Page 31 of Tears of Ruin

“Ruler of my kingdom.”

My gaze shot to his, my mouth dropping open slightly as my brain fought to process his words. “You’re a—” The word caught in my throat.

A king.

Richard was a freakingking.

Chapter Eight

Richard

Wariness crept into his hazel eyes. Even now, I felt him tense beside me. If I didn’t say or do something, Noam would start to panic.

Over the past few weeks he’d been slowly relaxing around me, engaging more and more in conversation. That wasn’t anywhere close to enough time to heal from what he’d been through, but it was a start.

And now you probably set him back with your damn reveal.

Honestly, I had no idea why I revealed myself to him when I hadn’t shown my scars to anyone before. But there was something about him I couldn’t name, captivating me from the word go, blowing right through the walls I’d erected around myself.

“Ask me anything, Noah.” Since when had I become an open book? But pain recognized pain, trauma recognized trauma. The only difference was I’d fought back. Noam had never been given that chance.

His gaze kept darting between my eyes and my chest. I knew the question on his mind. Anyone would wonder after seeing my rebirth, because that crash against the wall had devastating consequences on my body. I was certain either Malachi or Giovanni had carried me to my room, never revealing they were carrying a man moments away from death.

If I had been human, my chances of survival would’ve been zero. I’d heard my bones break and felt my head impacting the marble. But my only concern had been keeping Noam safe.

“The bird is real,” I said, tucking a few strands of hair behind his ear. He flinched, but I didn’t acknowledge it. If I had, he might’ve pulled away. “It sleeps in my chest, only rising when it senses danger.”

Like when I’d died on this very bed.

But if I had to lay myself bare for Noam to heal, I would face my past and my demons, no matter how deep I’d buried them. Though that was something I really didn’t want to do. The demons riding my back would give the boogeyman nightmares.

I saw his hand twitch, but he curled his fingers in.

“Go ahead.” Gently, I took his wrist, guiding his hand toward my chest. He’d already touched it in the most spectacular way. I could still feel the imprint of his touches along my skin.

Biting his bottom lip, Noam traced his finger over the wings, seeming lost as the pads ghosted over my skin, causing my cock to stir. Right when I dipped my head for a kiss, Noam gasped and yanked his hand away.

I’d felt it too. One of the wings had fluttered, reacting to his touch.

My brows furrowed. That had never happened before. I’d had countless lovers over my lifetime, but my phoenix had never reacted to anyone’s touch before. Ever.

Noam seemed both fascinated and scared, his fingers inching back toward my chest, unaware of what he’d just done.

I studied him closely, innocence radiating from him despite what he had suffered. He’d said the farmhouse door had just “popped” open for him, although I knew that was impossible.

The only reason the portal existed in the first place was because of me, because of the fact I found solace sitting under a moonlit sky, the warm, summer breeze embracing me.

I’d bought the plot of land, had “built” the house, just to appease my sanity.

And the door had opened for Noam?

I brushed my knuckles over his cheek. The way he looked up at me from under his thick lashes, his gaze timid but filled with determination—a fire desperate to burn—punched me right in the gut.

Somehow, he’d not only breached the castle—an impossibility in itself—but the portal had willing opened for him.

What did that mean? Noam was human. Of that, I had no doubt. So what was so special about him that my magic had allowed him passage?

His eyes widened slightly as I leaned in, brushing my lips over his. “What are you?” I whispered, even more fascinated by him.

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