Queen of Ruin

of mist spread out like little fingers in every direction. As it faded away, the only th

shirt in them. A shrill whimper built at the back of Tessa

tears and hide them from her. They were twin flames, and when one lost

into her eyes. "Go grab our bugout bags and meet me ri

eep breath through his nose. They practiced for this kind of thing at least a hundred times, an

as still having dinner, one could see him becoming his father along

"Listen to me. You're in danger. You know what you're supposed to do." He glanced to the floor and shook his head. "Don't com

if you can stay that long, tell him that my parents are dead. He knows where we'll be." Finally realizing what tonight was really about, he shook his head as

head as he wrapped his hands around Teddy's arm

and patted his shoulder. "You shouldn't get mixed up in this. I don't expect we'll eve

through his veins as Tessa's muffled s

ars as his legs carried him to the foyer. Trying desperately to stay on her fe

" Where her green eyes used to be was nothing but the spent black cells of the blood that left her tear ducts.

ulled her up in his arms. "I got you. We're a package deal, an

angelic face pulled down into a pouty frown like a toddler who got scolded b

You were just doing what the Fates made you do." More than once, he'd chastised her heresy aga

flicker, so he kissed her cold, bloody cheek and gave up. "I love you. When y

rt, she went limp in his arms and breathed

dkerchief, he broke Teddy from the shock he found himself spiraling towards. "She's still alive. Take

ht in him faded away like Tessa's bond w

e wasn't helpless. "You need to let the warlock

s dying sister, they never e

way, Teddy looked up to see Rafik soaked by the storm now raging outside. His shoul

marble floor around them, Teddy glanced down at his si

er lips. His pained face turned into an ugly, angry scowl as

entire body as he came to understand when he saw the boy's look of ho

sweet, metallic essence of her life onto his lips and ton

make their way through. Rafik kissed her and licked her blood from his l

wrapped themselves around the handle, he contemplated sinking it into the traitor

eeth and slashed through his arm without a moment's hesitation. A stream of

er her parted lips and delivered his gift of salvation to her mouth. "Le do thoil cinniúin

outh closed to force her to swallow and smashed his lips to hers. "Blessed be."His teary eyes searched for even a spark of life

" Rafik took her hand and placed it on her chest as he backed away. He searched his mind for more as he s

. With the bloody remnants of his mate dripping from his palms, the rage b

They wrapped the straps of their bags around his neck and shoulders, then Rafik kissed her forehead and backed away.

ulder and leaned into his ear. "Go

they were escaping from became a smudge of colo

Teddy called out to them. "I won't forget what yo