Page 106 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

My stomach drops as Alana’s tortured pleas ring out around me, making everything around me turn to ash.

“Please, please, let me go. I beg of you. Don’t take me back to him. Anything but back there.”

Kaladar’s laugh is merciless.

“Please,” I beg him.

“Please, just let her go. I’ll do what you say. Just… let her go.”

I look over as the guards pull Alana along, tears streaming down her face.

“She means nothing to King,” I tell him.

“I doubt that.” He sneers as Alana comes closer, the guards stepping back from her.

“Besides, I prefer it when you fight,” he says, his smirk growing vicious before turning back to Alana.

“You can drop the act; she’ll know soon enough.” Kaladar gives her a tired look.

“Wha… What do you want from me?” Alana trembles looking at Kaladar with wide eyes.

I need to do something. I need to get her out of here.

“I’ve had enough of your little games; you can drop it.” A sphere of rage encases him as he seethes towards Alana.

What the hell is he talking about? I glance around looking for anything that might help us. But find nothing.

“Please. I’ll…” I beg, hoping he’ll make some sort of bargain with me but it’s like I’m not here, his whole focus on Alana.

Why was he looking at her like that? With familiarity.

My stomach drops. What if King wasn’t the only one who hurt her? What if Kaladar also…

“Remember our deal. I get her first.” Kaladar grits out making me more than just confused.

Alana made a deal with him?

Glancing at her, I go to ask her when she replies to him.

“Ruin my fun, why don’t you,” Alana huffs as she pouts. Standing up tall, she narrows her eyes on him, giving him a haughty look.

“Yes, yes. You’ll get your fun soon enough. But after it, she’s mine.”

Kaladar narrows his eyes on her. “Until King gets back?”

“Of course.” She flutters her eyes at him innocently.

Kaladar shakes his head giving her a look. “Well?”

I watch the change come over her instantly. Not only her clothes transform, but her body and image as well. Her red hair becomes full and luscious, no longer in tangles and matted. Her body strong with curves to die for, nothing years of starvation or lack of nutrition could achieve. The rags she lives in become a long silk green dress that hangs on her every curve.

But it’s her facial expression that throws me the most. The glint in her eye is cruel, the smirk full of wicked intent. I don’t recognise the woman standing in front of me anymore.

“Alana, what’s going on?” My voice is small even to my own ears. This has to be some cruel joke.

“Alana?” Kaladar mimics with a chuckle. “Is that what you’ve been calling yourself?”

Kaladar’s cruel smirk zeros in on me.

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