Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 224

A cold shiver swept over Ruby. She swallowed hard, mind gone utterly blank with terror.

That looming figure in the darkness…

A bear…

Her legs went weak beneath her, despair slowly creeping in from the edges of her heart.

Was she really about to escape a killer’s grasp, only to fall prey to a wild animal?

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

She’d already begun composing her last wishes in her head when, suddenly, a pair of clear, innocent eyes flashed through her mind.

Her heart lurched.

Mira.

Ruby’s hand clenched tight.

If something truly happened to her, what would become of Mira?

Steeling herself, she grit her teeth. A surge of reckless courage flooded her veins—a courage born in the face of death.

She was just about to risk everything and make a desperate dash for her life when—

“Rocking horse…”

A small, childish voice rang out, piercing the hush of the wilderness.

Ruby froze.

That sounded just like Mira’s voice.

She was still young, couldn’t pronounce words clearly, and always called her “rocking horse” instead of “mommy.”

Ruby’s thoughts spun in chaos. Before she could react, the shadow behind her moved, lunging toward her in an instant.

She barely had time to widen her eyes, let alone run.

She squeezed them shut as the scent of tobacco—rich and smoky—filled her senses, followed by the unmistakable heat of another body.

All fear and confusion evaporated from her mind.

A man wrapped his arms tightly around her, his face buried in the crook of her neck, as if he’d just recovered something precious he’d thought lost forever.

“Cassian…?” she whispered, dazed.

He answered with a muffled, “Yeah,” voice rough with emotion, and only hugged her tighter.

It wasn’t until Ruby started struggling for breath and thumped his back with her fists that Cassian finally loosened his hold, just enough to shift from an embrace to gripping her wrist.

His eyes were fever-bright and wild, but when they met Ruby’s gaze, he forced himself to stay calm, suppressing the storm raging inside him.

She tried to pull free, frowning in frustration, but his grip didn’t budge.

“You…”

Ruby wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat when she looked into his eyes. Suddenly, she couldn’t speak at all.

The two of them stood in the moonlight, eyes locked.

Pale beams floated around them, weaving a silvery veil that blurred the line between reality and dream.

Ruby’s heart felt as if someone had dropped a stone into a still pond.

In that gaze, she thought she saw something like love, but she knew it had to be an illusion.

Blinking quickly, she looked away. “How did you find me?”

“GPS,” Cassian replied, voice hoarse, lashes lowered as he stared at her slender wrist where his hand still held her fast.

Bathed in moonlight, Ruby looked almost like a benevolent goddess from some ancient legend—beautiful, serene, and full of grace.

Cassian’s gaze was fixed on her, his eyes shadowed and intense.

He swallowed, looking down to hide the flicker of emotion that passed through his expression.

“It’s late. Let’s go home,” he said softly.

Two simple words—“go home”—should’ve sounded ordinary, but in this moment, they felt like a promise, warm and full of meaning.

For once, Ruby didn’t argue. She nodded.

But as she lifted Mira into her arms and turned to get in the car, she stopped short.

“The man who abducted me today is a serial killer.”

The air around them seemed to freeze.

Ruby pressed her lips together, speaking calmly to Cassian for the first time since her release from prison.

Bennett’s eyes went wide. Seeing Ruby safe and sound, his respect for her only deepened.

Cassian’s gaze never left Ruby, a wave of dread passing over him.

“And?” he prompted, realizing she had more to say.

“I want to investigate. There have already been so many victims. He’s arrogant, too—claims he has a doctor’s note for insanity, and that no one can touch him.”

Cassian frowned, then let out a cold laugh. “‘No one can touch him?’”

Ruby’s eyes flickered. A moment later, Cassian turned to meet her gaze. “What do you want me to do?”

Caught off guard by how quickly he’d seen through her, Ruby felt a flush of embarrassment.