Page 152 of House of Ruin
Alecto chuckled. “I thought you were supposed to say you’d die for me.”
Blaze snorted, brushing a thumb over her jawline. “And where is the fun in that?”
It took a moment for his words to sink into Alecto, but then it clicked.
Popular mortal belief was that sacrificing your life for the one you loved was going to bring them happiness and prove how strong your love for them was. But wouldn’t letting someone you loved die for you just make your life a living Hel?
After all, what was there to live for if you had to endure the burden of their death and carry it when they were gone?
“I’d kill for you too,” Alecto whispered back.
Blaze brought his forehead to hers, exhaling a long breath.
It was as close toI love youas they’d ever get. And Alecto was more than comfortable with that.
After all, she wasn’t anI love yougirl.
And he wasn’t anI love youboy.
They stayed like that for a while, their bodies touching, their chests rising in the same rhythm. And Alecto would have liked to stay that way for much longer. Forever, even.
Yet the Gods had other plans for them.
The door swung open, and Andro walked in. He paused for a moment when he took in the view of Alecto and Blaze.
Then he cleared his throat and said, “Hate to interrupt your moment, but we have an emergency.”
“What now?” Alecto peeled herself away from Blaze.
Andro shrugged one shoulder. “Galia Rathone is here. She demanded a meeting with the Inner Circle.”
Blaze frowned. “That’s weird.”
“Fucking weird. Come on, now. You don’t want to keep Val waiting.”
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Without another word, Alecto and Blaze followed Andro out the door and to the basement, where the rest of the Inner Circle sat with the High Priestess of the House of Rats.
As always, Galia’s blond bob was styled to perfection, not a single hair out of place. Her cheeks were just rosy enough, her lips painted a sweet shade of pink. When she noticed them descending the stairs, she plucked an invisible piece of lint from her white sweater.
“Finally,” Galia said.
“Speak, Rathone,” Val sneered, her face hard as stone. “High Priests and Priestesses are falling like flies. I don’t like my time being wasted.”
For a moment, they just sat in silence, staring at each other.
But then Galia sighed. She bit her lower lip, brushing a hand over her navy suit pants. Alecto realized the High Priestess was…nervous.
“You’re right about High Priests and Priestesses. And what’s why I’m here. We’ve got a problem,” Galia said. She tilted her chin up.
“And what problem might that be?” Alecto asked.
Galia looked at her. “You will regret putting Norse in jail.”
“Is that a threat?” Alecto crossed her arms. “He killed three people. And he almost killed two of us. Should I just let that happen?”
“You’d like to have us out of the way, wouldn’t you, little Rat?” Val smirked.
