Page 192 of Red Ruin

“Easy.” I stretch my silks to meet him before he crashes.

Vhex’s soul shivers with relief.

Ignoring the answering flutter in my gut, I push free of Remy’s wings and open my arms. “Come here.”

“Rissy.” Vhex melts over my shoulders. “Missed you.”

Radiating heat, he hauls me to his chest. Remy mirrors the motion from behind. Their energy ripples in another silent feud, but I’d never know from their bodies.

The Sentinels mold around me, all gentle hands and wing tips. They don’t even snarl when their arms brush.

“It’s okay,” I murmur shakily. “We’re all okay.”

“You feel so fucking good.” Vhex hums against my collarbone.

“Better than good.” Remy tightens his fingers in my hair—it’salmostpainful, but also totally fucking hot. “A dream.”

They glue themselves to me hip-to-shoulder, part possessive, part protective, and totally trying to start a fight with my ex.

After only a few minutes away from me, their meridians are way too painful. Vhex needs a layer of charcoal scraped off his soul, and fresh, dark spiderwebs tangle between Remy’s older knots.

I’m so focused on guiding them that it takes a few minutes before Luca’s screeches drag me back to the field.

Kevan hasn’t returned.

I squeeze out of Vhex and Remy’s arms and force them shoulder-to-shoulder, so I can squint at them both at the same time. “What did you do?”

“Tested his power.” Vhex frowns. The sullen expression wrinkles his forehead, just beneath his horn. “He’s too weak for you.”

Remy stays silent, looking at the sky.

Red flags, everywhere.

“Remy? What did you do?” I repeat.

“Ah. Here comes the duke, ready for battle.” Remy gestures to the side of the teleportation platform, where shadows un-subtly recoil. Kevan stands blinking in the reeds.

Luca pounces over to him.

Thankfully, my instincts don’t drive me to do the same.

“How dare they.” Luca fusses, trying to guide the Sentinel’s magic while he cleans the ash from his blank face.

I’m busy chewing my lip, trying not to reward Remy with a snicker.

Kevan is the kind of neat freak who showers as soon as he pulls out.

Now he’s wrecked.

His cape is charred. Slashes decorate his uniform. His thick, black hair always thins when he shifts more skeletal. Now, it’s a bird’s nest, missing whole chunks with patches showing his bone-pale scalp.

Vhex and Remy were toying with him.

For me.

My ribs squeeze.

I’ve never been avenged before.

---