Page 26 of Fated In Ruin
“As it turns out, Vicious, we won’t need to find Ravok.”
Overhead, the ceiling groaned, like ancient hewn timbers were shifting beneath an enormous, crushing weight. Outside the sun shone brilliant against a clear blue sky, bright and unforgiving and completely at odds with the dread twisting up my belly, the sense we were under attack.
Don’t say it. Please don’t say…
“Because he’s already here.”
12
EVANGELINE
That deep scratching resonated through the castle halls, a chilling sound, like someone—or something—was dragging sharpened talons down the castle’s outer walls. Outside, the sunlight dimmed, as a dark mist swirled across the grounds.
“How did he…I thought this place was glamoured?” I asked, my voice high. “You said we were safe?”
“We are,” Malachi growled, even as the walls around us groaned again, like mountains grinding together, before another shimmering shield rose, coating the inside of the castle with a layer of pure power. The atmosphere around us went eerily still, a deep, waiting silence broken only by that mournful piano.
Malachi dropped his hand and the music stopped.
“What you just saw was…nothing more than a projection of Ravok’s intentions into my thoughts,” he murmured. “He’s trapped outside the wards. I could have flown us out of here when I sensed his approach, but we are safer behind the wards. You were still lost in my memories, and you had to see everything to understand.”
“I understand Ravok is the fucker who killed my...”My what? Great, great grandmother, ten times over? I needed more information. I needed a fucking family tree.
“All those things he said…” Malachi swallowed again, and for the first time since I’d met him, he looked off balance. “Tell me he was lying about…tasting you.Touchingyou.” His breath hitched, his words uncertain, the pulse raging at the base of his throat.
“Really? A monster’s trying to break in and this is what we’re going to talk about?” I shook my head. “We should get as far away from here as we can.”
“He’d intercept us the moment we left the confines of these walls. We’re safe enough inside and eventually…he’ll give up and go away.”
“That is a seriously shit plan.”
“Then come up with a better one,” Malachi barked. “Otherwise, tell me you’ve never heard or seen Ravok before today and we’ll move on to killing him.” His expression had gone positively feral, that ring of fire flaring orange casting a glow over the harsh planes of his face.
“Tell me you’ve never heard of Ravok before now, Vicious.Fucking tell me.”
I looked away, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. Malachi’s jaw clenched, tight enough to pop. “You’ve been lying to me?” He demanded, gripping my arms. “Did that fucking monster feed from you, Evangeline?Did he?”
“No more than you’ve lied to me, so don’t act all high and mighty. And I’ve never seen him in the flesh except when he was hauled out of his tomb looking like a dehydrated piece of beef jerky.”
“Then what was he talking about?”
“This is about Riordan,” I admitted, rubbing my face. We were past secrets now, and I felt almost…cruelin letting Malachi think Ravok’s inuendoes were true, because he was acting unhinged. Almost…jealous.
“He took Riordan over, possessed him for about a week. I needed Riordan, or rather, Ravok to help me rescue Blake from the trapyourcronies laid at Ebonshade House. Ravok and I came to an agreement—you know, the ones you vampiresloveto make?” I muttered, searching his face and not liking what I saw.
“Ravok saved Blake and in return, he got to drink from my wrist. Four sips.”
“Fuck.” All around us, the ward trembled, dark streaks ripping through the glimmering glamour. “You lied to me.” His outrage was mind boggling, given his ongoing questionable behavior, and yet, I felt a twinge of guilt.
“It wasn’t like we were on the same fucking side, Malachi. Or that I knew there was some super powerful vampire locked in the Darkmore’s basement, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.”
I shrugged. “Secrets get people killed. And now…now I guess you know mine.Surprise.”
Well, not all of them, but one of the big ones.
“You’ve been keeping this from me ever since you arrived.” He leaned in until his nose practically touched mine. “You knew, this entire time, Ravok existed and you chose to hide that knowledge from me?” His eyes widened. “That’s why you made me swear not to read your thoughts.”
“Well,” I shrugged, “it’s not like I know how to shield my mind against you. I had to dosomething.”
