Page 175 of Eternal Ruin
Maybe we will protect one another first. Before Uxlay.
Slen left quietly, letting her rest. But Kidan couldn’t sleep. By the time Susenyos was released from the Sicions, Kidan had cleaned up and dressed for the journey. Susenyos appeared at the door, his gaze raked down her form quickly, concern melting into relief.
He’d drawn her into his arms without a word, and she’d inhaled his scent, stealing a moment of peace before she stepped back.
“Samson,” he said, jaw hard. “Did he hurt you?”
Her shoulder burned and the column of her throat moved, remembering the snakelike grip she’d been under.
But she shook her head. “Later.”
There’d be time for revenge later. He appeared to want to say more. Perhaps about the house law and why it changed but he nodded.
There was something more pressing. Kidan told him about the Nefrasi estate.
“Drummond North?” He froze. “You found their location?”
“Yes.”
He regarded her with a shaking head, then planted a kiss in the middle of her forehead. “Have I mentioned I love this mind of yours?”
Her cheeks warmed as he pulled back, face determined. “Iniko will meet us on the way. She called. Talaa’s grave had been emptied. No trace of the blade artifact. He’ll move the Nefrasi out soon too.”
Kidan’s gut sank, she was disappointed about the blade artifact but she steeled herself. “We have to hurry.”
She would not lose GK again.
UXLAY’SHOUSE VOTE
PIRAN HOUSE
55 DRANAICS
PIRAN HOUSE HAS DELIBERATED AND DECIDED THE FOUNDING HOUSES SHOULD REMAIN THE SOLE SUCCESSORS OF DEANSHIP. ADANE HOUSE SHOULDNOTBE REMOVED FROM THE MIDDLE POSITION.
Declared at the Mot Zebeya Courts on Thursday the 28th.
62.
JUNE
June didn’t think she’d heard Warde right.
Your sister is here with Susenyos. In the throne room.
She tore across the Nefrasi estate, nearly colliding with the seventeenth-century clay vase in the corridor. She skidded to a stop outside the mammoth doors, the shadow swallowing her completely. June hated anything taller than her, and it’d been a terrifying day when she learned nearly everything was. Small things like her could only survive by being quiet and pretty.
But her sister was on the other side of this door. And if there was ever a time to speak, it was now.
Biting her lip for courage, June opened the door and slipped inside. No one paid her any attention. All faces were turned toward Samson, who sat on his makeshift throne. The chair was covered in animal hide, its armrest carved to resemble the open jaws of a lion. Earlier, she’d treated Samson’s infected hand by that chair, gingerly unfastening his buckled silver hand.
They’d been alone, and he’d been talking about evacuating the Nefrasi, on edge about something.
Now the darkness surrounding him had become oppressive. He looked every bit a dark king, his sharp eyes trained on the side door.
It opened a second later, revealing Susenyos Sagad.
June gasped softly. He really was here.
