Page 138 of Vows of Ruin

Her.

Wrenley running toward me through the maze of glass rooms, eyes wild with fury and terror. Max at her side. Torque behind them. Riot and Wrecker kicking in doors. Elias shouting coordinates. Hugo charging in front of them, teeth bared.

For a breath, for a heartbeat, I think they’re really there. I think they made it. I think she’s safe, she’s whole, she’s alive, she’s—

“Liam.” Her voice cracks like glass inside my skull. “Liam, look at me—” She’s reaching out—

The scene fractures. Colors leak. Shadows warp. The edge of the vision bends like melting film. Suddenly she’s gone. Max is gone. Torque, Wrecker, Elias… all gone. Hugo’s shape dissolves into smoke. The world snaps back into razor-focus.

Sebastian stands in front of me, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. His smile returns, slow and delighted.

“Oh,” he purrs. “That was interesting.”

I blink hard, trying to anchor myself in the present. My heart is hammering too fast. My breath is too shallow. “What… what did I say?” I grind out.

Sebastian taps a finger against my cheek with mock affection. “You begged,” he says softly. “Not for yourself. Oh no. You begged for them.”

My stomach drops. He leans close, his nose almost touching mine. “You begged me not to hurt her. Not to hurt Max. Not to hurt your little Serpent family.” He whispers. “How touching.”

My throat burns. He steps back, clasping his hands behind him like this is all a lecture. “I think I’ll keep you alive long enough for them to try and save you,” he says lightly. “I want to watch her walk through the doors of this place. I want to see her face when she sees what I built for you all. What I’ve made of you.”

My pulse spikes, pure terror this time. Not for me. For her. Sebastian sees it.

He inhales in satisfaction. “Ah. There it is. That beautiful fear.”

He presses the rod back to my arm. My breath stutters. “Let’s see what you hallucinate next.”

Sebastian circles me, wiping the rod clean like he’s doing something civilized instead of twisting metal into muscle. “Well,” he says brightly, “Since you’re still conscious… Let's talk.”

I drag a breath through my teeth. “What the hell… about what?”

He smiles like a knife. “About her. And about you. And your little arrangement.”

My jaw flexes. He steps close, voice turning syrupy and invasive. “How does it work, Liam? Are you and Max both devoted to her like dogs? Does she split you? Does he get the scraps or do you?”

I laugh, even bleeding, even half-dizzy, I laugh. “You don’t understand a goddamn thing about us.” Sebastian's smile twitches. Good.

“So, she’s the center of your little… triangle,” he continues, ignoring the warning in my stare. “You two climb over each other for her affection. Pathetic, really.”

My voice drops to a growl. “Keep talking about shit you know nothing about.”

“Oh?” He taunts. “Am I wrong? Doesn’t he get jealous when she chooses you? Or do you get jealous when she chooses him?”

“Jealous?” My lips curl. “You think love works like that? That loyalty works like that? You really are alone.”

Something flickers, a crack, right behind his eyes. He masks it quickly. But not quick enough.

“So, you and he aren’t lovers,” he says, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine. Then what are you? Brothers-in-arms? Competitors? Both crawling for Wrenley’s attention?”

“You don’t get to say her name,” I growl. “And Max isn’t the weak link you think he is.”

“Then what is he?” Sebastian presses. “Your rival? Each other's replacement for when one of you dies?”

My rage goes cold. “He’s my family,” I say simply.

It lands like a gunshot. Sebastian’s smile falters. He expected lust. Conflict. Division. He doesn’t know what to do with loyalty. Before he can recover, I lean forward just enough that the restraints groan.

“You want to know why we work?” I rasp. “Because we’re not afraid of sharing the weight. You wouldn’t understand that even if someone carved it into your skull.”