ACEDIA: Love in Hell

10 - SWEET RUTHIE

VALEFAR

"All right, I'm going to need an explanation, chancellor." I narrow my eyes up at the purple fucker in my grip, his feet dangling below him as he claws at my wrist. "Well first, give me one good reason why I shouldn't decapitate you now, and then explain why you were choking my mate."

Donatien tries to speak, his serrated fangs snarling down at me, but I squeeze just a little harder before finally letting go. He falls to the ground, and Lamia is instantly behind him. One pair of arms holds his hands behind his back while the other gets him into a headlock. I turn my attention over to Ruth as she wipes tears from her cheeks and pulls herself up on wobbly legs. She looks less afraid and more angry, and a smile creeps its way on to my face.

"Now then. What the fuck are you doing in Ruth's room?"

"You don't want to harm me!" the incubus pleas. "Ifera will be very upset! He doesn't know I came here! You may start a war!"

I set a hoof between his legs before he can squeeze his knees together. "Answer the question."

"Oh, you know, having a bit of fun with the resident virgin! I couldn't help myself! She's just so delectable!"

"He wanted me to spy on you." Ruth snaps as she walks over, wrapping her arms around my waist and pouting up at me. I go to hug her, but then I get a glance at the lashes on her back. Her red blood oozes out of them, spreading into the remains of her dress. The skin is parted widely as if he had a blade at the end of his whip, and I dare say I can actually see some bone. That she is able to stand and speak and not double over in pain speaks to her strength and bravery. But all that blood, the way it trickles down to the small of her back, centering on the delicate line of her spine. My fangs elongate, and I'd lose all control if I wasn't brought back by the pang of guilt at what caused her wounds.

This is my mate, my love, and someone did this to her because I wasn't there to protect her. I take Ruth by the shoulders and slowly turn her around. Donatien licks his lips at his work.

"Heal her." I say to him. "I want no evidence you touched her on her skin."

"Will you let me go? Unharmed?"

I snarl a little, showing him my teeth. "Heal her."

Lamia lets go of his hands and he extends one out; his pink, twinkly magic reaching out to caress Ruth's back. It pulls the fat and muscle and skin together, knitting her tissue back in place. Ruth shudders as she feels his dark power on her, but Donatien smartly keeps working until there's not even a single bit of scar on her.

Once he's finished, I pull Ruth against me and run my fingers through her hair. "Of course I'm not going to let you go unharmed, you fool! I'll let Lamia have some fun with you before sending you back to your King."

"Just another mistake in the long string of them, Valefar!" He spits out in response. "Gaap is not someone you can be friends with, not someone you can mold to your liking! Whatever plans you have with him will have dire consequences!"

"Come, my dear." I usher Ruth out of her room, Lamia picking Donatien up and slamming a fist into his face before I shut the door.

Ruth holds the front of her dress up to her chest to keep it from gaping, her soft, auburn hair hiding her back but not the blood that's stained her skirt. "I'm sorry I hadn't gotten there sooner. Thankfully Lamia had placed one of her web traps on the floor to alert here when you'd return. She'd felt a second pair of feet and alerted me right away."

She waves a hand up at me, dismissing my guilt. "It's all right. Sorry I interrupted your make-out session with your sister."

"What?"