Ruin Sitting on this plush private jet on our way to Greece, I can’t help but notice Chloe Jane’s been more of a caged lion than her usual self. She’s been up and down the aisle for the last hour, and it’s clear as day she’s feeling the pull towards wherever it is we’re headed. “Chloe, love, you need to try and relax. We’ve still got a ways to go,” I say, attempting to sound calm despite the worry gnawing at me. She stops pacing, gives me a look that’s half-apology, half-frustration.. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just... I feel it, Deacon. It’s like it’s calling to me.” I nod, understanding but feeling bloody helpless. “Alright, but at least sit down for a bit, yeah? You’ll wear yourself out before we even get there.” She hesitates for a moment, then finally settles down next to me, her leg bouncing with nervous energy. She lets out a deep sigh, trying to find some semblance of calm in the storm brewing inside her. I watch her, wishing there was more I could do to ease her tension. “
Chloe JaneAs I take the steps toward the Sanctuary, each one feels like it’s leading me further from Deacon and yet closer to a part of myself I’ve yet to fully understand. My heart is a tangled mess of anticipation and fear as I walk. The air grows cooler, the scent of ancient stone and earth mixing with the crisp mountain breeze.Reaching the top, I pause, taking a deep breath before stepping into the marble structure. It’s more majestic up close, the craftsmanship speaking of ages past. Inside, the air hums with a quiet power. It’s more beautiful than in my dreams, and for a moment, I’m overwhelmed by the weight of what I’m about to undertake.As I step into the courtyard, I’m greeted by four women, one of who I met in my dreams before and each exuding a presence that’s both commanding and comforting. They are the previous Spinners, the ones who’ve walked this path before me, guardians of a tradition that now rests on my shoulders.“Welcome, Chloe Jane,” says the first, her voice
Ruin“What the fuck, Ruin?”I drop the vamps heart to the ground and stomp on it before turning around and facing Blight, who’s wearing a look of disbelief in his face. Looking around at the surrounding carnage that I created, I can’t help but chuckle.“Oh, come off it, I thought you liked a little violence,” I say as I roll my eyes.“Yeah, carnage when it’s warranted, not…whatever the fuck this is,” he says, gesturing the the bodies strewn about. “Besides, this was supposed to be a quick pickup. What the hell happened?”I shrug. “They came at me when I threatened the nest leader. I was simply defending myself.”“Defending yourself, my ass. You better explain this to Ryker before he decides to stop sending you out,” Blight says, shaking his head. The anger in his eyes seems to dissipate as he sighs, then he looks at me again. “Listen, if this is about Chloe Jane—”“It’s not,” I growl and walk past him but he grabs my upper arm. “Let go of me, mate.”“Not until you’ve calmed the fuck d
Chloe JaneI can spin Threads of Fate without the need for sleep, and even though I remember everything, I do not feel tired. My mind doesn’t feel foggy anymore, there’s no exhaustion and I don’t feel drained. Aria’s training helped me with that. It took a while, but I’ve finally mastered it. She told me I’m ready for the next stage with Brigid, but I’m not sure what that could be. “Chloe Jane, follow me,” Brigid says after I’ve finished my tea one afternoon. I’ve been curious about what she has to teach me, now it seems my time has come.Following her feels like stepping into a different world, one where the air itself seems to thrum with life and energy. She leads me to an open space within the Sanctuary, a place where the sun filters through the leaves, painting everything in warm, golden hues. It feels like we’re in the heart of nature’s own cathedral.“Here,” Brigid begins, her voice carrying the warmth of a gentle fire. “I will teach you about the passion that fuels destiny. F
Chloe JaneAfter my enlightening time with Brigid, my training with Cerys starts. She’s a woman whose presence seems as solid and dependable as the earth itself. Her eyes, a deep green, remind me of a forest untouched by time, and her voice carries the calm assurance of the ground beneath our feet.“Chloe Jane,” she greets me, her smile warm but her gaze assessing. “Today, we start grounding you to the earth. Your power is immense, but without a strong foundation, it can overwhelm you.”I nod, understanding the importance of what she’s saying. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve come to realize that being a Spinner is about balance as much as it is about weaving fates.“I understand. I’ve felt... unmoored, at times. Like I’m not quite in control.”“That’s what we’ll work on,” Cerys assures me. “Control, yes, but also resilience. The earth endures because it knows how to adapt, how to stand firm. You must learn to do the same.”“We’ll also work on your self-defense, in both your hum
Chloe JaneAs soon as my foot crosses the threshold back into the Sanctuary, a veil seems to fall over my eyes, plunging me back into darkness. My heart races, panic clawing at its edges. It’s been weeks since I’ve been blind, weeks since I felt this vulnerable, this helpless.The sounds around me are amplified—a slithering that seems too close, a low growling that sends shivers down my spine. I freeze, not knowing which way to turn, my recent training forgotten in the face of sudden fear.“What’s happening?” I whisper into the darkness, my voice quivering with fear.“You’ve forgotten so soon, Chloe Jane?” Diantha’s voice echoes through me. “The darkness is where fate hides its deepest secrets, where your true test begins.”I swallow hard, trying to steady my racing heart. “I... I thought I was ready,” I manage to say, the admission tasting bitter on my tongue.Diantha’s laugh is a cold whisper in the dark. “Readiness is an illusion, child. Here, in the shadows, is where you’ll confro
Chloe Jane“Deacon!” I scream, dropping to my knees beside him. I don’t hear a heartbeat, and his eyes are wide open in shock. “No, no, no!”Frantically, I try everything I’ve learned, everything I can think of to help him, but it’s no use. I think back to Deacon’s threads, trying to find his so I can change his fate, but I can’t seem to find it. Tears stream down my face as I realize I can’t save him… Deacon is gone, and with that realization, I feel a painful tug in my chest, our bond snapping.Abruptly, I wake up again, back in the pack house, as if nothing had happened. I rush out to find Deacon again, and he’s in the same spot with his back to me. But then the cycle repeats: the joyful reunion, Deacon’s sudden collapse, my futile attempts to save him. Each time, the pain of losing him feels as raw and devastating as the first. I feel the snapping of our bond, only to wake up in our bed again.My heart aches with a familiar dread, the cycle of loss and despair feeling endless, i
Ruin It’s taken me a few months, but I finally have Edward strung up in the basement. The fucker has been lying low, thinking we’ve forgotten about him. We were notified when he tried to board a plane last night; Ryker’s reach and all that.“What are you gonna do to him?” Ryker asks as he hands me a glass of bourbon. We’re in his office right now, running over a few contingency plans since the war has escalated.“Ask him a few questions and hope for his sake that he answers them truthfully,” I say with a shrug of my shoulder. “Maybe Ivan promised him more than riches and the presidency.”“You don’t seem to be in a hurry with your questioning, since the fucker has been strung up for the last twenty-four hours,” he says with a chuckle as he sips on the amber liquid.Truth is, I wasn’t. He’s captured and waiting for me to torture him, there’s no rush to kill him just yet. “I’m taking my time and letting him really marinate in his fear before I go down there again,” I say, downing the a