Page 5 of Ruin

“But you must, my love. It’s time for us to say goodbye. You are useless, a dead man, and I am the key. I want better, Ideservebetter.” Her strong shoulders shrugged as she turned back to Zander. “Besides, you have given me what I need to know.” And she pulled Zander’s head down. His eyes met mine just before he gripped her and their mouths and bodies met.

Not real. Not real. It is not real... But telling myself that as I was forced to watch the love of my life fuck my frenemie, just wasn’t working. With each touch, each kiss and each thrust I died a little more inside until there was nothing left. I didn’t care about my life anymore, not even when I was left staring at an empty room, my eyeballs dry and scorched from the heat of the fire.

Berith's perfect features filled my vision. He smiled smoothly. “Did you enjoy the show? I thought you’d appreciate one last night with your lover, even if it was only to watch her leave you. Now? You're done. But you have at least given me something useful. And just so you know,Prime.There will be no coming back from this one.” His head cocked and I froze, waiting. The crack of my neck was loud in my ears. All I could do was watch Berith smile as I gasped for breath, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Yet even as I suffocated, unable to move my chest to drag air into my lungs, I could only think of Ember. Real or not, that scene with Zander had finally broken me. Tears began to fall in earnest onto my hot cheeks, turning to steam from the heat of those infernal flames. Ember was my everything. That stupid organ in my chest that slowly ceased to beat actually healed a little at the realisation that, although once again Berith had used her to hurt me, she wasn’t anywhere near him. I could only hope that she stayed away and didn't try to find me.

Berith smiled, his eyes consumed with the burning forms of lost souls. “That’s it, die for me, human. Die.”

I screamed as those tortured souls dragged me into the darkness.

Chapter 3

Ember

I saton the edge of my bed, my restless legs bouncing. The ridiculously ornate gold clock ticked away patiently. I peered at it where it sat on the mantelpiece.Three am. Time to go…

Nerves bubbled in my belly. I hoped I was strong enough to do this, not just getting the portal, but dealing with what I might find on the other side. Briefly, I closed my eyes, it was worth the risk,Connorwas worth the risk. Prime rumbled in agreement though I could feel Mea’s anxiety. Prime, sensing her worry, turned his big head, nudging her gently and sending waves of reassurance through us both. As a Prime alpha, he was powerful enough to control other alpha shifters, and such softness and sympathy from such a mighty and bloodthirsty creature had tears burning my eyes.

An ache developed in my throat. Mine and Connor’s wolves were becoming close. I could feel the bond between them strengthening. They were potential mates. I swiped a tear from beneath my eye. I had been scared to tell Connor how I truly felt, worried that our wolves would reject each other. It was ironic that they’d found each other and become close, when we were forced to be apart. Prime had made no move to mate with Mea and I wondered if he wanted to wait until Connor had returned—or we knew he had gone to the afterlife. A pain jabbed at my chest and I rubbed my right palm over my heart. It was too painful to think about what would happen to us all if that had happened. Swallowing hard, I hoped Connor heard my whispered plea, the one I sent to him every damned night.Hold on, my love. Please. I’m coming for you.

Fire flared, her heat burning through my belly, her soul just waiting to burst free at my command. I jumped up and paced across the room and back again, chewing on the soft skin of my bottom lip. Three-o-five… My soft leather boots made no sound on the woven rug. I rubbed my sweaty palms down the material of my faerie armour-coated thighs. Besides this one, I had three more suits of faerie armour hanging in my closet, along with boots, and many other every day and frivolous items that Walker had deemed necessary for me.

I grabbed my hair tie and quickly plaited my bright red hair, letting it hang down my back. My mouth was dry and my heart beating hard against my ribs. Was I really doing this? I hoped Walker and B’nar would understand and not come after us before I’d found Connor. Blue and Alex were part of my plan and were meeting me outside the King’s quarters, but Lance and Ava? Well, I couldn’t risk them destroying the only chance I had at getting back to the prison by snitching on me to B’nar or Walker. I had no idea where their loyalties really laid but I doubted very much they were to me, or to the man who had tried to kill them.

I swallowed down a glass of water, then dead on a quarter past three, carefully opened my bedroom door and crept down the dark, shadowy corridors of the vast palace towards King L’nar’s personal space.

My warm breath formed small clouds as I moved through the darkness. The palace was viciously cold, as the home of the Winter King should be. Only certain rooms were kept warm for mortals like us. The Winter King and the Prince Heir had no need for warmth, their blood ran as cold as the ice that coated their kingdom.

The corridors were quiet, no guards. Walker preferred all of his soldiers on guard outside of his home—all except his Ice Sentinels. When I’d asked why, he had laughed and told me if his enemy got past the army who guarded his home then they deserved the chance of a one on one battle with him before they died.

Silently, I slipped in behind the large statue of a past king who fought an ugly beast that seemed caught between a bug with multiple spindly legs and an obese woman. The plaque said it was the Bogwart queen. Urgh, she was one ugly-assed fae, even uglier than Somnelaire.

Blue and Alex both jumped at my soundless arrival.

“Jeez!” Blue placed a hand on her heart. “You bloody scared me.”

“Me too,” Alex grumbled.

I grinned briefly. “Sorry. Right, the Digitalis should have worked by now and he should be sleeping like a baby. How about the handsome prince? Did he get his dose too?”

Blue grimaced. “Dick prince, more like.”

I just raised my brows, there was no time for Blue’s snark, no matter how justified it might be.

“Fine, yes, he’s out. I checked just now. Though that summer fae he was shagging asked me for double to keep her mouth shut.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who cares? So long as he’s out of our way, it doesn’t matter how much you gave her.” I peered at Alex through the dark. “You ready, princey?”

“As I’ll ever be. Give me a moment.”

I gritted my teeth, trying my best to be patient. Now my plan was in motion, my heart was hammering in my chest. I had to swallow down my fear at the thought of being caught. I doubted Walker would be very forgiving of me drugging him and his son and stealing his prized portal ring. I blew out a steadying breath from between my teeth.It will be fine,I told myself as Alex’s face morphed into B’nar’s and his body lengthened and became broader.

Blue gaped up at him. “Wow.”

“Yeah, wow. You sure about this?” Cementing myself onto Walker’s hit list was one thing, but putting Blue and Alex there too didn’t sit well. Alex peered down at me from a familiar icy visage; one that made me swallow hard. Blue poked his cheek, something she would never dare do to B’nar. “That’s one hell of a party trick, mister.”

Alex squared his shoulders, taking on the air of one born into power and privilege. Arrogance and entitlement dripped from him. “Get off me, human. You are my pet, nothing more.” The disdain in his voice was believable even if the pitch was a little high. “Now move from my path. I have work to do.”

Blue swallowed hard, and even shuffled back a step. “Here.” She passed him a taser. “It’s set to stun. Killing the High King of the fae, and starting a war with Faerie would be too much to deal with on top of a demon invasion, so try to get out without doing that.”

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