Page 12 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

“Where have you…”

“How did we not?”

“The bracelet.” Rion is the first to realise why the bracelet had that spike of energy.

“A concealment spell.” I nod confirming his theory.

Axel frowns still looking pissed off, but also confused.

“What the fuck are you all talking about?” He was always the most stubborn of the group. Well, after me that is, so off course he wouldn’t see what’s right in front of him.

“It’s Kiarra….” Luka murmurs, a sadness in his eyes that never leaves me. I swallow the lump in my throat, avoiding his gaze.

Axels eyes bounce from Luka’s to mine. He looks at me, really looks at me.

“Well?”

His eyes widen, shaking his head as he stumbles back.

“No fucking way.” His voice is a whisper before he explodes, a crazed look in his eyes. Whipping his head to Kai, he points an accusing finger toward me.

“It can’t be her.”

“It’s her.” Kai’s tone is soft but sure, his eyes never leaving my face.

“Wait, that means—” Jax starts but Rion finishes for him, always three steps ahead.

“She’s our mate.” Rion’s stare is full of conflicted heat. He clenches his hands, his whole-body tense as if stopping himself from taking a step closer to me.

Luka leans back against the chair, his sad smile now a permanent fixture. “Always knew it.”

Jax looks beyond betrayed, the hurt on his face, a palpable entity. “What are you doing here?”

I didn’t have a choice.

The words were at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t set them free. What good would it do to tell them?

How could I tell them when their reaction to my so-called betrayal was this painful?

How would they feel if they knew the truth?

It was better that I was the villain in this story. I could, at least, spare them any more of the pain and hurt I left.

“Well?” Jax pushes. All the pain and hurt turning to rage.

“I live here.”

“Wait! So, all this time, you’ve been here, only fucking twelve miles away from us and you just what?! Couldn’t be bothered to even tell us?!” His voice is hard and hollow.

I stay silent, not knowing where to start or what to say that could help. Knowing deep down there was nothing.

Jax takes my silence as an admission of guilt. He swiftly turns, kicking a chair over and starts smashing all the furniture in the room, his shifter abilities tearing through the wood and metal like it’s nothing.

Jax’s frustration builds, making the atmosphere in the room swiftly turn to anger.

My chest tightens, burning like a sharp blade to the throat.

How could I tell them that I literally could not leave the city, or the damn building, even if I wanted to? Unless King gave his permission, the spell he used to keep us chipped, tracked our every movement. One wrong move and it was your end and no skin off King’s neck.

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