Page 27 of Red Ruin

Now, it’s someone else’s turn.

Shadows pool in the balcony hole.

I split off as many silks as I can steal from Vhex. I need them to deal with the vampire forming out of the darkness.

Remington unfolds from the void with my blood crusted to his chin. The hole in his wing smokes around its shrinking edge. I wince as I plug into the fiery pain gnawing at the slow-healing wound near his spine.

No wonder it took him so long to rise.

Vhex nailed him harder than I thought.

“Come here.” I crook my silks, offering my glow to feed his thirsty soul.

His eyes yawn in scary-empty pits.

There’s no more red, even at the edges—the man is gone.

I swallow a throb of his thirst that’s strong enough to choke me across the room.

Remington isn’t Vhex, jumping to obey my commands.

He’s going to make me work.

I need more of his skin.

“Come to me, Sentinel.” I release Vhex’s chin to free a hand.

When he snarls, I drag his horn, muffling his protests in my stomach. The move distracts him.

Then Vhex distractsme, rubbing his horn between my breasts.

I gasp.

When my silks flinch, Remington flashes forward with flexed claws.

Shit.

I quickly twist my silks into a spear.

It’s sharp, but it glows with all the light I have.

There’s a lot less than there used to be. Remington still takes the bait.

He lets me pierce his defenses.

I release the tip of the silk-spear, spinning thousands of silks straight into Remington’s soul.

Kevan’s soul was the shivery kind of cold. Spooky and dry.

Remington feels more like an icy rush—plunging through whitewater rapids in a night-black cave.

A cold connection feathers between us as our silks twine.

His thirst strains my throat. “You’re all in knots.”

His soul is so tangled, I can only start on the surface.

My touch is gentle, but Remington hisses, resisting my care.

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