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Oh, great. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about.
“Now, if I release you, will you be a good girl and stay hidden while I tell the princess to go fuck herself out of my territory?” Ruin slowly removed his hand from my mouth as he licked his lips, flashing his tongue ring.
My eyes narrowed. Fane was the last person to call megood girl, and the fact that I’d liked it had my teeth clenching. “I’m not a good girl for anyone, asshole. And I’d rather take my chances with the ice princess and Shrek than stay with you.”
Ruin grinned, lifting those sharp cheekbones even more. “Bad girl it is. I like them much better anyway.” He winked and pressed his finger to my lips before I could insult him. “But you don’t want to get involved with Venna. So please stay hidden because if you don’t, I’ll have to fight her, and I just got home from a very long trip. I was looking forward to a meal, a hot shower, and a few warm bodies in my bed. Want to be one of them?”
I yanked his hand from my face. “Dream on.”
“Oh, I will.” He took a step back but kept his burning blue gaze on me. “If you run, my security team will catch you.”
A string of curses ran through my mind as Ruin slinked deeper into the alley, his black slacks and jacket blending in with the shadows.
“Princess Venna, what are you doing skulking through my territory?” His silky voice poured out like honey, but a threat lingered beneath it, sharp and as deadly as poison. “As the new leader of Vlehull, I’d think you would be there, restoring order after the chaos Karn’s death caused.”
“Ruin, you’re back. Oh, good.” Sarcasm wrapped Venna’s words.
I peeked around the corner as Ruin casually leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world. “You’re in my territory. I’d like to know why.”
Venna smoothed her silver blouse that blended so well with her hair. “I’m interested in getting my hands on Fane Maverick. Karn deserves retribution.”
Ruin gave a lazy shrug. “If Fane is in Savannah, he falls under my jurisdiction. You have no claim to him unless I allow it.” His smile widened, flashing a set of perfect, white teeth. “And I don’t allow it.”
The royal demon’s nostrils flared, and Mykel stepped forward, poised to attack Ruin, but Venna put her hand out to halt the guard. “I am not the only one asking for the demon shifter’s death. He killed Karn. Many want a piece of the hybrid.”
Ice shards pushed through my veins, tearing painful gashes, and panic sliced my chest open at images of Fane dead. Shudders rippled through my body, and it took everything I had to keep from doubling over.
What the hell was wrong with me? I shouldn’t care if they slaughtered Fane. He deserved it. He lied and betrayed me, sold me to the demon lord of Savannah.
I shouldn’t give a damn if anything horrible happened to him.
But I did.
Ruin’s barking laughter yanked me from the spiraling thoughts of Fane’s death. “I feel sorry for anyone you send after Fane Maverick. He’ll rip them to pieces before they realize he’s even close. Good luck with that, Venna.”
Her mouth thinned as she clenched her jaw. “I’m also after an ex-raven named Tatum Teague, the one Fane bit.”
Ruin brushed his lapel and gave a bored sigh. “And why are you so concerned with some woman he bit? Planning to use her as bait to get him?”
“I want to hear her scream while I carve off little pieces of her.” Her hands shook while her skin whitened, and her irises became black pits. “She killed my sister, and I want my revenge.”
Oh, shit.
“Ziva?” Ruin tapped his chin and stopped himself from looking in my direction. Clearly, he hadn’t known about that. “Killing her must have been quite a feat. Impressive.”
The royal demon who attacked me in the church got what she deserved. I’d do it a hundred times over if I had to.
Mykel stepped forward and snarled, his lips curling back to reveal jagged teeth. “Show some respect, Ruin, or I’ll make you.”
The humor melted from the demon lord as he angled toward the giant dux demon. “It’s Lord Ruin to you. And you should showmesome respect, or I’ll make you.” He cracked his neck. “It’ll be much more painful than anything you can handle.”
I swallowed hard at the power and danger throbbing from the demon lord. He might pretend to be all smiles and charm, but a monster hid beneath that pretty exterior.
Venna patted Mykel’s arm like he was a loyal pet before responding to Ruin. “I want Fane and the girl, and I’m not stopping until I find them.”
“You have no right to hunt anyone in my territory no matter what they’ve done.” Ruin rolled his shoulders and stood to his full height. “If I catch you making trouble here, you will be dealt with. I don’t care what title is attached to your name. Savannah is mine.”
Venna narrowed her eyes. “Unlike Karn, I’m a royal, and I outrank you. I can take Savannah if I want. And then you can’t protect your hybrid friend or his girl.”
