Page 243 of Eternal Ruin
“Mourn them and move on,” GK said quietly. “I can help you.”
Her head was already shaking.
“I know it hurts. I know it burns. It’s why we master solitude as Mot Zebeyas. Grief can destroy you if you let it.” GK stared deep into her soul. “I can teach you to be alone.”
Kidan jerked back. Those words. The peacefulness to them, stripped of any loss or pain… this was what drew her to GK, even on the first day they met, his loneliness. His embrace of it, and comfort in it.
Tears stung her eyes, touching her wrist where her butterfly bracelet used to be. “I’ve been alone, GK. Before I met you all. I know what I become. I can’t go back to that.”
The door opened and June waved them over.
Clearing her throat, Kidan took a step forward. “I brought you back from the dead, GK. I promised to make you human again. I can bring Yusef back. Yos back. I can protect you all.”
His face was grave. Full of warning.
“Besides”—she tried to smile—“you said I’d die when I turned twenty-one. If I only have one more year left, I’m going to go after everything I lost.”
When he said nothing, Kidan squared her shoulders and climbed the porch. Even as his finger chain chattered in warning, she welcomed the sound. This new path would be filled with death but by now, she knew the dark lord intimately.
Silently, her Mot Zebeya, her Guard of Death, followed her in.
85.
JUNE
June stood between them, feeling equal amounts of rage wafting from both sides. Kidan’s face had become thunderous, near unrecognizable. GK’s eyes had become pure red, ready to strike.
Samson, held in chains by Warde, growled at the sight.
Please, let this work.
“I’m not working withhim,” Kidan snarled, then her brows rose. “Wait, did you release him?”
A wince went through June. She gave a small nod, hating the betrayal etched on her sister’s face.
“I’d rather have my fangs taken than work with you, traitorous witch,” Samson responded in kind.
June’s shoulders deflated, but she wouldn’t lose hope. “We will release you.”
“We’re not releasing him!” Kidan roared. “He killed Etete!”
Samson’s eyes were without emotion. “Such devotion from the girl that told me to murder the woman.”
A dagger was in Kidan’s hand, and she was bolting toward Samson, inches from scratching at his face when a wall slammed her backward.
No, not a wall. Warde.
June knew Warde’s arm had been cut when a slashing pain burned at her. She rushed toward him, studying the color of his eyes, making sure he was calm.
I’m unharmed,he spoke in her mind.
Breathing in relief, she turned furiously to the other two. “Stop this.”
“GK.” Kidan’s eyes were fire. “Help me.”
GK stepped forward.
Samson’s grip on the chains tightened. “Come at me, devout boy. Test your darkness.”
