Page 148 of Eternal Ruin
“But you have to release GK if I do.”
Drums exploded in her ears, beneath her feet. The trouble with feeling all her emotions was how distracting they were.
“Tell me.” Samson’s starless eyes roved over her face. The urge to move out of his sight grew, but Kidan forced herself to meet his hungry gaze. More threads were growing out of him, and she knew what she had to do to open his mind to her.
“You wanted to know what the current Adane House law was,” she told him, fighting the flutter in her stomach. “I’ve finally learned it. It’s about Susenyos. The house took away his vampirism.”
Samson cocked his head, brows raised, a tiny window parting in his onyx pupils. “This better not be a lie, heiress.”
“I’m not lying. I’ll show you.”
She turned to walk but he tightened his grip on the rope, jerking her to a stop. After a moment, he let her lead him down to the basement, the red string dangling from her right hand now connected to him.
It was an effort not to strangle him with it.
Kidan kept her face forward, hoping he wouldn’t see the disgust on her face. A stone-like chill bit at her when they reached the underground.
“He’s in here.”
The light flicked on.
Bottles of red wine and liquor sparkled in the darkness. A stale, plastic smell lingered thickly from old mats.
And there, in the corner, chained inside the wine cellar was Susenyos.
The sight made Kidan’s blood heat. Though she had tried to prepare Susenyos for it, she hadn’t prepared herself. She was afraid she wouldn’t last an hour.
I trust you.
He’d said those words as she locked him in, his face cut by the bars.
It had meant everything to her.
Solidified something between them.
Samson’s smug expression grew alive as he approached. He studied the chains with eager, brightening eyes. “Heaven in hell.”
The bars caught fire, nearly melting.
Breathe, she told herself.
The fire retreated.
Susenyos rested the book he was reading as if guests had come upon him. He was silent, a true artist in concealing his expression.
52.
KIDAN
How did you overpower him?” Samson’s voice crested with awe.
“Put something in his wine.” Kidan’s voice didn’t fail her. “Asked him to drink. Wasn’t difficult.”
Samson’s grin became wolfish. “She offers you poison, and you drink it willingly?”
“She’s a master of deception,” Susenyos said calmly. “Like a snake.”
Kidan stuck out her bottom lip. “You locked me in there once.”
