Page 62 of His Ruin
The future Pahkan’s eyes soften at the sight of her. “Hey, Princess Melody.”
She takes them into a tight hug, unaware of the deadly warning I’m silently shooting my friends. Ivan stares at me, that knowing look never fading. Saint smirks over my sister’s shoulder, his gaze narrowing on me.
They know I haven’t told her.
When Melody draws back, they plaster on kind smiles, keeping her oblivious to the real reason for this visit.
“We were making Alfredo. It’s almost done.” She smiles.
“I fucking love Alfredo,” Saint muses as he pushes past me with a pat on my shoulder.
“I hope we aren’t imposing,” Ivan says, tilting his head at me.
“Not at all,” Melody sings as she dips off into the kitchen, leaving the future Pahkan and me standing in the entrance of my parents’ home.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I whisper with venom.
Ivan’s eyes narrow into something dangerous. “Playing house after your first kill? She has no idea that only hours ago, you proudly wore the blood of the innocent on your hands. Have you touched her?” He steps closer, leveling our faces. “Have those hands been on her, Kaden?”
My jaw flexes. “That’s none of your concern.”
“As your Pahkan, it is.” He says quietly. “I told you not to drag her further into this, but you don’t listen.”
“Are you blackmailing me?”
His chin tilts as consideration passes behind his eyes. “No. I don’t need to stoop to that level. This is a friendly visit—a reminder.”
My brows draw deeply. “A reminder? Of what?”
His lips quirk into something sinister. “Of what you’ll do tonight.”
My whole world stops spinning. Everything slams into stillness as the wind is sucked from me. I don’t think—breathe—before my friend leans close so only I can hear him.
“Midnight,” he whispers. “Enjoy what little time you have left. You won’t be seeing her again.”
His words hit like a stabbing blade, cutting through my chest as I stare unseeingly at the ajar door. My whole world has just shattered before my very eyes, and he knows it.
Chapter thirty
Melody
Thehouseisbuzzingwith Kaden’s friends, and the company is welcome. It’s been a while since I saw Saint or Ivan, and I whisk through the kitchen as Saint sits on the island.
“You should let me give you your first tattoo,” he suggests.
I shoot him a playful scowl. “Tattoos aren’t really my thing. I hate needles.”
He chuckles, shoving his curls out of his face. “True. I remember when Kaden had to go to your last doctor’s appointment to make sure you didn’t pass out.”
“I still did,” I muse. “He had to carry me back out to the car.” My chest warms at the memory. I woke up to him ordering me an iced coffee and holding my hand over the center console as if he was afraid to let go of me. All of the signs were there from the very beginning, but I was too ignorant to realize it. Somehow, inside of myself, I think I knew, but couldn’t get past the sibling aspect of our relationship.
I’m glad I finally moved past it. This budding relationship feels so unshakable—as if this was always meant to be between us. It has me thinking of our future. Long nights where we cook together, Kaden being there for the opening of my first flower shop, and the potential patterning of little feet in our shared home. It’s a dream that’s become clearer with every passing day, and I can’t seem to stop replaying it over and over again.
He’s it for me.
As I cut the stove, I shoot Saint a glance. “Can you set the table?”
“Of course, Princess Melody,” he salutes, hopping down before grabbing some plates from the cabinet.
