Page 21 of Ruined Kingdom

Sophia must have sensed my discomfort, for she said nothing else after that. She only lay down quietly next to me until I drifted away.

Iopened my eyes to a hazy darkness, unsure of how long I’d been asleep.

The room was still and quiet except for Sophia’s breathing, her chest rising and falling with a slow and steady beat.

I turned to her, admiring the faint lines of her face that my night vision allowed me to see. Her brows, her cheekbones, her nose, her lips—I traced it all lightly, her delicate skin soft and smooth beneath my fingertips.

I don’t understand how something so small … so fragile … can be so courageous. While I’m spending sleepless nights worrying about how to protect her, she is worrying about not being able to fight by my side.

I dipped my face closer to hers. I dragged my fingers down the side of her face, trailing a path to her jawline.

The faint cry of a baby in the distance set me on edge.

A part of me knew that it wasn’t real, but it disturbed me.

I was reminded of something I promised long ago that I would forget. The horrible thing I’d done… The promise I’d broken to Lilliana…

She told me to protect our son right before she died, but I didn’t.

The Dark Fae King demanded him as payment for Lilliana’s return—and in my grief, I agreed.

The crying of the baby grew louder.

I pulled my hands from Sophia to cover my ears, but the sound was coming from inside my head.

Stop! Silence!

The sound refused to cease.

She stirred ever so slightly, and when I looked down, her eyes were wide open as she spoke. “You couldn’t even protect your mate or your child… What makes you think you can protect me?”

Her mouth went agape as the sound of the baby crying came out of her mouth this time.

“Stop that!” I shouted at her, but the sound only grew louder until it was driving me insane.

Then my hands wandered down to her neck, feeling her pulse pounding against her skin there.

My hand curved around her neck.

My fingers squeezed.

What?

Her eyes fluttered with fright, but the sound persisted.

What am I doing?

She looked up at me with her mouth still making that inhuman motion, attempting to take in some air. She reached up, pushing my hands away gently at first.

Then, the panic ensued.

She began pushing and clawing and crying out with what air she had.

My heart was pounding out of my chest.

My blood felt like ice in my veins as I tried to pry my own hands away, but I had no control over my own body.

Sophia!

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