Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             The first crack to her unavoidable decimation will be a mesmerising view. If I let the hounds or the jaguars shred her apart, I suspect it would present a similar pleasure contrast to tormenting her with her fear of darkness. She should’ve never expressed her weakness in front of me.

                             Although the logical thing is to let her rot in there for a few more days, I can’t seem to stay away.

                             Since the dungeon room’s cameras aren’t night-equipped, I can’t even watch from a distance. Not seeing her for a day sat ill with me in a way I don’t even like admitting to myself.

                             When I open the door, darkness and a cool smell of dampness greet me. I click the remote switch in my pocket. The lamp springs to life, casting light over the room and onto a human corpse on the floor.

                             The first thought is...blankness. Then, a rush of something I can’t recognise hits me with a flipping force.

                             Mae lies in a foetal position, silky strands of hair cocoon her face, masking her features.

                             Is she dead?

                             Trembles erupt in her limbs as if answering my question.

                             After putting the supplies at the corner, I crouch by her head and remove the hair off her face. Ghostly pale skin peeks from underneath the blond strands, glistening with a mixture of sweat and tears. Her eyes are sealed shut with obvious effort. The fullness of her lips trembles, causing her teeth to chatter.

                             A panic attack?

                             Huh. The dark did play its trick on her. More than enough.

                             “It’s over, little deer.” I shake her shoulders. “Open your eyes.”

                             A few seconds tick by before she complies. The blueness of her puffy eyes greets me in its most miserable form. The bright colour almost fades into Kane’s dull blue.

                             I don’t like it.

                             Why the hell am I not liking this?

                             I shouldn’t care if she’s losing the gleam that shined so brightly in those oceans of blue, and yet, here I am, needing them to go back the way they were.

                             What the hell is wrong with me.

                             In a swift movement, her arms wrap around my neck, her face buries into the crook of my shoulder.

                             What in the gates of hell...?

                             Unable to hold my balance, I stagger and fall backwards. My arse hits the cold ground with impact.

                             What is she doing?

                             My reflexes shoot to throw her away, but for some reason, my arms don’t move. I remain still at the feel of her trembling body. Her chest plasters against mine, the dampness of her face soaks the collar of my shirt.

                             “Please don’t throw me in the dark again,” she whispers, her voice quivering and weak. “I’ll do anything you want. I promise.”

                             Fuck.