Page 61 of Empress of Ruin
“Twenty-five” he leans into my touch. “Don’t stop,” he says softly.
I hadn’t realized my hand froze mid-stroke, I continue on, motioning for him to lean forward so I can get his back.
“They didn’t do anything back then, but the dean was a low-ranking member, and he took note of me.”
“What determines low-rank versus high-rank?” I ask. “Time?”
“Sometimes. But especially powerful individuals that The Eyes want to recruit can earn a seat at the table very quickly, and become senior members in a matter of years.”
“Got it.” I help him lean back, inhale a deep breath, and start washing below the water, carefully trying to avoid his cock. If I touch him there, I’m certain he’ll take that as an invitation to fuck me, and he’s supposed to be resting.
“Fast forward a few years. I launch Helixon Biopharma, and it rapidly rises to success. The fundamentals of the company are rooted in sticking it to the rich and greedy, which helps it play well in the media, which in turn accelerates growth far beyond what I imagined.”
I let my eyes linger on his face. “The hypocrisy is stunning.”
“I suppose it is.” He smiles sardonically. “But, in a way, I did mean to make the world a better place—in my own way. I meant to stick it to the rich. And, in doing so successfully, I became just like them.”
At least he’s self-aware.
“Go on,” I encourage, tossing aside the washcloth and reaching for the shampoo.
“I was always ruthlessly ambitious,” Killian confesses. “But I didn’t ever quite intend to become so corrupt. Though, now that I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum—rich and poor—andlivedboth ways, I’d choose rich and corrupt every time.”
“I don’t think you would’ve had assassins sent after you had you remained poor.”
“Perhaps not, but I would’ve faced other life-threatening disadvantages.” A dark smile curves his lips. “Do you know I had the same disease that killed my grandfather? ATTR Amyloidosis.”
I freeze, gazing at him wide-eyed. Oh my god, is Killian ill? He doesn’t look it or act it, but—
“I had it cured years ago, utilizing medical technology created by Helixon scientists and doctors,” he goes on, and I nearly fall sideways with relief. I can evaluate how fucked up my reaction is later.
I fail to mask my shock. “I didn’t. That must be…” I shake my head. “A mindfuck.”
“And another way to stick it to the people who fucked him over. The Silas Cornell’s of the world, specifically.”
I swallow hard and start rinsing the shampoo out of his hair. “What disease?” I ask softly.
“ATTR amyloidosis,” he repeats. When I stare at him blankly, he half-smiles. “a misfolded protein made in the liver, eventually causing fatal cardiac and nerve issues if untreated. When my grandpa was alive, there was still treatment that could’ve helped him live a very long and healthy life—but we couldn’t afford it. Now, there’s a total cure. Gene-editing can solve the issue.” His smile grows. “Modern medicine really is miraculous.”
“It is,” I agree softly, finding his hand and squeezing. There’s no denying it; I’m glad he’s alive. I’m glad he survived the disease, and the assassination attempt tonight. I don’t want Killian to die.
“Back to The Eyes. I became very successful, very fast. They sent senior members to approach me. I ignored them at first, thinking it was a hoax, but after a while, agreed to go to a meeting to see what the fuss was about. First, I had to sign NDAs that threatened my life if I ever spoke about what I saw.” He laughs. “And what I saw was so incredibly fucked-up, itboggled evenmyjaded mind. The most powerful people alive, Lyra, working in congruence to benefit only themselves and their families. The corruption in this world runs deeper than I could’ve ever imagined. They invited me in as a junior member with fast track to seniority. More money, more influence, more power.”
“More ways to ensure you never regress to the poor boy you once were,” I surmise.
He meets my eyes again. “Exactly. After a while, I took them up on it. No one was more offended at my invite and subsequent rapid ascension to seniority than Silas. Typically, The Eyes don’t have more than one member from any given industry or political realm. My presence there was an existential threat to his weak hold on his power and company, and it didn’t help that I antagonized him every chance I got.”
“Because you held his type liable for what happened to your grandfather,” I add.
“Correct,” he nods. “For the sake of appearances and survival, Silas and I occasionally did each other favors. Played nice in public, and even in private sometimes. I think he grudgingly respects me, while I detest his very existence. Now, into the picture comesyou.” He reaches up to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “After years of antagonism, fucking with his money and his life, he wanted leverage on me. He’d wanted it for a long time, but there neverwasany before now. All my family members are dead. So, he locked onto you, and in doing so, finally earned the full force of my wrath. You know what I forced him to do to himself. Shortly after that, I put in a request to the Eyes…” he goes on to tell me exactly what Locke already did. I pretend it’s the first time I’m hearing the information, and the shock I let on when he talks about the threat tomylife is sincere. “Now he has backers much more powerful than he is—other members in The Eyes who dislike me for one reason or another.And they’ll try to use him to get rid of me… and by extension, you,” he finishes.
I swallow. “Can’t you just leave?”
“Oh, Lyra.” Killian smiles sadly. “The only way out of The Eyes is death.”
“Oh.” I inhale sharply. “Are there any exceptions?”
He thinks on that for a few beats. “Very rarely,” he admits. “Sometimes for members who have accrued a lot of good will and want to leave so they can retire. Aside from that, not so much.”
