Page 101 of Red Ruin

I’m not sitting in an empty room, waiting for some asshole to remember I exist.

I’m not wasting my power.

And I’m trying not to lie to myself anymore.

I don’t love guiding because I was born to help.

I love it for thepower.

Every Sentinel in the hall peeks at me from the corner of their eye, wanting my attention. Wanting my care.

Vhex and Remy crank that feeling to infinity, only they’re not trying to be subtle.

They beamwantandneedinto my soul.

I feel it in the cling of their silks. In strokes of Remy’s shadows and the ticklish grazes of Vhex’s blunted claws.

It’s like they’re trying to touch every inch of me down to individual cells—as if they’ll findjuuuuust the right spotand our souls will magically bond.

An imprint is biologically impossible, and yet they keep trying—they’ll never stop trying—because even when they’re feral, out-of-their minds, out-of-control, their bodies and souls know that I’m the one.

I don’t know how long I’ll be THE one to them.

But, with a horde of kobold zombies stumbling toward their undead overlord, who knows how much time any of us have?

I fill my stomach and let the Sentinels stroke me until I’m shivering.

Stars help me.

I think I love the Farguard.

CHAPTER26

IRIS

After dinner,Sentinels push aside the long tables and re-set the benches into a V that faces a makeshift podium of crates.

I don’t need a podium.

It’s not like I prepared notes.

As the crowd settles down, I pause for a breath.

Cherise offers me a fist-pump from the first row. I’m recognizing more and more Sentinels by their faces or energies.

I spot Simms, sulking at the back. His damp hair is pulled into a man-bun, and his caveman beard has disappeared.

Vhex and Remy bookend me as I take center stage.

I’m not nervous about speaking.

I’m afraid of what happens if we can’t work together.

“No one is more surprised than I am to find me standing here,” I begin, less shakily than I feel.

When no one throws tomatoes or fireballs, I press on.

“We’ve all been fighting long enough to skip the bullshit. That mass kobold resurrection was a preview from the monster breaking its seal out there. We don’t know its origins or how much time we have to prepare, but it’s safe to assume we’re up against unlimited undead. Our main attack force is three of the most unreliable S-class Sentinels to ever wear the uniform. And, apparently, we’ve all pissed off some authorities? Nobody will be rushing to the border to rescue our asses.”

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