Page 129 of Fated In Ruin
Riordan started up the steep incline. “Not unless you want to end up encased in stone while you slowly suffocate and die.”
“Well, that’s not specifically horrible or anything,” Eldric grumbled. “I think I’ll pass on that option, thank you.”
“Why the fuck are you even here?” Blake hissed, clearly decidingnotto be a team player today. “You should be at Crimson House, poring over your history books.”
“There will come a day when you’ll be grateful Iwasporing over those books, because I’ll save your backwards caveman ass with logical, clear reasoning and information only I possess.”
Eldric’s here because he’s in love with Angel and he wants to protect her.
Blake’s gaze narrowed.More like wants to impress her.
Protect, impress, it’s the same outcome. So play nice, because you two might be related someday.Truthfully, I only said that to distract him, but Blake looked thoughtful.
I suppose I could do worse for a brother-in-law.His expression brightened. Can I give him shit about Angel? Because I really want to give him shit. That would take the edge off.
You can give him moderate shit. And don’t be mean. I like Eldric.
Eldric, completely ignorant to the fact we were over here planning out the rest of his life, was still glaring at Blake, the air around him glowing, like he’d just been pulled out of the forge.
“If anything comes charging out of the shadows, maybe you can beat it back with your books, and save us all,” Blake snarked, inspecting one of his knives.
I rolled my eyes.I told you to be nice.
That was nice. And you still don’t get male humor, because it was also funny.
Stop fucking around and get your asses up here.Riordan’s glare was apocalyptic. “We’ll dematerialize straight to the Keep.” As if none of us knew why we were even here, he pointed at the castle.
“Malachi’s already in the tunnels,” I whispered. “No telling how long he’s been here.”
“Chances are, the opening to the lower levels is up there.” Annoyance still flickered in Riordan’s eyes. “We don’t have a clear line of sight. So when we land, be on high alert and ready to fight.”
“Does that fighting include me?” Eldric muttered. “Because I’m far better with magic than I am with a blade.”
“Use whatever the fuck you want, dickhead. Books, knives, your fucking logical, clear reasoning,” Blake grumbled, in a very non-future-brother-in-law-way. “So long as you get the job done.”
“Excellent. Taking a result driven approach. I like it.”
“Is he seriously going to talk this much the entire time?” Blake asked out of the corner of his mouth as I gripped his hand tighter, shadows gathering around us as he prepared to dematerialize us up to the Keep.
“Probably,” Eldric and I said together. “Jinx.Double jinx.” We high fived each other as Blake rolled his eyes.
Then cold swept across my face, the world turned into a big, long smear, and we were flying.
* * *
The odd smellhit me as soon as my boots met the ground, a cloying sweetness mixed with the rancid reek of rot.
“Stick close, Evangeline.” Blake's warm breath feathered my ear, his arm banded across my stomach. “Do you still sense him?”
I reached for the bond again, panicking when I realized how faint Malachi’s presence had become. “Yes, but something's wrong. He's…” I broke off as Riordan, Blake and Eldric froze in place.
“Fuuuck,” Rohr hissed, turning toward the far end of the ruins.
Five hulking shapes emerged from the misty gloom, moving with an unnatural gait. The revenants kept their heads low to the ground, mouths gaping wide to show off their double rows of needle-sharp teeth, long tongues tasting the air, nose flaps slapping open and closed as they crept toward us like a host of spiders on spindly legs.
Their thick hides were battle scarred, long, deadly claws dug grooves into the ancient stone with every slow, creeping step. Their eyes were white, opaque, and as I watched, the lead creature lifted its head, tested the air, changed direction, moving straight toward Riordan.
Then, when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, the wind shifted and the stench hit me full in the face.
