Page 223 of Eternal Ruin

It was no different than what had happened to GK.

They had killed their friend.

“God,” Kidan whispered. “We did this.”

Slen’s eyes took on a different shade, warmer, like Yusef’s, as they stared at each other for a long time. They knew who was powerful now. The question that started all of this. Yusef. His death would be the catalyst for everything else to come, hewas their influence and compass and Slen must know it too, because they’d never be the same after this.

It was Adjoa who broke the silence. “The 13th may have tried to kill Yusef, but that doesn’t explain why the two of you were in there.”

Of course.

The texts they received.

Someone else wanted them both dead.

Slen’s expression solidified when it flicked to Adjoa. “I intend to find that out.”

When Kidan touched her mother’s finger bone this time, it felt like she’d claimed a piece of her soul. She would no longer flinch away from the truth. She’d find out how her mother had lived and… died.

Today.

Maybe it would tell her who wanted Slen and Kidan dead.

77.

KIDAN

To help with her connection to her mother, Kidan brought one of Mahlet’s journals to Adane House. She passed it to June as she opened the door, and the house huffed out a breath of welcome. Even if she wasn’t fully ready to forgive June, this was something only her sister could support her in so she’d reached out. And the way she’d taken care of Kidan after Yusef’s death had thawed some of her resentment. June had nearly leaped out of her seat, eager to help.

Anything, she’d said.

“If the house is trying to kill you like you said”—June was still trying to understand—“how would you handle it?”

“I’ll handle it,” Kidan said, her voice wobbling a little. “I want to hear their voices if I can. Hear their laughter. I want to know if they were truly happy here.”

And I need to see their death.

June flicked through their mother’s journal. Her eyes widened at the repeated number. “Twenty-one.”

“I don’t know what it means. But she was obsessed. Any clue?”

June shook her head, but her gaze appeared faded.

“I’m going straight to the dining room. That’s where… it happened. Pull me out if it gets too much.”

“Please, Kid. This is dangerous. If I can’t pull you out…”

Her sister’s plea nearly swayed her, but Kidan had no plans of being hurt. She only wanted to see if it would work.

Taking a deep breath, Kidan stepped inside. At once, the tips of her fingers began to decay and color black.

June’s eyes widened. “It’s just like Samson’s.”

“And hurts like hell.” Kidan rushed down the dark hall and threw aside the wooden doors, wincing when biting pain climbed to the base of her forearm.

She thought of her mother, the answers to the Four Points of Culture. The only reason Kidan hadn’t been able to inherit the law was because something in it had to be wrong. A disconnect between the two of them.

MAHLET ADANE