Page 400 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I glance between them. “What?”

The guys chuckle, already in on the joke as I frown at them, trying to figure it out. Luka bumps my shoulder. “Let’s just say my wolf and I have finally come to terms with how to get along with each other.”

I smile as the relief and happiness across his face spreads through my chest. I melt further into Kai’s embrace.

“This little reunion will have to be put on hold for now. Zillah came with news for Kiarra. We need to get everyone up to speed before we start moving.”

“Who the fuck is Zillah?” Axel growls moving toward Rielle when I give him a look.

“The shadow beast.”

“Oh.” He sits his ass back down and gives Rielle a look as if to say,‘you can continue.’

Rielle’s right eye twitches, making Soren chuckle. He quickly covers it by clearing his throat.

Rielle sighs. “Although the Underworld is safe. King got what he wanted. The connection tethering him to Kiarra is finally broken, and he is now powerful enough to do what he wants.”

Rielle pauses to give the guys a look. “Not anything like your bond.”

Axel gives Rielle a look of disgust. “We fucking know that.”

She nods continuing. “With the core’s energy diminished and King much stronger, the imbalance is too big to go unnoticed now. It will have been felt in every corner of the world and will only get worse. Soon there will be everything from wars to famines. Negativity will have more of an impact on choice with more and more people suffering and getting sick. It will spread like a disease and infect the masses until there’s nothingbutdarkness walking this world and every other.”

“Why can’t someone else fucking do it for a change?” Axel shoots her a venomous look.

Rielle spears him with a glare. “Do you have any idea of how powerful you all are?”

Jax groans, cutting off her little lecture. “Why is italwaysabout power? I’m fucking over this shit. I just want to go to a sunny island somewhere with my mate.” He glances around at the guys. “You guys can come too.”

“Gee, thanks.” Luka gives him a deadpan look, making Jax smile.

“Let’s shelve the sunny vacation for when we destroy King,” I tell them, actually looking forward to it.

The guy’s smiles turn savage as they all veer to me.

Jax leans around Luka. “I’ll rub sunscreen on you if you rub my—” Luka pushes him back to his spot, making him chuckle.

Rielle clears her throat, pinning us all with a glare.

Soren moves to lean against the wall, unbothered by our less than innocent conversation, probably well used to us by now. “I’d listen to her if I were you. She has a mean streak, a mile long.”

Rielle whips her head around to him, but he glances down at his fingers, ignoring her completely. I catch the slight tilt to his lips, though, and I’m sure Rielle does too.

As much as I love seeing my guys and how normal this all feels, it’s time to get down to business.

I lean forward, unintentionally pressing further into Kai making him groan. I smirk at him before turning to Rielle. “What’s the plan?”

Rielle nods, her stiff body relaxing slightly. “We need to fix the imbalance that started nineteen years ago.”

Meaning, we need to destroy King as soon as possible.

“I’m sorry, butyouneed to be the one to fix it, Kiarra.” Rielle gives me a look full of guilt and sadness, as if she wishes there was another way.

The atmosphere swiftly changes as the guys grow tense once again, aiming their hostility at Rielle. Axel jumps up before I get a chance to explain, clenching his fists by his side. “She’s not fucking sacrificing herself for you or anyone.”

I go to move to him, the look in his eyes telling me he’s close to burning her to nothing but ashes when Kai’s grip tightens on me and Luka and Rion move closer to my sides.

Jax moves to the edge of his seat, staring Rielle down as if he’s already imagining gutting her.

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