Page 65 of Lords of Ruin: Savage

“Stop,” I hiss, my voice low and dangerous, barely a whisper of control left in it. The knife trembles slightly as I hold it against her, and for a second, I can see the flicker of fear in her eyes. It’s brief, barely a flicker, but it’s there.

“Stop,” I growl again, my voice thick with warning. “Or I’ll make you stop, Valentina.”

Her breath quickens, but she doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t move, except for the subtle rise and fall of her chest beneath mine.

Her chest heaves, but her voice is steady, even through the pain. “I’m not afraid of you, Cast.”

I scoff, my grip tightening. “You should be.” I press the knife harder against her skin, feeling the faintest trickle of blood slip down her neck. “You think I won’t do it?” I growl, my face closeto hers. “You think I won’t kill you? I will. I’ll kill you, your mother, your brother—all of you—if you don’t stop this.Right now.”

Her eyes flicker with fear now, no longer the fierce defiance, but a raw, trembling realization of the kind of man I am. And for the first time, I think I might have broken through—just enough to make her understand.

But she still doesn’t break. Her hands, still pinned to her sides, tremble only slightly as the cadence of her breaths rumble through her chest. She doesn’t give in. Not yet.

“I’m not afraid of death,” she whispers. “But you should be,La Parca.”

God, she’s just like her mother-- our mother.

“This is your last chance, Valentina,” I growl. “Stop now… or I won’t hesitate to finish this.”

I move the blade just a fraction closer to the artery pulsing in her neck, the sharp edge scraping against her skin, drawing another trickle of blood. “You’re just a child Valentina,” I growl. “But if you’re going to keep fighting me, if you’re going to keep playing this game… then I will make the choice for you and it won’t be the kind choice.” She jerks back in my arms, but I hold on tight as I continue. “ So, join me.Be loyal, or die here.Everyone in this house will die here.”

Her chest rises and falls rapidly, but her gaze doesn’t waver. Not even an inch. For a moment, it feels like I’m staring into the abyss, waiting for her to decide whether she’s going to fall or climb.

“I pledge my loyalty,” she whispers, and her words feel like a surrender.

The air between us goes cold. I stare at her, her pledge sinking into my chest. She’s not backing down. She’s not caving to fear. She’s giving herself to me, willingly. And there’s a powerful regard in the way she says it that makes my stomach twist.

She’s just likeher.

I lower the knife, my grip still tight on her wrist. “Good,” I say, voice hoarse, and for the first time, the blood pounding in my head is the only sound I can hear. “We’ll see if you can live up to it.”

I release her, stepping back just enough to give her space. She stands there, trembling slightly, blood running down her neck, but she doesn’t back away.

God, I’m not sure if I made a mistake or not.

But it's too late now.

She’s in this.

And so am I.

24

DAMIEN

Chapter 24 (Damien):

The ice bites into my skin, sharp and unforgiving, cutting through the heat in my muscles. Sweat chills too fast, my lungs burn, my legs ache—but I push harder. Faster. The pain is grounding, the only thing keeping me tethered.

I shouldn’t care this much. Shouldn’t let it get to me. But the image won’t leave my head—Willow crumpling, terror in her eyes, Vincent’s name on her lips.

I launch into a jump, skates slicing the ice. The world blurs, weightless for a second—then I land, pain jolting through my bones. I welcome it. Because the guilt is worse.

Vincent still can’t walk without help. Two months of him pretending he’s fine when he’s not. He avoids me. Like I stole his future.

And Willow—fuck, Willow. She’s slipping away, eyes colder, words fewer. Waiting for me to say something. But I don’t know what.

So I keep going. Again. Again. Because the ice is the only place where pain makes sense.

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