God of Ruin (Legacy of Gods, #4)

by Rina Kent

But since I can’t and possibly never will, I sign, “I’m yours, Landon.” I watch with bated breath as the rage slowly dissipates, leaving a place for an avalanche of lust and savage possessiveness.

It’s like we belonged together several lives ago and we’re just reuniting.

“Hold on to me, little muse. Quench this fucking thirsty rage inside me.” His words sound sinister in my neck. “You’re the only one who knows how.”

“Shh. Relax for me.” His rhythm slows but deepens, hitting my G-spot over and over again.

“That’s it. You’re taking my cock so well, baby.”

However, everything quiets down when Landon leans over, pushes away my hair and ribbons from my face, and whispers, “Fucking mine.” I am. But then again, so is he.

A soft hand touches mine and I lift my head to meet the eyes of my own Greek goddess. The muse I didn’t know I needed until she stood in front of me in the darkness like a perfect imitation of a statue.

Was she always so fucking beautiful or am I falling harder onto that bottomless hole?

“What if I never change and continue being difficult and too much myself.” “That’s what I’m counting on. Don’t ever change. You’re perfect the way you are.”

Maybe this time, I’ll paint her pretty little body as I fuck her on all fours on the canvas. Or maybe I’ll sketch something on her back while I fuck her senseless. I’m nothing less than versatile when it comes to fucking and art. Combine the two together and you get a recipe for guaranteed success.

But it’s too late. We soon realize that we’re both soaking wet. We look at each other, pause, and then burst out in laughter.

Eli Not to mention, give him a dedicated section on some people’s shit list. He’s too blasé for his own good. He doesn’t know how to keep his thoughts and tacky jokes to himself. For the record, you’re not funny, Remi. Creighton I agree. No clue why girls think of him as funny.

the way they all hate him bc their girlfriends all think hes funny

I often catch her looking at anything that casts a reflection—mirrors, the refrigerator door, the glass top table—opening and closing her mouth as if she’s trying to speak. She’s probably doing it subconsciously since she usually looks startled whenever she takes note of the situation. That happens during sex as well. Twice now, she’s opened her mouth, struggled, and then only released a guttural scream.

I was only living, never truly alive. I was so caught up in my childhood tragedy that I let it shackle and dictate how I should live my life.

I slip from beneath his hold and steal a gun from one of the other guards. I point it at Ilya and motion to the side.

“You really thought we’d take the truce and let you mess around with my sister? My fucking sister? I’ll kill you before you put your hands on her again.” “Then do it.” Landon’s provocative grin disappears. “That’s the only way you’ll keep me away from her.”

“Go ahead,” Landon says tonelessly and without emotion. “You can break the other one as well while you’re at it. But I’ll always touch her, even with casts on. She’s mine and neither of you motherfuckers will decide otherwise.”

“Is it okay?” I sign, gulping the lump in my throat. Landon doesn’t even check if his wrist is okay as he grabs my cheek with his good hand. “You’re not going any-fucking-where. You understand me?”

“Oh, so I’m the problem? Okay, then, fine. Let me remove myself from the situation so it’s better for everyone.” She jerks up and leaves.

yes. do that you annoying skank

“He learned sign language for me and helped me set up my own garden. He also plays chess with me and cooks my favorite pasta. He also drives me insane by being so socially and mentally different. But I’m taking my time getting to know him better and he’s letting me in.”

“Highly doubtful. You were always mine, Mia. We just hadn’t met yet.”

“I love you,” I sign before I can even think about it.

The day I picked him up from the Heathens’ mansion, he looked both monstrous and shell-shocked. He mentioned you promised to leave him so Nikolai wouldn’t break his wrist. He looked me in the eye and said, “You told me to act against my instinct and try to understand what she thinks instead of what my beast dictates. We have a problem, Bran. I think Mia is the one who doesn’t understand and could use your boring lessons. If she truly ends things between us to save my art career, I’ll cut my own wrist and send the evidence of self-mutilation to her fucking brother via post. Perhaps if I do that, she’ll finally understand which one is more important.”

crying

I’ve only ever known Lan as an artist. Sculpting is what puts a leash on his demons, even if temporarily. So the fact that he’s willing to give that up for you is colossally important. Maybe it’s not that he doesn’t know how to love, it’s more of a case that he does it differently.

