Page 91 of Red Ruin

“Splendid idea,” Remy answers. “The undead are so unpleasant.”

“So says the vampire.” I smirk in spite of the palace drone’s snub.

“It’s a bloodline. Not a loyalty.”

“Let me borrow your bloodline to prove a point.” I drag a dusty office chair from the wall to the table and gesture for him to sit first.

I refuse to be dismissed.

Remy sits obediently.

I perch on his knees. Even when I’m not trying to guide him, sticking close keeps me passively purifying Remy’s energy.

We’re too well matched.

Just like me and everyone else, I remind myself, trying to keep some distance.

“What do you seek to prove?” Remy loops my waist, dragging me over his thighs until he can rest his chin on my shoulder.

“That I’m holding your leash.”And the Farguard needs me to keep holding.

I shift his grip to a less-ticklish position, putting his hands on the chair-arms instead of my waist.

We’re setting the scene, not live-streaming a full-body guiding session.

“Indeed,” Remy purrs

“You don’t have to do much. Just repeat what I say to the man.” I poke his ribs to stop his tempting sound effects. “Give me some juice.”

Remy covers my hands. His magic wiggles through my skin, and I shiver so hard, I’d drop the orb if he weren’t helping me hold on.

“Connect,” I say shakily.

“Name, post, report,” the man repeats in the same bored and snobbish tone.

I clear my throat. “This is Duke Remington Azrid, Sword Major of the Northern Legion’s Farguard.”

“This is Duke Remington Azrid,” Remy drawls, his hot breath vibrating the chain of my earring. “Sword Major of the Northern Legion’s Farguard.”

The man finally turns his head. Expressionlessly, he takes in my position on Remy’s lap.

“Requesting reinforcements,” I add.

“Requesting reinforcements,” Remy repeats mindlessly, running his nose along the arteries in my neck. They’remuchmore interesting to him than this call.

I lift a brow at the palace flunky.You wanted the commander?

The man heaves a bureaucratic sigh. “For what reason?”

“We unearthed a failing prison seal. The arrays were drawn in powdered dragon bone. Its collapse has already begun.”

“We unearthed—” Remy starts.

“Enough.” The man waves. “I’m busy, not dense. What’s the sealed monster’s power rating?”

“The cavern collapsed before we could measure.” I wince. “But the seal is ancient and the cracks are bleeding undead magic.”

“The monster hasn’t risen?”

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