Page 245 of Eternal Ruin

Please make sure Taj doesn’t find out what we’re doing.

A clink, a nod.

Are you sure you want to mislead your sister like this?Warde asked.For her to be Sage, she will have to kill you.

A lance of guilt spread through June. But she had no choice. Kidan would never kill June willingly. Her sister would always turn the knife toward herself.

Yes, June said.It’s my turn to sacrifice.

The Last Sage’s roar of protest came from the back of her mind, nearly making her keel over. June dug her nails into her palms and forced herself upright. Thin blood ran down her nostril from the mental strain, but she wiped it before Kidan saw. She refused to give in.

86.

KIDAN

The Dirt Diggers and their vampires gathered in the same abandoned community hall GK became a vampire in. Samson’s choice of location made Kidan grit her teeth. He wanted to remind her of the last time he’d defeated her.

No matter how hard she thought about it, Kidan didn’t understand this weird bond between June and Samson. She prayed his feelings weren’t romantic, the very image making her ill. But for some reason, June believed in her, believed Kidan could do the unimaginable and break these ancient artifacts.

The least she could do was believe in June as well.

Kidan walked to the Dirt Diggers, anger still flickering in her about their plan involving Yusef.

Adjoa Piran came to stand next to her, dark eyes sharp. “What is all this?”

Kidan faced her, inhaling deeply. “Daric didn’t kill my parents. The dean… made him do it.”

For the first time, she saw the iron woman waver, a small stumble back. Mist clouding her eyes.

It was Osa Rojit who spoke, tense. “Are you sure?”

Her parents’ fear from the memory threatened to choke her again, but she pushed it aside. “Yes. The dean wanted your group disbanded. Daric was the glue that held you all together.”

Mikhail Temo let out a curse, muscled hand tightening into a fist. “How could she do such a thing?”

She let them deal with the finding for a few moments. Then she told them about Samson and the blade artifact.

Kidan lowered her voice. “If I can’t break it, you need to have your vampires ready. We are leaving this hall with the artifact one way or another.”

Adjoa still appeared a little lost.

“Do I have your support?” Kidan asked.

Adjoa blinked, and slowly her dangerous determination returned. “We will be ready,” she said.

A chorus of doubtful echoes thrummed.

June opened the door and Samson Sagad appeared. He came with the few Nefrasi still loyal to him. In his gloved metal hand were two curved blades. Kidan had seen those weapons in the mouths of Uxlay’s lions, in the goddess portrait in the artifact room, strapped to her back and arcing like metal wings. And now here they were.

Samson walked slowly to her. Gasps and whispers flanking him. He tipped her chin up with the end of one of the cold blades.

“She claims she can break this artifact.” He spoke to the crowd, though his spoiled eyes were on her. “Once the blade artifact is broken, according to legend, vampires can feed on any human, and actis will no longer have to kill to feed vampires.”

Mocking laughter came from his followers, the tattooed woman Kidan recognized from the throne room. At least twenty vampires, even some Piran and Temo students who protested the dean’s ways, were also present.

“And if she fails to break them, I’ll kill her right here,” Samson said, all menace.

Their hatred plumed toward one another, and it took every effort not to stab him with the mythical blades.