Page 31 of Red Ruin

I smile for my Guide as if the mental exchange never happened. “It’s too noisy here. Let me take you to my—toourquarters.”

“How long have you been like this?” She squints into my eyes.

How pleasant. “Like what?”

“Fucking insane.”

I’ve never matched a Guide more than ten percent. The thirst-quenching coolness of our perfect soul-fit is just as delicious as her flavor.

And her fingers in my hair.

I’ve found a treasure.

She’s just in time to serve my final meal. “Luckily, you’ve come to fix me.”

“No.” She releases my scalp and grinds her wrist to her forehead in exasperation. “Give me your badge.”

The cooling stroke of her soul makes it hard to care about anything else.

I hum, enjoying her and this last slice of clarity. “Which badge?”

“The Farguard commander’s badge. I’m relieving you of duty.”

CHAPTER7

IRIS

My expectations liein more shreds than the papers from Remington’s filing cabinet.

This is sonothow a guard is supposed to work.

A guard is the backbone of a region.

We protect the humans who can’t protect themselves. Even out here, where barely any settlements are left under the Farguard’s protection, we have to stay strong and united to keep Faervaine’s borders from shrinking any more.

Every time we lose ground, we come closer to losing everything.

Kevan’s Deathguard is the farthest thing from perfect, but it’s a masterclass in military management compared to this shit-show.

Vhex is a hot mess, more likely to melt the Farguard than to defend it.

Remington isn’t leading anyone into battle.

I didn’t notice before, but now that he’s close, I spot at least three eras from my history books represented in the pieces of his uniform.

All mismatched. None including shoes.

These Sentinels are barely functioning.

And if they’re not working?

Neither can I.

“Vhex,” I coax, grabbing his horn before he uses it to slice open my bra. “See if the major’s badge is in his desk.”

I have Vhex’s energy smoothed to mostly docile for now, but it’s nowhere near tamed. The jolt of glee as he jumps to his feet—making his bubblegum cock bob—says he only obeys because he’s having fun.

I want to groan.

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