Page 121 of Eternal Ruin
If Susenyos Sagad endangers Adane House, the house shall in turn steal something of equal value to him.
Once the law became a part of her, she could change it. Finally, bring GK home and make him human, punish June, and make Susenyos tell her the truth about the artifacts.
Her hand shook as a searing pain leaked from the letters. Her eyes flicked up to the picture above the fireplace. The defiant, determined look of her mother. A lump swelled in Kidan’s throat, but she swallowed it, held her ground.
She would sever and take this house.
The tail end of the law still clung to the brick wall, refusing to transfer onto her skin. It was no different from a rope, only between two souls, two versions of Kidan, and she pulled, recited the answers again and again.
English. Demasus. Power should rest in individuals. Revenge.
I’m not my mother. I’m not her daughter. I’m not my mother. I’m not her daughter.
The law snapped back like an elastic and clung to the wall.
“No,” she whispered, leaning forward into the fireplace. Something awful was burning. Like the rubber on tires.
But she didn’t care. She was looking for the one thread between herself and her mother. They must still have some common ground, something she had to find and destroy or the house wouldn’t bend to her.
A hand wrenched her back from the flames. Susenyos’s pupils were blown, tracing over her in shock.
“God, your hair.”
His palms quickly tapped the ends of her braids, hard enough to jostle her back onto the carpet.
So that’s what was burning.
Susenyos righted her, a firmness to his jaw as he waited for her to speak. Perhaps explain. When Kidan said nothing, he reached for the book he’d brought to the carpet.
The book clutched in his hand was her copy of—Aseracti.
Kidan’s attention flicked to Etete, who’d rushed out from the kitchen and now watched them with large eyes.
“You told him?”
“I’m sorry.” The woman spoke with true regret. “But you have not been yourself since you brought that book into this house.”
Kidan’s stomach remembered the physical sensation of a betrayal—a solid knot, and deep nausea. Yet there was no knot, no twist or pull.
Her face turned to the fire. She was sure if she just reached into it, she could break whatever remained of her mother.
Mama Anoet burned in fire, cursing Kidan to all hells. Maybe she had to put Mahlet in there too. Her eyes went to the portrait above. It didn’t look too heavy.
Yes, she’d burn it.
“Etete,” Susenyos said tightly. “Give us a moment.”
Etete shuffled away quietly.
“What the hell is this, Kidan?” he demanded.
“Aseracti.It’s a book about—”
“I know what it is. Why the fuck are you reading it?”
She frowned at his clipped tone but answered, “It helps me master the house.”
Among other things.
