Page 23 of Tears of Ruin

“I told him,” Dane said to Kyson. “That Richard is a phoenix.”

Kyson glanced at me, the side of his mouth curled upward. “Blew my mind when I found out.”

Mine too.

“I just thought demons and vampires existed,” Kyson went on.

I staggered to a stop. “Vampires?”

“Shit, you didn’t know?” Kyson looked wide-eyed at me.

“Where exactly is Richard’s bedroom?” Dane glanced around as I silently had a meltdown.

Kyson shrugged. “I always thought Dick slept in a cupboard in the kitchen.”

My brows shot up, as did my temper. “Did you just call himDick?”

The two blinked at me, and I was just as shocked at my snarl. Where in the hell had that come from? I’d never acted aggressive toward anyone in my life. Not when Martin used his belt. Not when my coworkers talked about me behind my back. Never.

“I’m-I’m sorry.” I truly meant it, and I didn’t want to get kicked out of the castle for overstepping. Kyson had been nothing but nice to me, and I didn’t want to lose his friendship. Or Dane’s. They were the first friends I’d had in a very long time, and I enjoyed hanging out with them.

A slow grin formed on Kyson’s face. “That was totally badass, Noam.”

I was stunned Kyson hadn’t torn my head off for speaking to him that way. “You’re not mad at me?”

“Seriously, where is Richard’s bedroom?” Dane asked.

“Fuck no.” Kyson chuckled. “I’m actually proud of you for sticking up for Richard. Nice.” His smile turned into a smirk. “But I’m still calling him Dick.”

“Let’s try this way.” Dane led leading us down another hallway.

My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened. Richard was a phoenix. Malachi and Giovanni were vampires. And my father was possessed by a demon who had just tried to kill us.

It was all too surreal, like something out of a fantasy novel. Yet here I was, living it. It was too much to process. All I could focus on was making sure Richard was all right because I refused to think he wouldn’t be.

We eventually found Richard’s bedroom, following a trail of tiny droplets of blood on the marble floor. We were literally following the proof of Richard’s pain. I had to force those thoughts away, or I wouldn’t be able to stop crying.

Richard lay on the large bed, his eyes closed and face pale. Malachi stood beside him, arms crossed and expression grim. My heart seized at the sight. He still looked like Satan to me, and I was still scared of him.

But gazing at Richard? It made my heart constrict painfully. He looked so vulnerable, so still. If it wasn't for the shallow rise and fall of his chest, I would have thought the worst.

As I drew closer to the bed, Malachi walked out, Kyson and Dane following.

I sank down on the edge of the mattress, staring at Richard’s features. Without the usual intensity in his eyes, he appeared younger, the lines of strain smoothed out.

With a trembling hand, I brushed my fingers lightly over Richard’s brow, smoothing back a lock of his dark hair. His skin felt warm to the touch, not cold like I’d feared.

This was the first time I’d willingly, deliberately touched Richard. Not in fear, not in instinct, but in comfort. It was my first real glimpse at him without his armor.

“I’m so sorry,” I murmured, even though I knew he couldn’t hear me. “I never meant for you to get hurt because of me.”

Regret and guilt churned in my stomach like shards of glass. All Richard had done was try to help me, to protect me, and look where it got him. Broken and bleeding.

What if he blamed me for what happened? What if he never wanted to see me again?

“Please wake up,” I softly begged, squeezing his fingers. “I need you to be okay. I... I need you.”

The words felt raw and honest in a way I’d never felt before. But it was the truth. In the short time I’d known him, Richard had become my anchor, my protector, my friend. Maybe even more than that, if I was brave enough to admit it to myself.

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