Page 107 of Chasing Ruin
“What’s going on here?” I demand harshly.
“We’re drinking,” Charlotte snaps at me. “What—is that a crime?”
“He called you a traitor.” I jab a finger in his direction before moving toward him. “And why the hell are you drinking while on guard? In fact… how the fuck are you on her guard duty?”
“I-I… it was just a glass and—”
“I offered him,” Charlotte cuts in indignantly. “And how do you still not know how to control your stupid anger, you… you—you hairless Chihuahua!”
Then she shoves me away from Spike for good measure. I barely move but that’s probably because I’m stunned speechless.
Hairless Chihuahua? Is it because I have a buzz cut and no beard?
Christ. Only she has the power to drain my fury and turn me into a melting mess.
I glare at Spike when he coughs to hide his laugh. “You.” I hear a low, unfamiliar rumble from behind me.
Spike and Charlotte freeze, staring over my shoulder with wide eyes. Then I see what’s gotten them absolutely rigid in their skin.
Tudor. The silent, hulking shadow who’s been glued to Mihai since he walked in. The man hasn’t said a single word until now.
He’s staring straight at Spike. Expression blank. “Na?uis calling for you,” Tudor says evenly, before his gaze shifts to me. “You stay withprintesa.”
I turn fully, frowning at the sheer audacity. “You’ll need to tell me why you need Shane.”
“Wolf,” he replies simply, arms crossing over his massive chest. “Both call for him.Na?uand Wolf.”
Bullshit.
Behind me, there’s a subtle shuffle. Shane trying to slip past, quiet as ever.
I don’t even look—I just shoot my hand out, catching his arm mid-step. “Why?” I ask, eyes narrowing on Tudor.
Tudor’s gaze flicks from me to Shane. There’s the slightest twitch near his eye. Barely there. Easy to miss. “He will investigate other prospects,” he says, tone flat. “Since he is one. Come with me.”
Why the hell didn’t Wolf tell me himself?
The thought hits and then settles. Because he’s been laying traps. Because none of us are getting the full picture anymore. Because trust just got gutted out of this place.
Tudor, on the other hand, is either stupid enough to say things this plainly. Or confident enough not to care.
His lips twitch, just slightly. Like he caught the direction of my thoughts.
“Wolf trusts you,” he adds, watching me carefully. “So I told you. Wasn’t a secret,tovara?.”
The tension in my shoulders eases, just a fraction. I glance back at Shane. He’s already looking at me, questioning. Waiting.
“Shane,” Tudor rasps.
Shane startles a bit at his name. Just for a second. Then his gaze shifts to Tudor. Not wary. Notexactly. Something else flickers there.
Tudor doesn’t react. Just moves slightly to make space for Shane to follow him.
Then Shane exhales, finally stepping forward.
Tudor turns without another word and starts walking. His strides are long. Controlled. Shane follows half a step behind. Almost struggling to keep pace but not quite trying to match it either.
I turn to find Charlotte staring after them as they disappear down the hallway. Her lips are slightly puckered, caught in a small, absento.
