Page 246 of Red Ruin

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I can hold on, but for every second I resist, more of my soul erodes. The world loses color. My thoughts slow as my senses numb.

The lich king’s ancient voice booms between my ears.

“You first,” I grit.

the lich mutters.

Sweat drips into my eyes. Running on the fumes of fumes, my muscles quake.

Today is not the day I give in to a godsdamnedlich.

Never again.

“Your rise?” I laugh shakily. “You can’t even beat me.”

The lich king’s energy surges.

Sickening pressure builds until bile bubbles up my throat.

I need help.

I need power.

Heart trembling, I call, “Vhex! Remy!”

I hope they remember me.

With all my soul-silks desperately battling the lich, I can’t sense them outside the array.

I catch a set of shuffling footsteps. Rocks clatter down the slope as a figure appears at the rim of the crater.

Vhex.

He burned off his clothes again. Flame armor flickers in and out, highlighting the cut lines of muscles twitching with battle adrenaline. He’s all horn and claws, blood and ash.

My tongue glues to the roof of my mouth.

He’s a rugged, beautiful mess.

And he’smine.

“Vhex,” I whisper through cracked lips.

His nostrils flare. Swaying, he watches me with glazed eyes. He takes a half step, then claws his arms to pull himself back.

He shakes his head.

the lich calls. His energy pulses.

Vhex snarls. His silks porcupine, fighting the monster’s pull.

“You’re stronger…than…him,” I grit out as I reach for him.

Vhex’s agony vibrates at my fingertips.

I catch a hint of his emotions.

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