Page 59 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I couldn’t continue to be foolish and do anything rasher. That girl would pay for my reckless behaviour. I couldn’t live with myself should anything happen to her.

He grabs my chin once more turning my head to him. The angle strains my neck but still I stay silent.

“Oh yes, I can see it in your eyes. You’ll fight to the very end or should I say the end for now.”

There’s a frantic gleam in his eyes as he thinks of all the sick possibilities.

“Would you heal from a fatal wound? I never got to play with your mother, King kept her all to himself.” He gives me a deranged pout. “But you won’t be like that will you, Kiarra?”

A slight bit of relief fills me with his words. Confirming what he just said; my mother was never his captive. Not that King was any better.

“Would you bleed out if I cut you here?” Kaladar runs a hand across my throat, squeezing it a bit before moving on.

I continue my silence, not giving him anything.

He hums to himself giving my hands a tight squeeze. I wince knowing they’ll bruise but heal soon enough. “I guess we’ll have to wait and find out now, won’t we?”

Releasing me, he pushes me forward. “Run along now, we’ll be seeing each other very soon.”

I whip around, wearing a glare full of rage.

“I’m betting on it. We’re going to have so much fun you and I.” The look in his eye promises another meeting. One I don’t think I could avoid if I wanted to get the girl out.

Keeping a watchful eye on him, I make my way out of there as quick as I can, Kaladar’s eyes following me.

Using his front entrance this time, the guards sneer as I move quickly pass them. I keep my head down, using the lift to head straight to my floor.

Once the lift opens, I head straight to my suite and unlock it. Slamming the door closed, I place the chain and bolts in place.

Leaning against it, I try to calm my racing pulse by taking deep breaths but all I can smell is him, all I feel is his touch.

I need it gone.

Placing the spell in place, I head straight for the shower, needing to wash away my time with Kaladar.

Stripping off I jump in, letting the scalding water run over me. The scorching temperature does nothing to warm the deep cold that has settled inside me.

Tired.

I’m so fucking tired of it all. Of everyone trying to take pieces of me and everything being so damn fucked up.

I turn the heat up, hoping it will burn away some of my tainted soul. It had to be tainted if my life was this fucked up.

I pick up the loofa and start scrubbing. My skin turns red and raw within minutes.

Why did everything have to be so fucking difficult? Why couldn’t I just get one goddamn break?

Six years and I just want to take a full breath without feeling like I’m suffocating. Like King’s hand isn’t constantly around my damn throat, squeezing every last drop of air.

When does it end?

I let the water wash away the last of my worries and stress before pulling myself together. There are too many people counting on me. I can’t break down now.

Kaladar is just as sick and twisted as King, I can see it in his eyes. I had no doubt he would be prepositioning King for time with me, nor would King object.

I was nothing more than a movable piece on his board of twisted games. One that he could trade when I became useful and use when he became bored.

Kaladar was just another piece joining King’s board. I would deal with him like I did everything else.

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