Page 8 of Ruin

Godsdamn.

She was fucking breathtaking. Ethereal.

Her skin glowed, pale and luminous, finally free of the grime that’d caked it. White-gold hair tumbled in gleaming waves over her shoulders.

As she approached, he caught her scent and had to swallow a groan. Gods, she smelled fucking divine. Caramelized choc'kor mixed with something uniquely her. His nostrils flared, drinking it in.

For the first time, he could actually see her face.

Big green eyes were framed by dark, spiked lashes and crowned with softly arching strips of hair. A narrow, smooth-bridged nose led to plush lips, and an adorably small, rounded ear was visible on one side.

A deep, jagged scar ran from the corner of her right eye to her jawline, but it did nothing to detract from her beauty. If anything, it enhanced it.

But it was those eyes that truly entranced him. No longer dull and haunted, they shone with life, the green depths glinting with a hint of newfound vitality.

She was the most exquisite thing he'd ever seen.

“You look... ” he faltered, the words sticking in his throat. Beautiful. Radiant. Like everything he'd ever wanted, but knew he’d never deserve. He swallowed hard. “Better. You look better. How d’you feel?”

She smiled brightly and smoothed her hands down the front of the oversized tunic. “Much better, thank you. I can't remember the last time I felt this clean. And these clothes are so soft. Not at all like... ” she trailed off, expression clouding.

Ruin's heart clenched at the shadow that passed over her delicate features.

She took a step closer, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. This close, he could see flecks of gold in her green eyes.

“Thank you, Ruin. For everything.”

The sincerity in her voice, the naked gratitude, made something twist painfully in his chest.

He cleared his throat, searching for words. "You're welcome, little bird. I'm glad you're feelin' better."

Lira's smile widened at the nickname, and Ruin felt his own lips twitch in response.

What was this little human doing to him?

“C’mere,” he said gently, gesturing toward the table. “You gotta be hungry.”

Waiting for her to sit, he took the stool across from her and made their plates, piling hers high. He pushed it toward her, but she didn’t take it right away.

“Are you sure?” she whispered, eyeing the plate hungrily. “I can have all of that?”

Fucking hells.

“Yeah, little bird. Food’s easy to come by. Eat your fill.”

As they ate, he studied her, trying to reconcile the contradictions she displayed. So small, so fucking delicate, yet possessing a core of purenichium.

“Ruin?” Her soft voice, always just barely above a whisper, broke into his thoughts.

He blinked, refocusing on her face. She was looking up at him with those big green eyes, a question in their mossy depths.

"Mm?"

Lira hesitated, worrying at her lower lip with her teeth. Finally, she murmured, “Can I ask you something?”

Ruin stiffened slightly, then forced himself to relax.

“You want to know what I am.”

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