Page 215 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

Lowering the photo, I notice the newly pinned polaroids that display various pictures of Precious. She laughs as she splashes Ares in one photo, while another has her attempting to glue stars on my face during the vision board project.

God, never again.

Despite that cute chaos, her smile is beaming across her face and despite my irritation, I can see how relaxed I am with her trying to climb on top of me.

The last picture is all of us in front of the cottage, courtesy of Hannah when she passed by yesterday. Staring at myself feels like I’m looking at my twin.

A man far different from the sinister beast who was left in the cage to fend for his life, wounded and manic off the idea of survival.

Despite the balance we three deliver, I stand with my previous statement. We need a fourth Ruthless King.

It’s a shame Aries didn’t fit the dynamic, but I wouldn’t force him to attend this trip as if he had the intention of being something more with Precious.

He’s made his stance, and Eva has accepted it.

“A fire,” I whisper, remembering what Hannah discovered with her initial search. As much as I want to research it myself, I don’t have the materials to do so.

I also don’t want to override Zander’s trust by using his equipment. The fact he fell asleep with me still in the room proves he trusts me enough with his belongings not to tamper with them.

I won’t step all over that.

Returning to my room, I turn the lights off and slip beneath the sheets. I’m tempted to lie on my side with my back facing Precious so I’m not tempted, but my entry into the bed makes her stir and barely open her eyes.

“Sorry,” I apologize because I didn’t mean to wake her. “Go back to sleep.”

“Hmm.” She really is drained tonight. “So far.”

“Who?” I’m more focused on admiring how hot she looks right now—how her breasts are barely covered by the silk top and the way her floral aroma wraps around me invitingly.

“You,” she mutters.

“Am I?” I try to fight the smirk taunting my lips, but I lose the battle because fuck… She’s so cute… and hot… and right now, mine. “Should I change that?”

“Mhmm.”

This feels like a losing battle. She’s winning me over without even trying. She could tell me to bark, and I’d fall on my hands and knees and do exactly that.

All I need to do is reach out with one arm to wrap and scoot her back against me. Sharing a bed is one thing, but spooning her like this makes me grasp our difference in size. When I watchglimpses of her fights and training sessions, she looks so fierce. Taller, bigger, and not as frail as when she started after my arrival.

We’ve been working well as a unit, ensuring she eats. Ares has taken it upon himself to give her water throughout the day. Zander always offers various snacks that have a good balance between protein and fiber.

I’ve been keeping my word to join for dinners, to which we get a private chef to cook various meals that fit our preferences.

The difference has become noticeable now that I look at her, but when she’s in my arms like this, she’s just a petite woman trying to fend off this world that is only now acknowledging what a potential threat she is.

It’s too late, though.

The clock is already ticking, and if an ascension is coming, it proves we’ve set the right chess pieces up for this grand showdown.

Feeling the slight stir in Eva’s body brings my attention back to her. I can see she isn’t fully asleep now, her breathing a tad off to my liking.

“Precious,” I quietly whisper, moving my arm so my hand can spread along her stomach. She makes a soft sound as if she enjoys my touch but is hiding how it makes her feel. “You still awake?”

“Hmm.” The noise she makes is as though she’s unsure whether to admit it or not.

“What’s wrong?” I offer while I nestle my head between her neck and shoulder. I see the way that makes her body react, the touch further encouraging the way she presses herself against me.

Especially her ass against my groin.

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