Page 244 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

The guys share a look before they get moving. “Let’s get back. We can sort all this out then,” Kai tells us.

We get into the limo and head back to the penthouse quickly. The whole time, the guys are quiet, making my thoughts run wild.

Pulling up to the building, we get out. Luka takes my hand. It gives me a small amount of reassurance that maybe this isn’t as bad as my thoughts are making it out to be.

“Where will I…” Malik looks unsure of himself, glancing up at the huge building.

“Come with us.” Kai tilts his head toward the building. “We’ll get you set up, and you can call whoever you need.”

Malik hesitates before sighing. He nods his head, silently following us up.

We enter the apartment, my stomach twisting in knots as I wait for them to tell me what they think about all this. Will they hate me? Will they think I’m…evil?

My mind starts going over every little thing, picking at it until it becomes a gaping hole that I can’t seem to find a way out of.

I feel the panic as it starts to rise, turning my chest tight.

“Stop.” Kai steps forward, gently tilting my chin up to him. His hand and demanding look ground me, pausing my downward spiral.

“I can see the worry in your eyes, but whatever you’re thinking right now needs to stop. We have a lot to talk about when it comes to your new ability, but before we have that conversation, I need you to know something.”

Kai’s eyes turn soft, as he looks over every inch of my face, only warmth and compassion shining through. “There isnothingabout you that would make me love you less, andnothingyou could say or do that would change my mind. You’re my soul mate, Kiarra, and even if you weren’t, I’d still have found you and made you mine…Ours. I don’t love youbecauseyou’re my mate. I love you because you’reyou. And no matter how many times that changes and grows, I willstilllove you.Always.”

Warmth spreads through my chest, making me feel like I can finally take a deep breath. This man… this beautiful man, and the way he seems to know exactly what to say to put my turbulent thoughts at ease, iseverything.

I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to answer him, but it’s impossible. I can see how much he means it with every word as he stares down at me with nothingbutlove in his eyes.

“As usual, Kai tries to one-up us with his epic speeches.” Jax playfully narrows his eyes at him.

Kai smiles, placing a kiss on my forehead, and shakes his head at Jax.

“But even I can see the doubts racing around in your head.” Jax moves closer. “If it’s because we were quiet on the way back here, that’s only because we were all so fucking turned on from seeing you in action. None of us could think straight.”

I raise a brow, looking at the rest of the guys. Rion gives me one of his slow smiles. Luka gives me a shy smile, clearing his throat and glancing down, and Axel rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. “Like you don’t already know.”

I go to reply to the dick when Jax grabs my hand, distracting me. “Back to the topic of you doubting this…us.”

“I don’t—”

“You do, but I know that’s because we still have a lot of work to do to get there. But you need to understand that I don’t care how loud your fucking doubts are. I’m not going anywhere. You want to burn the world down? Have at it.

Go on a killing spree? Be my fucking guest. I don’t give a shit, because I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way.

“Me, you, and them, is not an option. It’s the endgame. It’s definite, with no other way, option, or fucking choice. You can’t get rid of us, and I’m sure as hell not letting you go. So, suck it up and tell that little voice in your head to fuck off. It’s bound in blood, written in the stars, and all that shit.”

A laugh escapes me at Jax’s words and how black and white it all is to him.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, brother.” Luka pats Jax on the shoulder, looking at me. “We’re inevitable, Kiarra. We always have been. We all knew it as kids when none of us wanted to be anywhere else but with you. You were taken from us not once, but twice, and I’ll be damned if I ever let that happen again. As Jax and Kai said, there is nothing you can say or become that will change our minds, and it will always be that way.”

“You already know how I feel, Princess, but if you need me to nail home the point, I’m more than willing to show you.” Axel’s smirk grows. His eyes are heated as they pin me to the spot.

Before I get a chance to reply to them, Rion moves over to us. “You were made for us, Siren. So, show us. Show us you—allof you—and don’t ever hold back. Not from us.”

I glance at them all, seeing the same expression Rion is giving me. It’s the push I need to go through with this. Stepping back, I close my eyes and dig to that deepest part of me. Pulling it up is starting to become as natural as breathing.

I sense the shift in the air before I open my eyes. Cords of dark inky smoke flow around me, reaching out to each of the guys.

None of them move away from it, instead they move closer, reaching out to touch them.

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