Page 191 of Red Ruin

Ugh.

Now I know his name.

Squirrelly little Luca swings his nutty eye lasers onto me. “You’re not fit to lead.”

His soul-silks show a bit of yellow, but they’re mostly green after melding with Kevan’s. They’re thicker and more solid than an unimprinted Guide’s.

His energy surges in challenge, but when it hits me, all I want to do is wheeze. “You’re an A-class?”

“A plus,” he snaps like a child insisting he’s not four—he’sfour-and-a-half.

The difference between the A and S classes is more than just a rank. It’s like the chasm between seventy-five and eighty percent compatibility—one is really good and the other is off-the-charts, out-of-this-fucking-world.

I don’t bother tangling with Luca’s power.

I just stop holding mine back.

At full power, my aura glitters like blue diamonds.

Luca’s cheeks redden. His fists ball as he abandons the challenge he threw down. “If you’re that strong, then fuckingdo something. Those monsters are murdering my Sentinel.”

“They’re not monsters,” I mutter as I stretch my spiritual senses. “They’re struggling. Have some compassion as a Guide.”

We’re so far away, I can’t sense Vhex and Remy’s status. But depending how deep they’ve imprinted, Luca will be able to feel what Kevan feels, even from a distance.

Hope it’s pain.

Luca hugs his arms. “They need to be put down.”

“That’s not your call.”

“Wait until the palace reads my report,” Luca says haughtily, lifting his chin. “The emperor will make the right decision.”

My blood simmers.

I’ll let go when Vhex and Remy find a better match.Until then?“Nobody touches my Sentinels.”

The Deathguard stirs. I don’t care what they think.

Ignoring their rippling energies, I press my badge to make the call. “Come back to me.”

I don’t have time to finish my breath.

Shadow wings fold around me from behind.

“Guide,” Remy rasps, burying his head in my throat. He smells like smoke and something richer than cologne.

My body lights with flashes from last night.

After connecting so deeply, his soul is already my backyard. I undo fresh tangles, guiding his magic and soul back where they belong.

In record speed, Remy recovers his drawl. “The younger generation truly disappoints.”

I snort and wave at the shadow dome. “Let them out.”

“If you insist,” Remy says smoothly.

As soon as the shield weakens, a column of hellfire explodes its own exit. Roaring loud enough to liquify the air, Vhex launches himself as a flaming meteor.

---