Page 73 of The Kingdom of Ruin

“Is that why some of them were so…”

“Fresh? Yeah,” Raiden grunts, taking a handkerchief from his pocket to clean off his hands.

“Why is The Council allowing this?” I ask, looking at each of them, but my gaze settles on Raiden, knowing he’s the most likely to have the answer.

“Vampire numbers are a priority to them.”

Of course they are.

“It’s going to create an internal war throughout the fucking kingdom if this carries on,” I grind out, irritated by the hierarchy of origins that seems to plague the kingdom. Especially the City of Harrows, but my concern is it’s already bleeding into the academy too.

Raiden scoffs in that manic way that makes him look like a nut job. “If you’re going to get pissy over this shit, then we won’t call you for help next time.”

“I’m just calling it how I see it,” I retort, and he shakes his head in disbelief before settling his gaze on mine.

“How about you worry about the issues we have going on instead of a potential war? I really think it’s the least of your problems.”

He glances at Brody and I follow the movement.

“How so?”

“Not now, Raiden. Fuck me. He still has blood all over him,” Brody grumbles, not looking at me.

“What the fuck am I missing?”

Raiden grins, and even Kryll peers at me from my peripheral vision as my eyes narrow on Brody.

“Brody fucked Addi,” Raiden declares, clapping his hands as I freeze on the spot.

He did what now?

THIRTY-FOUR

ADDI

As I turn off the water, soap suds gather at the bottom of the shower. I don’t feel any lighter like I was hoping. My mind is still wrapped up, consumed with thoughts of the exact person I was trying to work out of my system.

Brody.

Fuck.

That escalated quickly. I don’t know what I was doing. My body took over, and the second his lips pressed against mine, I lost every piece of logic that I’m usually so careful to keep at the forefront. Apparently, I’m strong, but not stronger than the needs of my lady parts. She’s the real boss around here it seems.

Was it worth it? Hell yeah.

Am I wondering if there’s regret mixed in there now? Definitely.

Is there hope it will all be over with now? That they will all leave me alone? I think so.

Fuck, I don’t know.

I should want that. I should want to go back to living my quiet life without those four assholes, but it seems I’m a glutton for punishment.

No, Addi. It was just sex. Once. One and done. That’s what Brody had promised. Until he didn’t.

Swiping a hand down my face, I grab the navy towel I hung earlier, wrapping it around my body as I step from the shower stall. I look at myself in the vanity mirror that stretches the entire length of the opposite wall.

I can see the ghost of a small mark on my throat from Brody’s touch and it makes my thighs tingle. I know if I look at my back and my legs, I’ll find more.

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