Page 204 of Eternal Ruin

He placed her palm on his damp chest. Strong and unbreakable. “Strength, Kidan. Immortality. Become a vampire.”

Her ears buzzed, unsure she’d heard correctly. The shock traveled to her fingers, twitching out a symbol on him. But he didn’t correct himself.

He was serious.

“I… can’t.”

“Why?”

She scoffed. “Why?”

He glanced around the massive hall. “Everyone you saw in this room matters to me. I helped them become vampires. So they’re protected even when I’m not by their side. Why wouldn’t I want the same for you?” He said this as if it was the most obvious thing.

Kidan let out a disbelieving breath. “Who would even give me their life?”

“Do you want mine?”

The question made her halt, dangerous.

Susenyos, who once valued immortality most, hunted and fought for it, now presenting it to her. What did this say about him? What did it say about what they were to each other? Did he think she was just using him?

“Do you really think I’d take your immortality?” she whispered, eyes falling.

“To be safe, to protect others, your friends, your sister—”

“I’m sorry,” she cut him off.

“What?”

When her gaze lifted, her eyes felt like a forest on fire. “I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clear. Thatyouare under my protection now.”

His lip quirked, the darkness crowding him clearing away as if the sun had broken through clouds. “I am?”

He said it like a fragile thing, a childlike hope, as if it was an impossible thing to warrant her protection. Her body melted.

God, what was he doing to her?

She pressed her forehead to his, making a vow that’d grow deep, unbreakable roots. “I will protect you.”

“With that terrifying and dangerous love you reserve for a few?”

Her cheeks burned. She remembered how jealous he’d been when she demanded he save her friends.

“You’ve made the list. In fact, you may even be higher than you think—”

He kissed her cheek, near her lips but not quite and whatever thought that had been rising shot out of her mind. When he pulled back, the ends of his hair were burning.

“Say it again,” he demanded.

“Really?” She laughed. “You do know that you’re one of nature’s strongest creatures and I’m nothing but a human?”

“I do.”

She shook her head. “I’ll protect you, Susenyos.”

He grinned like a fool, and she did too. How silly of him to want her protection, from her weak human hands, and she told him so.

“It’s not those hands.” He touched her temple. “It’s this. You move and act and think and breathe in service of the people you care about. They are always a part of you. Now you’re telling me I am too.”