Page 45 of Bound
“I know who Ruin is. Better than all of you except for maybe Markus,” I say. “Ruin brought me into the fold here. Gave me purpose. A family away from the Sith. And how do I repay him? With burn scars and a bounty on his head.”
Her lips part, no doubt to argue.
I hold my hand up, halting her protests. “I want Ruin tried fairly, justly, by a faction who hold no ties to vampire kin, than by a group that would rather see us all dead.”
“And Ruin would rather the world know how much he loves Lilah, than for her sacrifice to mean nothing,” Nisha snarls back. “I get the secrecy. But it wasn’t your choice to make. Just like it isn’t anyone’s fault except for the asshole who killed her.”
“The Council doesn’t see it that way.”
“Then the Council is outdated and fucking stupid.” Her eyes gleam as she watches me. I know her leopard form is right beneath her skin. And though I no longer disagree, I can’t change it. None of us can.
“Until we get the lords back, it’s pointless anyway,” I tell her. “And so far, we’re doing a piss-poor job of that too.”
“Gage.” Amoret’s voice is soft, hurt.
It’s like a whip over my spine. Hands curling into fists, I hold myself in place to keep from glancing at her. “In the morning, I will need to retrieve Liam’s body.” Out of the corner of my eye, she flinches. “I will need a member of the envoy to verify and sign the paperwork.”
“Okay. But, Gage—”
“Good eve, ladies.” Brushing past Nisha, I walk away.
It was my job to get Amoret and the others here. I did that.
But it was also my job to help keep Lilah safe. I failed at that one.
We all did.
It has cost the man—I would follow into the fires of Hell—his title and possibly his life.
Tired and burning with self-loathing, I pull the metal case from my pocket and pop a hand-rolled between my lips.
Amoret is safe for now. With Nisha and the whole damn colony protecting her, I need a break.
And I have no intention of remembering any of it.