What was an innocent request became the reason for my childhood trauma.

“Landon, noooo!” I shriek as a shot rings in the air.

I didn’t only scream his name, but I was also ready to take the bullet for him if I could.

“Say my name again.” He grinned as he wiped my tears away. That’s the last thing he muttered before he lost consciousness.

“Give me back my voice for the last eleven years of my life.”

I always thought Maya was the closest to me, but she didn’t care for me unconditionally, Landon did.

“Oh, honey.” She pulls me in for a hug and I can feel her sniffling in my neck. “I’m so happy to finally hear your voice again.”

“Yeah. What are you trying to do?” “Coming to see you.” “But you’ve been shot!” “Why should that stop me?”

He strokes my hair behind my ear. “Fuck. I knew I’d love your voice since the first time I heard you whisper.”

“Because I don’t like to label what I feel for you as love. This”—he points between us—“is much more potent and twisted than mere love. If loving someone means letting them go and wishing them happiness with someone else, then I don’t subscribe to that definition. But if love means protecting and wanting to take care of you till my dying day, then I love you more than anyone has ever loved another human being.”

He takes my hands in his bigger ones, leans his forehead against mine, and closes his eyes.

Without art, I’m nothing but a serial killer in the making. Ever since you came along, not only have you pushed my creativity to heights I never imagined would be possible, but you also filled up the emptiness with your stubborn submissiveness and stupid flowers with names. While I can’t possibly be your Prince Charming—and rightly so, since he’s an overrated idiot—and I can never be neurotypical, whether genetically or mentally, I promise you this, Mia. I’ll always see your perspective before mine, not because I have to, but because I want to. I’m in for the long haul.”

I grab his face with both hands and whisper against his mouth, “I love you, Lan.” He inches closer until his lips nearly brush against mine. “And I love you, Mia. Forever.”

“Don’t underestimate the role of a muse. Some say it’s inseparable from our souls.” Why do I like the thought of being part of Lan’s soul? Probably because I’m as possessive as he is and want to engrave myself inside him as deep as he’s inside me.

“Uncle, meet Mia. The future queen to my kingdom.”

“Thank you for letting me into your world.” “Thank you for being my world.” “Thank you for helping me get my voice back.” “Thank you for letting me hear it.”

“For the record, I still don’t like you.” “I don’t like you either.” “The solution is simple. Leave my sister.” “Only if you leave my cousin.” “No.” “We’ll agree on that, then.” I meet Glyn’s gaze, which looks so done with their shit, and we both roll our eyes.

So, I might have gone a bit overboard and instead of producing one masterpiece, I have a few. Or more like thirty of them. The subject and the exhibition’s name? The Mystery of a Muse.

Turns out, I was the problem and the drama king. Shocker, I know.

“You’re the reason this masterpiece exists.” I lower myself to one knee and pull out the ring that I had custom-made from a rare jewel that matches her eye color. “You’re not only my muse, but also the sole reason I create anymore. You don’t complete me, you fill me up with your hope, determination, and constant nagging. But I digress. Only slightly, though.” I let my charming smile show through. “I used to believe I didn’t have a soul, but it turns out, I just needed you to fill it up. Now that I found you, I can’t and won’t live without you. Mia Sokolov, would you marry me?”

Tears shine in her eyes as she gets on her knees in front of me and nods frantically, then signs, “I love you.” “Is that a yes?” I sign back. “Yes. A million times yes, Lan.” I slide the ring on her finger and then kiss her in the middle of cheers, hoots, and camera flashes from everywhere. As we break apart, I whisper, “I love you, too.” I know how much she needs to hear that, and while I don’t believe in love as an emotion, I believe in her. My woman. My muse. My forever.

CRYING