Page 241 of Eternal Ruin

Across the road, standing under a tree, was a boy in black clothes with dark eclipsed eyes.

Kidan blinked, trying to parse reality from dream. Next to him, a giant of a man stood still—Warde.

June smiled at them and crossed over. Kidan gave Uxlay’s gate one more glance before walking over to them slowly. GK ran his gaze over her carefully, as if he knew everything she’d been through.

She said nothing, afraid she’d chase him away. GK had… left the Nefrasi cell.

“You were right,” he said, the leaves crunching beneath his feet. “A Mot Zebeya protects all life. And yours is in danger.”

The sword pressing into Kidan’s chest eased a little. She reached into her pocket and retrieved GK’s finger bone chain, holding it out to him. The moment he took possession of it, the bones responded strongly, whispering to one another.

GK’s eyes fell to Kidan’s sigil pin, red with mot paste.

“Yusef??” he asked, eyes dark.

Kidan looked away.

“I see. I didn’t want to believe it. As angry as I was with him, I wanted him to live. To tell me why he did what he did. And tell me where I failed him in our friendship.”

Tears burned her eyes, and it was impossible to speak so she said nothing.

After a long moment, GK said, “I’ll come with you, Kidan, but you have to promise me one thing.”

Her throat tightened but she managed to speak. “What?”

GK’s voice didn’t waver. “If I lose control and hurt someone, you will stop me. Youwilllet me die.”

She turned her cheek away, catching June’s withdrawn eyes. How long would the concoction she was giving him hold his hunger at bay? But this appeared important to him, more vital than air.

Slowly, Kidan nodded.

“I’ll stop you.”

But I won’t let you die.

June and Kidan walked the narrow path into Zaf Haven town, away from Uxlay. The two Mot Zebeyas followed them, their shaking chains of death singing in tandem.

84.

KIDAN

Head resting in June’s lap, Kidan stared at the noisy air vent, blowing a string and faint dust around them.

They were in a motel in Zaf Haven town, deciding where to go next.

June’s soothing voice was a balm to a wound, fingers running through her braids. “You’ll be okay, Kid. I promise.”

“I felt it crack,” Kidan said numbly.

“Hmm?” June asked.

“The mask. I felt it… crack even though Samson couldn’t break it. I know it sounds crazy, but I think I can do it. Break the artifact.”

June remained silent, running her fingers down her hair.

Kidan thought about her palms, reliving the sensation of power coursing through her when she held the mask.

A dangerous thought slid into her unbidden. One that would perhaps plunge the world into eternal ruin. She couldn’t flinch away from the violence this path promised. This plan, this blood-lettered plan would irrecoverably change everything. She could lose herself across it, or perhaps finally find herself, finally marry herself to the darkness so no one could tell them apart.