Page 314 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

“I told you they’d be fine,” Soren tells them, unfazed by their glares.

Luka takes hold of my hand. “What happened after you fell? We tried going after you, but the entire floor caved in.” I share a look with Rion, his eyes softening before looking at the guys. “We ran into a couple of complications, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.”

Kai’s eyes check me over once more, frowning at the bloodstains. “We knew from the bond you were close, but we had no way of getting to you.”

“Yeah, it was Hell… Oh wait…” Jax smirks at his own joke, but as always, it breaks the tension.

“Idiot,” Axel murmurs as he hugs me from behind, but I feel the small smile on his lips as he kisses my neck.

“Glad you’re okay, princess.”

I give him a soft smile before I look over at Soren. “What is this place?”

“The Shadow Realm.” Soren frowns but starts moving forward. “Keep moving forward and ignore the souls that call out to you. Nothing here is what it seems.”

“You can say that again.” Axel releases me but stays close by, just like the rest of them. Luka keeps my hand in his as we follow Soren.

“Nothing here is what it seems,” Jax repeats, earning a glare from Axel. Jax gives him an innocent look. “What? You said to repeat it.”

Axel narrows his eyes to slits. “You’re such a fucking child.”

“No. I’m a man with a huge cock. Just ask Kiarra.”

Not willing to break the easy-going mood I play along, nodding my head with a serious look on my face. “It’s true.”

Jax’s smirk only grows, the glint in his eyes lighting up his entire face. “Told you.”

Axel sighs as the others chuckle around us. “Don’t encourage him.”

I shrug, giving him my own version of Jax’s innocent look. “I’m just telling you the truth.”

Axel’s eyes narrow on me. From the look on his face, I can see that our little game is hitting a nerve.

“I’ve seen the little dick’s prick. There’s nothing fucking impressive about it.”

I smother my laugh as Jax moves closer to him. “We both know she screamed louder for me.”

“She screamed for both of us, idiot.”

Jax gives him a patronizing look. “But I was inside her.”

Axel’s eyes widen with anger. “And my cock was fucking her mouth. What’s your point?”

Soren raises a brow before shaking his head and walking further ahead and hopefully out of ears reach.

Axel scoffs. “Fuck that. We both know I can make her scream the loudest.”

Jax gives him a pitying look. “That’s because I was there with you. I did most of the work.”

Axel clenches his jaw so tight; he looks like he’s about to bust a vein in the side of his head. “Fine. Then let’s find out for sure. We’ll both take her, one after the other. The one who makes her scream the loudest here and now wins bragging rights for a year.”

I chuckle. “As much as I’d love to play along with that entire little scenario. I’d rather not do it in front of the creepy shadow things crawling on the ground.” I point down at one as it slithers past us.

They both freeze as if just realizing where we are. Axel frowns while Jax sighs dramatically, looking put out.

“It’s okay, we all know the truth.” Jax shares a devilish look with me. I nod, still playing along.

Axel looks at him like he’s ready to pummel him into the cave wall. “No, we fucking don’t.”

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