Page 196 of Red Ruin

Shivering and tasting smoke, I gasp. “It’s gone.”

Vhex cradles my hand, glaring murder at the drop of blood. Flames spark from his eyelashes. “He hurt you.”

“You can destroy him for me later,” I promise, gently stroking his horn. “I need your help now.”

“Tell me.”

His thoughts are fuzzy, but not because he’s losing to the monster.

His hands run all over my body. My cheeks. Shoulders. Hips.

At first, Vhex is making sure I’m okay.

Then he can’t stop touching.

Vhex wants to kiss and stroke and join our souls while he fucks me so hard and deep into the ground, we’ll get to wave to his devilish ancestors when we bottom out in hell.

Later.

Holy heavens, I hope we get to have a later.

“Unfold your wings.”

Reluctantly, Vhex lifts me to my feet. When his wings part, I want to tuck right back in and pretend the rest of the world isn’t my problem.

The Deathguard is in shambles.

Sentinels stumble through the grass, fighting each other and themselves, their auras writhing with decay. Their Guides shout, but no one has a clue what’s going on.

Luca screams the loudest, but my gaze snaps to Remy first.

He’s a statue.

Not breathing.

Not blinking.

He stares at the mountain, but his soul-silks strain toward me.

Death magic isn’t compatible with hellfire.

But for a vampire?

Oh no.

I lunge to grab Remy’s sightless face. “I’ve got you.”

Kevan is stuck in the same statue mode. Luca cries snot bubbles while he tugs the frozen Sentinel’s cape. There’s no one to take charge as despairing pulses of Sentinel energy pop off like fireworks across the field.

Before I lose myself in Remy’s soul, I turn to Vhex. “Round up the Sentinels. If they can’t hang on, ash their bodies.”

Vhex grabs my sleeve and digs in his claws.

I can feel how much he doesn’t want to leave me.

I stroke the backs of his fingers. “I’ll run to you if I sense the lich. I’d never let him take you.”

“I know who owns me.” Vhex’s grin rattles my insides.

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