Page 5 of Ruin

The word resonated through her hollow soul, filling up all the dark, empty spaces with fragile hope.

His nostrils flared slightly. Brows furrowed, his gaze shot to her feet.

“You’re bleedin’.”

Lira nodded absently, still staring up at him. “Usually.”

A bass growl rumbled in his chest and his lip lifted in a snarl, baring pretty white teeth and two sets of upper fangs. He cut the sound off abruptly and flicked her a concerned look, obviously worried he’d scare her.

Lira just smiled. She wasn't afraid. Not of him.

“Show me the bottoms of your feet.”

She did, though wondered how he’d see them. The only reason she could make him out was because a muted shaft of light from the street behind cut across his face. Maybe Lurians had especially good night vision?

He cursed under his breath. “Godsdamnit. They’re fuckin’ shredded. That fuckin’ piece of filth… ” He cut an angry scowl at Vargot’s corpse, then peered back down at her, expression immediately softening. “You can’t walk.”

Sure, she could. She’d been doing so before he appeared and murdered everyone.

He wasn’t going to leave her now, was he? She could walk! She wouldn’t fall behind.

Panic had her heart pounding in her chest and her hands curling into fists. Why hadn’t she considered that he wouldn’t want to take her with him after freeing her?

Of course, he wouldn’t. She was dirty and scarred and?—

“Will you lemme carry you?”

The breath whooshed out of her, the relief so profound her knees shook.

“Yes, please.”

When he reached for her, she promptly raised her arms, then molded herself to the hard contours of his chest with a happy sigh, wrapping her arms around his thick neck and her legs around his broad waist.

He stiffened slightly, as though surprised by how eagerly she’d latched onto him. Lira bit her lip, wondering if she was supposed to not be eager. She didn’t know how to act, what the right and wrong things to do were. She didn’t want to do anything that would make him decide he didn’t want to keep her.

Because she very much wanted to keep him.

After a pause, he hooked one thickly muscled arm under her ass, the other resting on the grip of the gun holstered on his hip.

He set off, long strides carrying her away from the carnage in the alleyway and the nightmare her life had been. With every step, something inside her began to unclench.

“What’s your name?” she whispered against the base of his throat, then leaned up, unabashedly studying his striking alien features.

His luminous yellow eyes flicked to her, expression almost… flustered.

“Ruin.”

“I’m Lira.” She nestled back against him with a contented hum. “Where are we going, Ruin?”

“Somewhere safe.”

Earlier that day, she would’ve said such a place didn’t exist, but she believed him.

She was finally free from Vargot's cruelty and abuse. She had no idea what lay ahead, but that was okay. She was content to simply bask in the feeling of being free, for however long it lasted.

For the first time in seven years, Lira had a chance at something better. Something more.

And it was all thanks to the Lurian who held her securely in his arms.

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