Page 38 of Lords of Ruin: Savage

Enzo chuckles again, the sound bitter and broken. "Looks like they setyouup too."

A slow, burning heat coils in my gut.

Someone played me.

Someone thought they could usemeas their fucking pawn.

I exhale through my nose, my fury ice-cold and razor-sharp. Then I lean down, pressing the flat of my blade against his throat. I press a little harder, just enough to make his pulse jump.

"Good news, sunshine," I murmur, my voice a deadly purr. "That just bought you a few more minutes of breathing."

Then—my phone rings.

I don’t move at first, debating whether to ignore it, to finish this moment before I pick up. But something gnaws at the back of my mind.

I answer without looking at the caller ID, eyes still locked onto Enzo.

“Hello?”

“C-Cast,” Willow’s voice comes through, sharp and panicked, sending ice through my veins.

My entire body locks.

“Vincent—he’s?—”

16

WILLOW

An HourEarlier

Damien walks past me as he packs his bags, and I stand there watching him.

"It's bad, isn't it."

"No."

"Damien, don't lie to me."

His jaw tightens, and he exhales sharply through his nose. He doesn’t stop moving, doesn’t even glance at me as he shoves another shirt into the duffel bag on his bed.

He finally stops, resting his hands on the edge of the bed, his shoulders tense. "Willow, it’s nothing I can’t handle."

I take a hesitant step forward. "That’s not what I asked."

"Damien, please," I whisper, my voice barely audible.

His head drops for a fraction of a second, but when he lifts it again, his eyes are dark and blank as he speaks. "I just need to take care of a situation. I’ll be back."

I shake my head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "And if you’re not?" My voice wavers despite my efforts to keep it steady. "Then what?"

His eyes finally meet mine, solemn and stormy, and for a moment, I think he’s going to tell me everything. But then, just as quickly, the walls come up again, shutting me out.

"You’ll be fine."

"You don’t get to decide that!" My voice rises, cracking at the edges. I take another step forward, reaching for him, but he pulls back, putting space between us. It hurts more than it should.

"I have to do this, Willow."

---