Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             ‘And eventually kill her.’

                             Go away.

                             They don’t. Their voices echo in my head like a chant. Their mind eyes gape at Mae’s porcelain skin. Hypothetically ripping her apart. They dance to her screams and bathe in her blood.

                             It disgusts me.

                             The mere memory of her bloodied face sends my temper raging. I refuse to do something remotely similar. But with the persistent way the demons chant, it’s only a matter of time before I’m driven crazy. Where are the soft voices when I need them? Were they finally driven to their demise?

                             ‘Are you going to fight us over some girl?’ Frost seeps into my veins at the shadow of Aunt Ariel’s voice. ‘Will you jeopardise your well-being for an insect?’

                             You’re dead. Leave me alone, Aunt.

                             ‘Not until you do the right thing. I didn’t sacrifice myself for you to become pathetic.’ I can almost see the scowl on her face— thankfully I don’t.

                             A soft moan pulls me from the hypothetical war with my dead family members. Mae’s sleepy face morphs into a little smile as she sits up in bed. She tucks some of her rebel strands back. My fingers twitch to do the same.

                             She’s so beautiful I yearn to devour her whole. In every bloody aspect.

                             “Are we going horse riding?” she asks, voice joyful.

                             I refrain from clearing my throat at being caught off guard. “No.”

                             She releases an exasperated sigh. All the excitement washes away to leave place for a scowl. Witnessing her fast changeable facial expressions sends a curious sensation through my veins. It’s similar to the rush of hunting. If not more powerful.

                             “It’s been five days since I’ve seen Silver and Jet.” Her voice has an edge to it. “I miss them.”

                             I make a beckoning sign. “Come with me.”

                             Mae narrows her eyes, pinches the bridge of her nose, but the kitten in her asks, “Where?”

                             With one last glance, I exit her room. She follows me, her steps are quiet. Careful. As if afraid I’m leading her to her hanging— which I should have done the day I met her. I wouldn’t be in this internal chaos if I’d finished her in the alley or the day after.

                             All this mess clouding my head is a payment for my impulse to keep her. After all these years, I invited a weakness into my life.

                             And now, I don’t know what to do about her.

                             I open the door to the room she occupied before.

                             “No.” Mae halts, gluing herself to the wall. “I won’t go in there again.”

                             Silence pulses between us for a few seconds as she studies my face. “Why did you bring me here, anyway?” She looks at me with her kitten eyes. She doesn’t seem scared, or perhaps her curiosity swallowed her fear along the way.