Page 21 of Eternal Ruin

The Makary vampire released his claws as well, long and black. Hair stood on the back of Kidan’s neck. They couldn’t fight here. It was against the law—

Professor Andreyas disappeared from the end of the table like smoke inhaled into a vacuum. The dean’s stack of papers took flight, a flurry of white feathers. In a blink, he was standing between the two lunging vampires. Kidan’s heartbeat was in her throat. He had to be faster than any vampire she’d seen.

“Susenyos.” The professor spoke in a low, careful tone. “Retreat.”

It was with great effort that Susenyos came back to Kidan’s chair. Makary huffed and glared.

It was quiet for a few beats. Kidan’s skin prickled with their hard looks—how much power they had over her gnawing at her very bones. The urge to scream built in her throat. She was angry at the dean, at being thrust into a new feud with her sister, and now this—new vultures clamoring to take her family legacy.

Adjoa Piran, surprisingly, spoke. “This is a proposal, isn’t it? So when do the votes happen?”

Kidan’s gaze slitted in mistrust. The way Adjoa’s dark eyes penetrated deep into her own put Kidan on edge. The woman was searching her for something.

“Tradition is the cornerstone of Uxlay,” Adjoa said, finally breaking her stare. “If Susenyos is willing to sign over the house”—she paused, seeing Kidan’s tense nod and Susenyos’s silent glower—“then we owe Adane House our loyalty, to take time before deciding on such a decision.”

“How well you speak up for the Adanes now.” Mikhail Temo’s thick arms tensed. His eyes carried the same look of compassion toward Kidan but hardened when they settled back on Piran. “Their ghosts thank you.”

Adjoa’s face soured, her sharp eyes turning lethal on Mikhail.

“Here they go again.” The sparkling man from Luroz House yawned. Gemstones shone on his neck and fingers. “Dean Faris, can we wrap this up?”

“Mot Zebeyas, how do you propose we conduct this?” Dean Faris announced, cutting the tension. Her head inclined to the silent Mot Zebeyas observing without a single movement. They had been so still, Kidan had forgotten they were present.

The devout she recognized crinkled like an old piece of paper as he stood. His voice was not rushed, and its slow pace defused the urgency in the room.

“Each house will come to the Mot Zebeya Courts with their dranaics, todeliberate and declare their vote. We will receive one house each week, on the fourth day, Thursday, the day the Last Sage and Demasus created the Three Binds, the day of Reconciliation and Peace.” His reflective eyes roamed over them one by one. “We will begin with Ajtaf House, the house with the most dranaics, and end with Adane House, the house with the least number of dranaics. May the Last Sage’s wisdom follow you all.”

They sat there after it was finished in silence. Wisdom? Was there such a thing when everyone at this table was scrambling for power? Kidan rose to her feet slowly, still vibrating with anger. Yusef gave her an encouraging nod on his way out, supporting his aunt’s arm. Slen paused by the door briefly, drawing a line to Susenyos.

Her look seemed to saycareful.

Kidan’s scalp prickled but she didn’t look behind her. Susenyos’s anger was waiting to be unleashed, close on her heels as they walked out of the grand house.

You finally took the house from him, a voice whispered inside her mind.Of course he hates you.

But she pushed her panic down. Susenyos wouldn’t inherit the house. He needed her, which meant he wouldn’t leave.

As if he heard her thoughts, a firm hand rested on the small of her back. Kidan tensed immediately, her mind going blank.

“Follow me.” He spoke low, just above her ear, earthy and dangerous.

His hand remained there for a minute longer, making her heart pound. His fingers flexed, and Kidan could have sworn she felt the tips of his claws before he removed them.

What had he said once?

Claws often mean we’ve let our nature take over completely, become more monster than human.

Steeling her nerves, Kidan followed.

10.

SUSENYOS

Susenyos sagad had once felt all his bones break, gone to the space where sweet agony met nothingness, and he still preferred it to beinghuman.

It was why he’d memorized the exact boundary line between Adane House and Uxlay proper that would strip him of his immortality. And he made sure never to cross it unless absolutely necessary.

“Stop,” he said, staring down at the soil.