Page 26 of Ruin

Shannon laughed. “He’s still a miserable bastard, and I want girl company.”

I was glad of the excuse not to dwell on Connor. “But I thought you two were soul mates?”

She hooked her arm through mine and, whereas once I might have pushed her away, right now, with my best friend gone, my mate here—yet not, and my friends all busy trying to imprison the monster that had once been Reed, I was glad of Shannon’s company. She shrugged and tossed her thick blonde hair, cocking her hip as she flung the gun over her shoulder. “Maybe, I haven’t decided yet. Either way, it doesn’t mean I’m joined to his hip. This war we have with demons and werewolves is real, and you know as well as I do that being close to someone who can be ripped away, isn’t a good idea.”

I stiffened.

“Ah shit, sorry, runt, I didn’t mean that...ah, damn… sorry.”

I swallowed. Gods, I must look broken if queen bitch was apologising to me and stammering over her words. “It’s fine.” I gave her a watery smile. “It’s fine.”

“Nah, it really isn’t. Nothing about this shitty situation is fine. But it will be.”

“Yeah, maybe. Eventually.” I couldn’t help the sigh that escaped me.

Shannon glanced sideways as she led me out of the cave. “Come on...hot showers...doesn’t that do it for you, runt? And then we can get proper food. Mother, I knew Drake was loaded but, damn, he’s come with everything. In fact, I’m considering dumping Stone and getting my claws into Drake.”

I allowed myself a small laugh. It seemed my once biggest enemy was now a friend. I appreciated her efforts to make me feel better, though. Gods, how things changed. “You don’t mean that.” It was in her voice.

She smiled and winked. “Course not, but Stoney doesn’t know that. He’s gonna have to work for it if he wants to tap this gorgeous ass. I wouldn’t want him to take me for granted, now would I?”

I shook my head and smiled. “No, you certainly would not.”

Chapter 9

Ember

I pulledmy fingers through my wet hair before picking up the bendy hose that was attached to some kind of automatic hair drier. It was slow and steady, but I took my time, enjoying the feel of the warm air buffeting my hair and scalp.

It had been getting dark when Shannon had brought me to our room. I hadn't realised how long we’d been in the prison and caves, but I’d crashed. Even with no food in my belly, my brain had short circuited and I’d slept, not well and my mind was full of doubts, and guilt and pain, but Ihadslept.

Shannon had been summoned from the room by Stone, who looked less than happy with Shannon’s current sleeping arrangements. I smiled. Maybe she was right, he’d never take her for granted if she was always this unpredictable.

I brushed my hair until it shone. Its strands were all bright red now, the blond long since cut from its ends. I dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee, all clothes courtesy of Drake, and pulled on my boots. My faerie armour was hung in the small wardrobe of the cabin. I’d cleaned it as best I could and decided to leave it there until we next went on a raid.

I steadied myself against the wall of the cabin as wind buffeted it from the whirling of a helicopter overhead. I’d occasionally seen and heard them land at the SBI headquarters when I’d been at school, but I’d never been so close before. They couldn’t land in the forest, but had been able to lower the cabins in this clearing in front of the cliff face. An amazing amount of supplies were still incoming. Drake had no intention of letting us lose this battle with Berith from a lack of equipment.

I waited for the walls to stop shaking and took a breath. I wasn’t scared one of the bloody great things would drop on me, not really. Huffing at my own lie, I picked up my bow and flung it across my shoulder, fixed my knife to my thigh and stuck the fae equivalent of a gun that B’nar had left me into a holster on my hip. Satisfied I was armed enough, I pulled the door open—and squeaked in surprise.

“Godsdammit, Alex! Give a girl a heart attack why don’t you?”

He smirked. “Aw, come on. You’re a badass, surely my beautiful face doesn't scare you.”

I snorted, and gave Alex a playful push away. Zander’s scent drifted up my nostrils. I turned around just as his broad frame disappeared out of the cabin doors. I narrowed my eyes on Alex. “Where’s he going? I need to talk to him.”

Alex scratched his nose and raised his brows. “What? Him? Ah, I think he’s going to see Connor.”

“Oh, okay.” I had no intention of following him to Connor. My heart stuttered and my palms went clammy. I needed to talk to Owen and the others. Even if they listened and agreed with me that this was not truly Connor who had returned from the prison, I still had no idea how to banish the demon that I believed currently inhabited his body. I blinked my burning eyes. I didn’t let the horrible thought that Connor may be lost to me forever, take root. Instead, I shook it off and started down the short corridor. We passed four other doors. If Tyen and Zander had one room, who was in the others? Maybe…?

“He’s not in here. He, um, well...” Alex raked a hand through his hair and looked at the floor.

I swallowed, my stomach like lead. Even though I didn’t want to be near the creature that had stolen Connor’s body, it was still hard to look at him and not see my mate. So it still stung. “He didn’t want to be near me, did he? Only wanted me to be ready to run to him when he calls.”

Alex exhaled. “No, he didn’t.” His eyes narrowed, his gaze sharpening, and he cocked his head. “But something tells me you have an idea why he’s being such a dick.”

I swallowed the ache in my throat. “I do. Do you?” Alex ran a hand through his hair again before meeting my gaze. “That isn’t Connor. I’m sorry, Em.”

It was painful to hear my suspicions confirmed by someone else—but also reassuring in a way. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I needed you to say that.” I marched from the cabin. “Let’s go and find Owen and the others. We’ll talk to them about how to handle this because I’m damned if I know.”

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