Ruin, The Turning by Lucian Bane Read Free Book Online Page B

trying to discern if he were surprised or concerned. All she got was a mask of unreadable anger.
    The sound began like a trickling of noise. One, then two gasps whispered across the crowd, slowly growing until each person wailed and moaned with some secret tragedy. The cacophony became terrifying and Isadore latched her hand in Sam’s, fear pumping through her heart.
    A small section of curtain parted and three forms entered. Oh God. Valkrin was in the middle.
    Ruin erupted in growling snarls, then roared in agony, dropping to his knees on the other side of Sam. She wanted to help him but she was useless and locked in terror. What were they going to do to them? Why were they there? Isadore's throat closed up at seeing the other two things with Valkrin. They appeared like twins, skin an iridescent orange, eyes like solid white marbles. Rivers of orange lava flowed from their heads in the form of hair, seeming embedded into the skin wherever it lay on their body. They appeared male but without muscle. Young and yet the same towering size of Valkrin. They wore no clothes except a flap of odd skin over their privates and staffs in their right hand, aglow with bright orange fire.
    “Well, well, if it isn’t my long lost brother.” Valkrin glanced at Isadore now and gave his slow seductive grin. “And his lovely little bride.” Isadore’s heart raced as she stared into those eyes once again, drawn without thought to what called to her. He winked and finally turned to Sam. “And his darling little syndesmos.” He stroked his long elegant fingers along Sam’s cheek who stood unmoving, unbothered it seemed. Where did he get his courage?
    “The seer,” both beings said at once in perfect unison, their voice like crystal in the wind.
    “A seer,” Valkrin said. “How quaint.” Though he appeared unbothered, something in his voice said he didn’t like that. Maybe that he didn’t know. What was a seer to him? “And what hath this seer seen?”
    “This, we cannot see.”
    Valkrin’s sharp gaze landed on the being at his right.
    “Something protects the seer.” They both spoke again in tinkly unison.
    Valkrin slowly turned back to Sam, a look of pure evil on his impeccably handsome face. “Does it.”
    “Shall we see how far this protection lies?” the two beings asked, sounding eager.
    Valkrin walked toward Isadore, his gaze locked on hers. “Please do.”
    Isadore fought not to let Valkrin’s close proximity get to her as she focused on the beings. They stood side by side, their staffs slowly crossing in perfect sync, like they moved by the same mind. When the staffs were an X, Ruin flew back through the air and landed some ten feet away while Sam remained still and unaffected.
    “Well, my brother isn’t protected I see.” Valkrin let out a low eager chuckle. “I wonder if that means his little princess isn’t either.” He kissed the top of Isadore’s head softly and she fought the full body tremble that took her.
    “What are you going to do?” Isadore finally managed.
    Valkrin turned his full attention to her, and Isadore was suddenly frozen by that blood red gaze. Her heart rate slowed and warmth trickled slowly over her spine like literal fingers. His arms went around her the same instant her legs turned to noodles, those fingers of heat now hot between the cheeks of her butt.
    Isadore gasped and grabbed the shoulders before her as that warmth moved in and out of her in a seductive motion.
    The roar seemed to fill her ear just as something large slammed into Valkrin, throwing him on the floor. Isadore gasped and made her way toward Sam as Ruin in his new form, roared above Valkrin. Isadore wiped at her tears at seeing Ruin this way. Is that what he’d done? Is that the price he paid for her? He was a black monster with six flaming red horns. Two protruded from his back and curved down to his legs, two protruded from his head in a fiery arch, and two bowed out at his sides, from his shoulders. His