Page 78 of Red Ruin

“Vhex!” I wade into the flames. “Where are you?”

Shadows wind up my bare legs, forming emergency pants.

That works.

As long as they don’t suddenly turn into tongues.

The hellfire wouldn’t dream of hurting me. It parts at my feet, morphing into a rough human shape.

Vhex’s pain punches between my lungs.

I plunge into his halfway-formed arms. They’re not hot—just warm.

“Guide.” Vhex grabs my silks like they’re life ropes.

“I’m here.” I let him take the hug he needs, trying to keep panic from my voice as he melts around me.He’s struggling. “Pull back your fire.”

The liquid flame rolls back as I pet his silks.

I curse as his smoke clears and the ruined cavern comes into view.

Crystals, bone dust, patterns—poof—everything is ashed and burned. The disappearing lava leaves behind a charred stone floor shot through with terrifying cracks.

My neck hairs lift.

As Vhex calms, I sense energy brewing beneath my toes.

Somewhere deep within the ground, a familiar magic pulses to a sluggish beat.

I’ve been swimming in undead for years.

I used to sleep with a fucking lich and fight side-by-side with his zombie horde.

I thought I’d built up a tolerance.

But when a wave of spectral energy rattles my spine, the terror feels brand new.

The imprisoned monster is one of the undead—and it’smuchstronger than Kevan.

Without the array, there’s nothing left to stop it from rising.

And when it does?

I bet it resurrects its friends.

CHAPTER20

VHEX

My wife smellslike bat jizz.

I burn the stank off her hands.

Azrid didn’t fuck her—if he even can.

Limp-dicked vampire.

I shoot him the message while I yank at the silks she’s running to him instead of me.

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