Page 14 of Tears of Ruin

He glanced over his shoulder, our gazes locking before he yanked his shirt down. There was so much shame and embarrassment in his eyes.

I knew how he felt. I’d been reaching for something on a high shelf at work and my shirt had lifted. My coworker nearly had a meltdown when they’d seen my lower back, then gossiped about what he’d seen to everyone who worked there.

If I could’ve afforded to quit, I would’ve walked out that very day. It was bad enough at home, but now I had to deal with my coworkers whispering about me. I wasn’t paranoid. I’d heard them more than once when they thought I wasn’t in earshot.

Dane walked toward us, and I had to force myself not to run back to the room I’d been in.

“I keep telling Kyson he has nothing to be ashamed of,” Dane said softly, looking right at him. “What happened to both of us wasn’t our fault.”

“But I wasn’t ready to share it with anyone else.” Jaw clenched, Kyson pushed to his feet. He untied the strap then threw the pillow.

“Both of you?” I curled my lips in. Kyson was already upset, and I didn’t want his anger directed at me. My home life was hell, and I didn’t want to make enemies here.

Dane grabbed the hem of his shirt, but I noticed how badly his fingers trembled.

“Don’t.” I shook my head. I’d only wanted to see what the noise was outside my room, not talk about something so deep and personal.

But Dane didn’t listen. He drew in a breath, twisted sideways, then lifted his shirt. Averting his gaze, he said, “Malachi keeps telling me I’m beautiful. You tell me if he’s full of shit.”

My gaze swept over horrific scars. Some were raised from his body, while others were wide enough that they overlapped.

I wanted to ask how he’d gotten them, but I didn’t have the courage.

“Damn,” Kyson whispered, anger flaring in his eyes. “This is the first time I’ve seen them, Dane.”

Dane lowered his shirt and fully faced us. It had taken tremendous courage to show them.

“Time doesn’t always heal all wounds,” Dane muttered. “No matter how many times Malachi calls me beautiful, I struggle to believe him.”

“Satan is your boyfriend?” Oh god! I couldn’t believe I’d just said that out loud! My impulse control, or lack of, was gonna get me killed one day. “I’m so sorry! I can fix this! Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

The two just stared at me, making me want to run and hide, then… they burst out laughing.

Kyson laughed so hard he pressed his hands against his knees. Dane held his side, tears springing in his eyes.

“Oh, man,” Kyson said between fits of laughter. “Best description of the big guy.”

“Hey.” Dane frowned. “You two get along now.”

Kyson twisted his lips to the side. “You call an occasional acknowledgment getting along? But I’ll take that over him hugging me.” He shivered.

“I didn’t mean to insult him,” I quickly said. An image of him creeping into my room to drag me away and throw me into a fiery pit popped into my head.

“He’s intense,” Dane admitted. “But he’s not Satan.”

“Can I…”

“Ask what he is?” Dane finished for me. Was everyone a mind reader in this place? And I still had no idea where I was.

I gave a single nod.

The two looked at each other before their gazes turned toward me. “That depends,” Kyson replied. “Do you plan on staying here?”

“How did you even get inside the castle?” Dane asked. “I’m not accusing you of anything, but that shouldn’t have been possible.”

If I told them the truth, they would think I was insane. A lot of people claimed to believe in demons but as an abstract entity. I’d actually met one.

“I, um…”

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