Page 27 of A Crown of Ruin


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“Stop flirting with me in front of my brother,” he replied.

Her nostrils flared. “I am not flirting with you.”

“Yeah, you are.” Some of the color was returning to his face as his gaze met mine. “You’re gonna need to let go.”

I would love to, however… “Do you have her under control?”

Malik’s mouth opened. That was as far as he got.

“Him? Havemeunder control?” Her laugh was harsh and quick. “Are you both for real?”

Snaking the arm she’d threatened to hurt around her waist, Malik nodded at me.

I lifted my fingers, one at a time. Stepping back, I pushed down the irritation as I saw that they were now struggling in front of me. The sack was behind them. “Can you two do that about a foot to the left or right?”

“I’m trying—” Malik grunted as her elbow slammed into his stomach. “Gods.”

I raised a brow as I felt Kieran’s presence. “Try faster.”

“You aren’t trying shit,” she hissed as he clamped his other arm around her, pinning hers down. “Let me go—”

“Or you’ll maim me,” he interrupted, narrowly avoiding a direct hit to the face when she threw her head back. “I know. I know.”

“Faster,” I urged. The essence pressed against my flesh as footsteps pounded.

Malik started to step to the side, dragging a kicking and thrashing Millicent with him. “That’s what I’m—”

“Don’t!” Kieran shouted, rounding the corner into the hall.

Malik froze as his head turned to Kieran.

Millicent, however, did not. Grabbing the arm around her waist, she pulled her legs to her chest, then swung her body forward. Malik started to tip the same way.

I sighed, eyes rolling as my patience ran out. I lifted a hand. With a flick of the wrist, I sent them both sliding sideways. Malik grunted out a curse as they hit the floor in a tangle of legs that had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Millicent. Whatever. Worked for me.

My gaze focused on the strands of golden hair. I stepped forward—

Without warning, what felt like heated wind slammed into me, lifting me off my feet and flinging me back. I hit the wall and dropped but landed upright. My head snapped to the left.

Kieran stood there, golden threads of essence streaking through his eyes and swirling along his beige-brown skin. Behind him, his father had jerked to a halt, nearly causing Attes to crash into him as the struggling on the floor ceased.

“The wolf’s got fancy new tricks,” Millicent murmured. A pause and then, “So, the three of you did get it on, then.”

Jasper frowned at her.

“Hi.” Millicent wiggled an arm free, giving Jasper a rather jaunty wave. “Me again.” Her hand froze as Attes glanced in their direction, then looked again, brows lifting. “Uh.”

“You look just like…” the Primal muttered. “Fuck me.”

“Okay,” Millicent replied, and Malik’s jaw clenched hard enough to crack molars.

Attes shook his head, blinking. He opened his mouth, but I didn’t have time for this. Pushing off the wall, I started forward.

Kieran was in front of me in a heartbeat.

I stopped, glancing behind him. “Do you know who is in that sack?”

“I do,” he answered.