Page 79 of Run of Ruin

“Hey, beautiful,” he said softly, his voice cracking a little at the edges. “Let’s get that head of yours patched up, huh?”

Bex managed a weak smile, her lips ghosting the word, “Thanks.”

Zaffir grabbed a first aid kit from the corner and started working, pulling the makeshift bandage I made from her head.

“Quick thinking, Briar,” Zaffir commended, brushing matted hair from the area and cleaning the gash with shaking hands.

“Yeah,” I replied. Ezra peeled away from Bex and let Zaffir work, coming straight for me, eyes storm-dark.

“What the fuck happened to her down there?” he hissed, his voice low but tight, vibrating with fury.

“She was attacked,” I said, my own anger curling sharp beneath my skin.

“By who?” Thorne asked, straightening.

“Devrin,” I spat, the name like poison in my mouth. “Asshole thought he could take the pieces she already collected.”

Ezra’s face contorted, his jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grind. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“Get in line,” I muttered, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

I risked a glance at Bex. She was doing her best to follow Zaffir’s instructions, but I could see it, the pallor, the tremor in her fingers, how she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from making a sound every time he touched the wound.

“She lost a lot of blood,” I said grimly.

“She needs to rest,” Thorne murmured, his gaze locked on her like she might slip away if he looked anywhere else. The idiot was head over heels, even if he didn’t have the spine to admit it yet.

And then Zaffir’s voice cut through, low and tight. “Unfortunately, all of you have an interview to prepare for.”

It felt like a slap.

“You’re joking,” Thorne snapped, stepping forward. “She’s in no condition for that.”

“I know that,” Zaffir bit back, his face flushing, eyes bright with unshed fury of his own. “You think Praxis gives a shit?”

And that was it. The crack in my temper split wide open.

“Aren’tyouPraxis?” I snarled, venom flooding every word. “Or is that just when you’re holding the fucking camera?”

Zaffir’s head snapped up. He stood, stepping towardme so fast the chair he’d been kneeling by skidded back with a scrape.

“You think you can buddy up next to us when we’re at the cabin, but then stand by and watch them put us throughthat!”I said, pointing furiously to the door we’d just arrived through. Where on the other side a mother was actively drowning with her child.

“I don’t have a choice, Briar,” he barked, eyes blazing, nose to nose with me now.

“You think that buys you a free pass?” I growled, shoving him back a step. “You think you get to stand behind your lens during the trials then go home and pretend that you’re not part of this? That you didn’t watch that kid drown tonight? That you didn’t watch a mother climb in to die with him and just…keep filming?”

Zaffir’s face twisted, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “I'm trying to keep you all alive.”

“By what? Making us look palatable for broadcast? Making the public love us so they cry when Praxis inevitably kills us?” I shouted, shoving him again, harder this time.

Ezra was there in an instant, grabbing my arm. “Briar, enough.”

But I wasn’t done. “You don’t get to pretend you’re one of us. Because you’re not.”

“I’m trying to protect her!” Zaffir roared, pointing to Bex. His voice cracked on the last word. “Every fucking day. Altering your edits. Omitting things. But it’s a risk I’d gladly take for her. For all of you!”

He came at me then, catching me off guard. His shoulder collided with mine, and then Thorne was pushing him back with maybe a little too much force. The room erupted in shouted voices as Ezra and I tried to pull them apart.

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