Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 205

Ruby froze for a moment, instinctively turning her head.

Not far away, Sylas stood with his usual playful glimmer gone from his eyes—now they were shadowed and dull, as if all light had been drained from them. His hand pressed tightly against his side, fist clenched so hard his knuckles whitened.

A sharp pang pricked at Ruby’s heart. Her lashes quivered and she quickly looked away.

But that flicker of turmoil in her gaze didn’t go unnoticed—Cassian caught it immediately, his eyes narrowing, his entire presence turning icy.

He forced her to face him and deepened the kiss.

In that fleeting moment when Ruby glanced back, she also spotted Gennifer, standing not far from Sylas.

Unlike Sylas, who still managed to keep up appearances, Gennifer's expression was openly ugly, practically twisted with anger.

Ruby could feel both their gazes burning into her back, two colliding storms threatening to overwhelm her. Her thoughts tangled in confusion, and for just a second, her lips parted in surprise.

Cassian seized on her slip, pushing forward without hesitation.

Outside, night had fallen deep and indigo, making the warmly lit bay window stand out like a beacon. The entwined figures by the glass were impossible to miss.

Sylas stood frozen, every muscle rigid, his eyes nearly wild. But when footsteps stopped behind him, he mastered his emotions in an instant, leaving nothing but icy indifference.

“So, you like Ruby?”

Gennifer’s voice shook with fury, a wild idea suddenly sparking in her mind—maybe it was time to join forces with her unlikely rival.

Sylas didn’t even look up. “What business is that of yours?”

Gone was the light, teasing warmth he showed Ruby. Now, Sylas was all distant chill, like a snow-capped mountain behind glass—imposing, unreachable, and cold enough to make anyone shiver.

Gennifer felt a strange tightness in her chest, but the couple upstairs were still entwined, fueling her jealousy until her eyes stung. She took a reckless breath. “We could work together. If Cassian divorces Ruby, you’d be free to pursue her, wouldn’t you?”

She looked at Sylas with confidence.

Once the figures below disappeared, Ruby accidentally stepped on Cassian’s expensive, custom-made leather shoes.

Cassian sucked in a sharp breath but showed no sign of anger. In fact, his eyes glinted with a sly, almost predatory amusement—there was a hint of indulgence in the way he watched her, as if he enjoyed her rebellion.

A chill ran down Ruby’s spine. She stumbled back several steps, putting distance between them.

The absurdity of what had just happened clung to her mind like sticky paste, tangling her thoughts.

Ruby couldn’t even name the emotion twisting inside her. She shot Cassian a glare before darting away.

This time, Cassian didn’t chase after her. He simply stayed where he was.

After a long while, he lifted a hand and pressed it to his lips.

He could almost swear her warmth still lingered there.