Page 97 of Red Ruin

New bucket list:

1. Fuck Iris until my dick breaks off in her pretty pussy

2. Die

I send the monster underground another two-fingered salute, then hop off the roof to find my wife.

If she won’t kill me?

Hedefinitelywill.

CHAPTER25

IRIS

Nine minutes later,all the Farguard’s Guides and Sentinels—excluding the ones busy getting their hands and asses healed—are waiting for me over a rushed dinner in the mess hall.

I’m even wearing real pants.

After I grab food, I’ll be ready to wing the most de-motivational speech in military history.

But before that, I’m stalled in the hallway.

Feeling a familiar power pulse, I squint at the ceiling. “Why is Vhex on the roof?”

“Ideally?” Remy answers. “Jumping.”

“He can fly,” I remind him, trying to read Vhex’s energy through the floors.

His patterns feel…weird.

Then again?

What would Vhex’s normal be?

I let out a breath when Vhex moves. “Here he comes.”

“Shall we hide?”

“Can youpretendto cooperate?” I itch my prickling throat. “Your bickering is giving me hives.”

“Not hives.” Remy snags my fingers. “Poison. Speak of the devil.”

On wings of pink fire, Vhex singes the walls, but at least he’s wearing his human-colored skin.

“My Guide.” Vhex ducks Remy’s shadow-lasso, coming in hot and folding me into his wings. “My wife, my life. I heard your call.”

His hug digs the commander’s badge into my boob. I wiggle from his grip and bat his flames before they eat my hair. “I called for everyone.”

“Not that call.” His rogue fang pops out with his wicked grin. “The one from your veins.”

His skin is so warm, mine flushes in response.

I cough against a growing prickle, but the itch goes deeper than my throat. My blood shifts south.

Vhex smells smoky and rich—all blood, sweat, and dark, red berries.

My body doesn’t just remember his touch.

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