Page 195 of Red Ruin

Sentinels can’t resist this necrotic energy for long.

After they rampage out, they’ll become puppets for the king.

This one is mine.

Levering Vhex’s horn and digging my fingers into his hair, I make the claim with my whole soul.

Vhex boils inside.

He has no defenses. He has no resistance to me at all. His body is mine to control, and his magic flows where I tell it to flow. Together, we attack the king’s invading claws.

Death magic stings. Its sharp, icy touch bites into my brain.

Gritting my teeth, I isolate a rotting thread, then guide Vhex’s hellfire to ash the poison.

Thread by thread.

Inch by inch.

Flame by flame.

Controlling Vhex’s power is easy.

I can never begin to control his kiss.

I started out claiming, but I end up being taken.

Vhex’s wings recline me in their cocoon. He cups the back of my head, pressing deep between my lips. He doesn’t have a brain-cell left to watch the war—he trusts me to fix him—leaving him free to pour his soul through his lips.

My skin pebbles, and a shiver curls my toes.

He needs me.

He trusts me.

He thinks about me andonlyme.

He’s also fucking crazy.

Guess I only get to pick three.

I’m not supposed to pick any.

We know how that ends.

“Vhex!” I gasp free of his kiss. The last invading wisp of death fights my grip. Before I can bring the hellfire, it slips free.

A pinprick pierces my middle finger.

My arm freezes to the shoulder. My body locks.

So cold.

Before I can gather my mental defenses, Vhex snatches my arm. Thick as honey, liquid fire slides along my silks.

Instant thaw.

I guide his hellfire to incinerate the rot.

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