Page 129 of Red Ruin

REMY

The sharp scentof venom pours off of Iris’s skin.

It warps her decadent passion fruit punch into a vodka cocktail.

“Yrr mrrn mrr-mrr-mnnr,” she mutters through the shadow safeguarding her lips.

You weren’t invited.

“And you’re drunk.” I press my cold hands to her flushed cheeks as I release the gentle gag.

“I’m not—” she gasps for air.

As she breathes, conflicting emotions twist her face; a parade of bad decisions almost made.

A shadow smooths the sweat from her brow, then feeds me a taste of her salty sweetness. “You were about to beg for more venom.”

Beg me.

Nothim.

Her jaw drops. Then Iris huffs. “Godsdamnit. Iamdrunk.”

“Shall I cure you?” I lift her upper body away from the devil. He thrashes against his shadow muzzle as I cradle her to my chest.

Iris gasps at the shift, clutching my forearms as tremors ripple down her legs. Her desire drips. Her heart pumps.

My throat tightens.

I want to rip her away. Claim her as mine.

But Trezzoran has her locked on the primitive pegs of his devil cock.

Shall I cut him off at the root?I ask myself, intending him to hear.

Trezzoran snarls.

I wish I could gag his soul as easily as I can block his mouth.

“There’s a cure?” Iris asks, trembling against my chest. “What is it?”

I swallow the bladed temptation of her scent. My voice roughens. “Take my bite.”

“You would say that.” She grips my shirt too hard and pops the upper buttons. Her muzzy gaze drags to my clavicle.

“I would. It’s the only solution.”

Iris combs my silks even as her lips purse.

She can’t help helping me any more than I can stop ripping myself apart just to be closer to her. “I can filter his venom. That’s why the Trezzorans still pay tribute to Azrid. Theybeggedus for an alliance.”

Vhex mentally spits.

Luckily, I’ve covered his filthy mouth.

Iris squints into my eyes. “Any memories about the monster buried in our backyard?”

I don’t dare dig that deeply.

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