Page 147 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

The little shit starts getting desperate, pulling at my hand. I give him a bored look before focusing back on my twin.

Luka lifts his head up and looks me dead in the eye. “No.”

I narrow my eyes on him, noticing the black circles around his eyes, the clothes he has been wearing since last night, and the way he holds himself. It’s as if he has given up.

Damn it. He looks like he’s barely holding on.

How did I miss that?

We’re all lost without Kiarra, but I should’ve been keeping an eye on him after everything he’s been through.

I mentally kick myself for being so damn selfish.

When Kiarra was taken by that sadistic prick again, I couldn’t focus on anything but my pain and decided to rip apart the city so they could feel it too. But I forgot about my brother. I let him chase me around while he suffered in silence.

I drop the weasel, my priorities starting to shift. “Go, before I change my mind.”

He scurries out of there like the little rodent he is.

I walk over to Luka. “What’s up with you? You’re usually calling me out on my shit.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. Do what you want.” He pushes off the wall and heads out.

I follow him. “Luka.”

“What?” His voice is cold, detached, like he’s already given up.

“We’ll get her back,” I tell him, knowing that this will not be the end for us. I’ll make damn sure of it.

He stops, his shadows appearing, but the minute he sees them, he pulls them back. I spot the tremor in his hands before he pockets them.

“You don’t know that.” I see a spark of agitation in his eyes.

“Well, I’m sure as hell not going to roll over and not even try.”

His head whips up to me, looking like he wants to strangle me.

Good. It’s better than the blank look he had a minute ago. He needs to focus on something more than the pain he feels right now.

“That’s not what I’m doing.” The spark lights up, and I get what I’ve been looking for. Luka fighting back.

“Then what are you doing?” I push him, wanting more. He didn’t get to lie down and roll over. Not now. Not fucking ever.

“Well, I’m not running around destroying the city and killing whoever gets in my way.”

If he thought that was a hit, he was losing his edge. I didn’t give a shit what people thought about me and knew that whatever I did go through with, my brothers would always have my back, him included.

“Maybe you should give it a go. Let off some steam.”

Luka opens his mouth to reply when something behind me distracts him. I turn around, my eyes widening at the scene in front of me.

“What the fuck is that?” My eyes are glued to the large beast wreaking havoc in the middle of the vacant street where Luka and I stand.

Two large horns curve from its head, its face a mix between a minotaur and demon.

Basically, an ugly motherfucker.

The demon Minotaur slams its hoof on the ground, causing a ripple effect. It cracks the road open, moving down the entire street and stopping just short a couple of feet in front of us.

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