Page 67 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

He leans in, his heady scent surrounding me. Dipping his head, he draws in a long breath, sending hot shivers straight to my core.

A glint of red catches my eye, distracting me from the pull of temptation.

The red insignia on Leviathan’s unconscious guard reminds me where we are and what would happen if they were to wake up and find us.

“The guards…”

“Won’t be going anywhere for a while, let alone waking.” Rion continues, the heat in eyes expanding as they try to lure me in and pull me under.

“Either way, we should really get out of here.” My voice sounds breathless as I try to get my overheated body under control.

I reach out, placing my hands on his chest to push him away, but he moves closer. The feel of his strong body under my fingertips distracts me for a moment.

Shaking the lust from my eyes, I try to focus. “What are you doing?”

Rion’s smile turns devilish. “I thought that was pretty obvious.” He dips his head again, but just as he closes in, I push against his chest, making him pause.

We can’t do this.

“Why are you here?”

He must see the stubborn look in my eyes as he backs up a bit, giving me space to think.

“I was keeping an eye on my stubborn mate.” I narrow my eyes, listening to what he’s really saying.

He was following me.

That snake.

I step aside, pulling away from him and his intoxicating scent. “You were checking up on me. Why?”

Rion reaches out, trying to pull me back, but I take another step away.

“Why, Rion?”

With a frustrated sigh, he frowns at me. “Why do you think?”

My heart gives a loud thump as it drops to my stomach, the truth staring me in the face.

They didn’t trust me.

And why would they? I was King’s stepdaughter. I lived with some of the worst supes you could find.

Six years is a long time for anyone to drift apart. I had told them they didn’t know me anymore, but I never thought they’d…

“You don’t trust me, I get it.”

Taking a large step toward me, he reaches out, pulling me into him. Tilting my chin up, he looks at me, his eyes holding a determined look. “This has nothing to do with trust, and everything to do withyou.”

I frown, not understanding what he’s trying to say. “What?”

“Weneedyou.” His expression softens, looking at me like I’m something precious, something fragile. His arms wrap around me, stopping me from inching away.

I swallow the hard lump in my throat, trying and failing to come up with something to say. The slow building warmth leaves me, my stomach twisting with unease. They can’t need me. Alana depends on me and look how well that’s working out.

“Rion… I…” I feel a flutter of panic take root in my chest. Dread drapes over me like a heavy weight.

The thought of anyone else relying on me fills me with panic. How could I be there for them when I couldn’t even look after myself? I was a train-wreck waiting to happen. When that train crashed, and it would, I didn’t want any of them among the casualties.

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