kidan continued, hating the way her gut tightened. But she had no choice.

She had to show her teeth to these people.

Three people—Ajtaf, Makary, and Delarus chuckled. Kidan made sure to memorize their faces. One day, she’d make them all pay.

“Savage Susenyos,” Makary half snarled with pleasure. “Unable to tame a house.”

“Perhaps I should have tied it down like your eleven wives,” Susenyos responded sharply. “But that hasn’t worked out well for you.”

The man sputtered so much his eyes bulged. “How dare you! Such outlandish accusations. My dranaic will cut you down during Cossia Day—”

“Why wait until then?” Susenyos bit out, moving forward to attack.