Page 8 of Eternal Ruin
Her sister’s soft round eyes found hers. It was remarkable the power they had over her, fisting Kidan’s heart in a tight grip.
The lounge transformed again, now echoing the deep blue found at the bottom of an ocean. It stirred such a deep sense of loss Kidan couldn’t afford to linger on it for long. She squeezed her eyes shut and thought of something else, something that didn’t fill her with so much pain.
But the house magnified whatever emotion her mind felt. And Kidan felt alone and afraid. She wanted her sister. She opened her eyes, needing to be brave.
Come to me, she pleaded silently.
Her sister’s brows slanted, taking in the scene. Samson struggled to stand, his claws gouging into the leather couch in search of balance. The material ripped, and he fell backward, clutching at his injury. June’s face melted into concern, her eyes flicking to Kidan.
Kidan held her breath, half lifting her hand.
Please, come to me.
June walked to Kidan, closer and closer until they could almost touch… then passed her.
Their shoulders brushed, gently and brutally, like a leaf touching a speeding train.
A breathless sound left Kidan, her knees almost buckling.
Her sister bent, supporting Samson’s swaying form. “Are you all right?”
Kidan winced against the sweetness of her voice, how she’d missed it. How, even now, her first thought was her sister was alive.
She was safe.
“I’ll be fine,” Samson grunted, digging one of the bullets out.
Just like when June had first appeared, curling braids long, fawn face glowing,the betrayal of it all made Kidan’s mouth pool with acid. After Kidan had spent more than a year searching for June, after she’d killed Mama Anoet, there her sister was, standing next to the vampire who wanted to rain chaos over the world. Kidan didn’t recognize this twisted version of June, one who was so cold and calculating againstKidan. Kidan didn’t think she could ever forgive June for leaving. And once June knew Kidan had murdered their foster mother, June wouldn’t forgive her either.
There were so many things she wanted to yell at June about, to askwhy, why, why.
And she could no longer wait.
Samson straightened with June’s support, grunting in pain. One bullet was still in his gut.
“Warde.” Samson heaved a breath.
The giant moved past Kidan, his shadow falling over her face. A thick bone chain hung around his neck, clinking. The sound caught in her ear and she whirled, studying the quiet vampire effortlessly lifting Samson.
Was he a Mot Zebeya like GK? Only they wore finger bone chains.
June followed Samson upstairs without glancing Kidan’s way. Kidan’s chest burned, her fingers curled inward. When she turned, Susenyos was watching her.
Golden threads danced behind his shoulders, weaving letters in haunting beauty.
If Susenyos Sagad endangers Adane House, the house shall in turn steal something of equal value to him.
His gaze slid to the writing for a second, but his face was remarkably masked. As potential house masters, only the two of them could read it.
For now, at least. She wondered how long it’d take June to read it.
Maybe Susenyos was thinking the same thing.
Kidan would have believed he was perfectly fine if she didn’t hear the slow, terrifying beat of war drums pulsing in the walls. He was human in this house, vulnerable to death as easily as Kidan.
And Kidan was furious with him.
“Who’s Lusidio?”
