Page 208 of Red Ruin

Iris wantsme, but she doesn’t want my help.

What do you need?

What can I give you, my commander, my love?

There’s no answer, even when I ask her soul, but her silks subtly change their motion. Instead of curling, they weave.

Trezzoran snarls.

Iris isn’t deliberately trying to imprint, but with her full focus spent cutting the lich out of my veins, her soul wants me to see her deepest wish.

She craves a bond that’s impossible to escape.

As if I could leave.

There could never be anyone but her.

My vision wavers. My body numbs.

Iris curses. “Work with me. He’s not stronger than us together.”

I try to cooperate, but my soul-silks stiffen.

The pain runs hot, then cold.

She kisses me, but my lips won’t respond.

With a growl, Iris drags my face to her throat. “Bite me, Remy.Drink.”

My fangs lengthen as she rubs them against her jugular, but my jaw is locked. Everything is cold and blurred.

It’s the familiar, fading sensation I’ve experienced so many times.

This time, I’m unwilling.

I can’t move.

I can barely reach out with my mental voice.

Trezzoran mutters and pushes me away from Iris. He drags his fang across her throat, helping himself to a luxurious lick.

The fruity scent of her blood floods my mouth.

“Drink,” Iris orders, dragging my mouth to the wound.

Hot blood flows between my lips.

I manage to work my throat, to swallow her sweetness, but the warmth barely takes the edge off the power locking my body.

“Why isn’t it working?” Iris grips my hair. Her silks desperately scour my body and soul until her focus snaps to the last knot of power still under my control. She surrounds my magic. “What is this?”

I can’t remember.

I just know that Iris needs me to hold on.

Gritting her teeth against the bite of death, she forces her way in and follows the path of my shadows.

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