Ruin (Rhodes #1) by Rina Kent

                             Kane shakes his head. “They’re not allowed near your quarters, Sir.”

                             My lungs extend, releasing a breath.

                             Am I to be paranoid the entire time now?

                             A fireball of rage erupts in my veins. My left eye twitches. Mae asked for this.

                             ‘I told you so.’ Aunt laughs.

                             ‘Me too.’ Father yawns.

                             “Anything else?” My voice takes an urgent tone that Kane knows all too well.

                             “Nothing of importance, Sir.”

                             I storm to the stables. This is going to be a long afternoon for someone.

                             The stable boy greets me. “Do you need me to prepare Jet, Sir?”

                             “No need.” I pass by him to my nickering horse.

                             His neck extends above the trails, reaching out for me. I caress it. “Want to go for a ride?”

                             He nickers in answer, and I open his stall to release him. He comes out wiggling his tail. I attach reins to his neck and mount him bare-backed.

                             “Let’s fetch a friend, Jet.” I kick him, and he rears into the afternoon sun. “Go!”

                             Long pine trees and vast grassed ground blur as Jet sprints towards the far end of the estate.

                             Air blows my hair back and I clutch the reins in a relaxed grip, letting Jet go at full speed. As the freezing wind bites my skin, I fantasise about the terror that will soon reside the mouse’s enchanting eyes. It’s almost as enticing as the spouting of arterial blood.

                             Once we reach our destination, I hop off Jet’s back and pat him. “Wait here.”

                             I enter the password to the protected fortress’s door. Once it clicks open, I slip inside and close it behind me.

                             My hands reach to the survey note glued on the door, updated every two hours. They already ate. Good.

                             My feet glue to the grass in a wide stance before I lift two fingers to my mouth and release a long whistle.

                             Before I finish, a shadow of a big black cat dashes through the trees in a blurry speed. It takes seconds before his large paws lies on my chest and knock me onto the ground. My head hits the grass as his licks shower my face.

                             I wince and use my hands to sit up. My eyes meet Knight’s darker ones. “I told you to work on your welcoming method, Knight.”

                             He licks my neck and nuzzles his head at my chest.

                             Not long after, King and Zen appear from behind the bush in a similar speed. They knock me all over again. My hair becomes wet from their licks. Not the best sensation.

                             After some struggles to keep them off, I stand and dust off my clothes.