Page 86 of The Kingdom of Ruin

“Yet,” I say with a wink, and I watch in amusement as her cheeks heat.

It was a joke, but maybe there’s some truth to those words that I’m not ready to address yet.

Thankfully, my brother releases me, pulling me from my thoughts as I rub at my hair.

“Mom said you haven’t called,” he states, raising his eyebrows at me, and I frown.

“To tell her what?”

“Anything.”

“There’s nothing to tell.” I rub at the back of my neck nervously. I know I should probably just call to say hi, but it feels like a harder task than I’m willing to admit.

“She heard about the battles through the news. She seemed upset by that.”

“That sounds like a you issue since you knew before me. It seems you’re not the one giving anyone a heads-up,” I retort, feeling my defenses rise, but the way his brows furrow tells me there’s more to it than that. He doesn’t leave me guessing, though.

“I didn’t get one, asshat.”

Concern overwhelms me as I sense it pour from him. “Is everything okay?” I ask, acutely aware that Addi is still present so he’s probably not going to say much, but I need to ask anyway.

“It’s fine.” He pats me on the shoulder, a smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes stretching across his face. “Go and make an appearance in the dining hall. They have eyes everywhere and they’re watching interactions,” he adds under his breath, and I nod. Fun. The rumors are true. Waving me away, he turns to Addi. “Nice to meet you again, Miss Reed. I should probably warn you away from him,” he states, pointing my way, and she rolls her eyes.

“He’s not taking the hint.”

My brother chuckles. “He never does.” With one final wave, he stalks off without a backward glance.

Addi falls into step beside me as we continue toward the dining hall. An awkwardness shifts between us, forcing me to glance her way. The second my eyes lock on hers, she speaks.

“Is it weird? Your brother working here?”

Shrugging, I consider her question. “Not really. We love each other, of course, and I have his back just as much as he has mine, but really, we’re quite independent. He leaves me to my devices and I don’t overstep with him, so everything should work out fine.”

“I can’t imagine a sibling that doesn’t want to know anything and everything,” she states before clapping her hand over her mouth as if she instantly regrets the words slipping past her lips.

I could delve deeper, but that’s not my place. If she wants to talk, I’ll listen. I can’t say that I’ll care, but I’m not one to pry unless it’s necessary, and this doesn’t feel like one of those moments.

The silence between us shifts to a different kind of awkwardness that I can’t quite put my finger on as my mind drifts. We’re about to step in there, and the need to put on a show of some kind feels expected, but completely unnecessary in my opinion.

It’s hard to decide whether to give them nothing to see or everything to watch. The fact that my brother didn’t know about the battle details prior to the announcement doesn’t sit well with me. He’s the combat professor, which only confuses me more. Unless he’s been prepped to go full force anyway. No matter which way I look at it, it doesn’t sit well with me.

Nothing here sits well with me.

THIRTY-NINE

CASSIAN

My attention snaps to the double doors the second I recognize Kryll’s flash of red hair, along with the sweet blonde at his side. Her green eyes shimmer as she glances around the room.

He got her here. He actually did it.

I track her every move. Her posture is straight yet agile, like she’s walking with a storming purpose while being prepared for an attack at any given moment. She’s an enigma—a vision. I can’t guess anything about her. I especially couldn’t have predicted that she would taste like Heaven, or that her moans would be as smooth as honey. She has me in a chokehold and there’s nothing I can do but succumb to her.

Her hair is braided back off her face, drawing my attention to her clipped ears for a split second before I focus on her pouty lips. All too quickly, they turn toward the food counter, leaving me to look at the back of her head and the gray cloak draped over her shoulders.

I internally curse at the material for denying me the view of her ass as she walks. I’ve seen her natural sway. It’s intoxicating, just like every other part of her.

My cock stirs, eager to find the opportunity to have a repeat of last night, minus the slight head injury she incurred. I’ll avoid that this time. Maybe. My fingers flex, recalling her soft skin beneath my hands. She’s a distraction, that’s for sure. One I’m happy to get lost in, despite my responsibilities.

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