Page 203 of Eternal Ruin

Not because she needed to but because he needed it.

His lashes fluttered, hope paining him. “I don’t deserve it.”

She gave him a sad quirk of a smile and repeated his own words to him. Words he’d given her when he could have used them to break her apart but instead lifted her head.

“Enough with the self-punishment and pity. I’m only interested in what you’ll become.”

He gave her such a deep look of adoration, her chest squeezed.

“You asked me once why I didn’t return to my court. You told me to find them from wherever they were and help them.” He kissed the inside of her palm. “I didn’t because I was afraid. For decades… I was a coward. But now… now I’ll lead them out of this hell.”

Kidan nodded, her hand touching the key dangling from his neck. “Always wondered why an emperor chose Uxlay over the rest of the world.”

He smiled and stepped aside, looking to the empty throne. The floor was smeared with blood as he tracked wet footprints across it.

Holding her hand, he led her to it, climbing the small stairs. He touched the armrest lightly and took a seat, sinking backward and tilting his head.

Kidan’s vision became stark. Sunlight streamed from the high windows, making the blood on the floor shine like rubies, touching the edges of his feet. He was the perfect image of the regal portrait of him found in Uxlay’s library.

A true lost king.

“How does it feel?” she felt herself whisper, drawing closer.

He studied her with that smirk she was growing to love. “Something is missing.”

Inky eyes stared at her face, then worked a careful, lazy gaze down her body until she tingled all over.

They stared at one another until their smiles melted into a searing, crackling heat.

Slowly, Kidan straddled his lap, remembering the lounges of Cossia Day. Heat swept through her at once, and she could not hide her desire to save her life. She licked her lips, making his eyes shine.

“What is it about me covered in blood that gets you so…” His hand slipped inside her pants, barely grazing and she tightened, making him grin.

“It’s not the blood, although I do like that.” Her voice fluttered along with her heartbeat. “It’s your protection. I’m usually the one who kills for others.”

He gently lifted her chin. “I’ll always protect you.”

His words washed over her, brilliant and unyielding.

“I believe you,” Kidan said.

Susenyos nodded and parted her collar, the back of his fingers stroking down her neck. He froze after a few seconds, interrupting the pleasure buzzing between them.

She moved to kiss his cheek, but his stiffness didn’t ease. “He gave you this.”

Kidan pulled back to figure out what he meant. Susenyos’s attention was fixed on the burn scar along her collarbone. The heat of the fire poker returned with a vengeance, but Kidan clamped the memory shut. She wouldn’t let Samson ruin anything else.

Black swirls moved along Susenyos’ face, his pupils bleeding a furious red. “He’s lucky I didn’t know before our fight.”

“You tortured him enough.”

“Hardly.” His features became stone. “He could have killed you.”

She smiled again. It was becoming difficult to stop. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t have Adane House to protect you anymore. What I valued changed, which means the moment you walk in there, the house will try to take you away from me. It will kill you to punish me.” His gaze flicked back and forth between her pupils, he was thinking deeply. Frustration and determination flickered on his face. “You should do it now.”

Kidan’s brows furrowed. “What?”