Page 21 of Red Ruin

I’ll devour every drop.

CHAPTER5

IRIS

Remington Azrid’sdark magic reverses night and day. All light disappears from the office as his shadows unfurl like ribbons of ink.

They’d be hauntingly pretty if they weren’t rearing and ready to fight me like thousands of spider arms.

Great.

The Sentinel’s reaction explains the dread that’s made every step up the stairs feel like a slog through a bog.

My new boss is a pit of silent suffering.

“Major?” I ask softly and reach out a tentative thread. “Are you in there?”

An icy wisp of his soul surprises me in the dark.

Our silks barely brush—just bump for half a breath.

Pain sears through the hazy connection, shriveling my throat.

I wrench away and grab my windpipe.

His pain burns like swallowing a half-forged sword.

How is he still standing?

I’ve been holding my soul-silks back on a Vhex embargo. Faced with another wounded beast that only I can heal, they bust out, all giddy for the chance to help. “I’m here. Do you want guiding?”

In the shadows, something metal clanks to the floor. Then dark ribbons part, revealing just enough to stop my heart.

Remington’s fingers lengthen to onyx claws. His hair bleaches from black to silver, and his pupils blow out until only the thinnest ring of crimson edges the hypnotic blackness.

His fangs lengthen, wicked and sharp.

A chill rolls down my back.

The man isn’t home.

The monster is in control.

“Drink.” His voice sticks to my skin, all scratchy and liquid warm—hot honey with the bees left inside.

There’s a buzz in my head.

Then a blur.

A bang.

A flash of pain.

In the space of a blink, I’m spread across Remington’s desk and his teeth are pumping my throat.

It happens so fast that I skip past shock.

Straight to pleasure.

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