Page 58 of Empress of Ruin
I look at Mateo, who’s standing guard at the entry to the living room. He’s one of the two guards that follow me almost everywhere, even in the safety of the penthouse. “What’s going on?”
He doesn’t respond, instead turning and consulting with the new guys. Then, he comes back. “You need to go to the bedroom.”
I tense. “Don’t tell me what I do and don’t need to do.” I won’t tolerate orders from fucking hired guns. I’m barely learning to tolerate them from Killian.
Didn’t you take a bath when he told you to?
I ignore the voice in my head.
“What’s going on?” I repeat.
“Bedroom, now.” He walks forward until he’s hovering above me, arms crossed over his chest. “Boss’s orders.”
“Thebosscan fucking tell mehimself—”
The elevator opens again, and my heart drops all the way to my toes, missing at least four beats.
Killianis there, held up by Locke. His crisp white button-up issaturatedin his blood, and he’s listing heavily to one side.Dear god…
I’m on my feet in an instant, but Mateo stops me from rushing forward with a steely hand wrapped around my arm.
“Get yourfuckinghand off her!” Killian roars. “Nobodytouches her unless its life-or-death.”
Mateo releases me instantly, and I run up to Killian, just as another guard helps carry him towards thedining room.
“What the hell happened?” I cry.And why the hell do I care?
Why is the sight of him likethis, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, enough to make me feel terrified? What iswrongwith me?
But I can’t help my instincts, and my instincts drive me over to Killian’s side.
“Lyra,go to your room,” he hisses.
“Go fuck yourself,” I volley back. “I’m staying right here.”
“Little bird, you can’t—”
“I can and I will. The next person who tells me to go to my room like I’m a teenager is getting slapped.”
Killian’s lips twitch, but I can’t tell if it’s from pain or genuine amusement.
A man wearing a suit and carrying a clunky bag rushes in, rounding Killian. He sets the bag on the dining table by Killian’s side and opens it, immediately setting to work examining him. Of course Killian has an in-house doctor; why wouldn’t he?
I round on Locke. “What happened?”
Locke narrows his eyes at me. “Can’t you see we’re a little fucking busy—”
“What happened?” I demand, louder. “How could you let something happen to him? Are you fuckinginsane?”
“Jesus Christ. If you’re going to be hysterical about it, do it over here.” Locke reaches for me, but a growl from Killian makes his hand pause mid-air. He hides an eye roll and gestures for me to follow him.
In the living room, I demand, “Why is he bleeding and swaying? What the fuck happened?”
“An assassin came for him,” Locke responds, folding his arms over his chest.
My breath catches in my throat, and I go still. “What?”
“He lives in a dangerous world, and he’s making dangerous moves,” Locke grunts. “I should’ve seen this coming.”
