Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 441

Hayley was the first to spot him. “Sylas! Perfect timing—we’re about to grab lunch. Do you want to—”

“Rue.”

Sylas moved as if no one else existed; in a heartbeat, he reached out and took Ruby’s hand.

The sudden contact made Ruby’s skin prickle with goosebumps. She instinctively tried to pull away, but then heard a voice she knew all too well.

“Sylas?”

She stared at him, startled by the urgency on his face.

Coming to a halt, she asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Weren’t you looking for Cassian? Did something—”

Before she could finish, everything went dark.

Sylas had already pulled her into his arms.

Garrison, who was closest, immediately realized what was happening. He started to step between them, but Sylas bent down, slid his arms beneath Ruby’s knees, and swept her up, shooting Garrison a menacing glare.

That look—dark and cold—was nothing like the easygoing, wild charm Sylas usually wore.

“What—what are you doing?!” Ruby’s voice rose as the ground dropped away beneath her. She had no choice but to cling to Sylas’s neck for balance.

But Sylas acted as if he didn’t hear her at all.

With purposeful strides, he carried her straight to the car she’d parked outside. The wind whipped past them as he leaned in close and murmured in her ear, “Rue, unlock the door.”

Ruby’s eyes went wide. “Put me down!”

He only held her tighter, locking eyes with her.

It was only then that Ruby realized just how strange Sylas was acting.

“What is going on with you?” she asked, frowning.

“Just unlock the door first,” Sylas said softly, his tone coaxing, almost pleading.

She could feel his breath hot against her ear, and warmth crept up her neck, staining her cheeks pink. Biting her lip, face tense, she nonetheless did as he asked and unlocked the car.

Sylas slid her inside, then slammed the door shut behind them.

Ruby barely had time to process before he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

His breath was even hotter now, and it sent shivers all the way up her spine.

Flustered and a little breathless, Ruby tried to squirm away. “Sylas, you—”

“Rue, just… hold me. Let me hold you, that’s all,” he mumbled against her collarbone, his voice muffled, almost desperate.

All the fight went out of her. Gone was the cocky, reckless aristocrat she’d always known; in his place was someone wounded, almost pitiful, like a lost puppy.

But Sylas’s eyes darkened.

He knew she meant it, but… she’d answer the same way if any friend asked, wouldn’t she?

“Not that kind of missing…” he muttered, nuzzling into her neck, as if he could burrow closer.

Ruby felt the tickle on her shoulder and tapped his cheek, trying to get him to back off. But inside, her heart was anything but calm.

She could read what his actions meant, even if he wouldn’t say it outright.

“Everyone will miss you,” she added, trying to cover up her own confusion.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sylas’s grip on her wrist tightened.

Like a stubborn child, he angled her face back to his and demanded, “You know what I mean. Can’t you even humor me a little?”

She met his dark, intense gaze, then looked away, lips pressed together.

“If you’re leaving this afternoon, you should get your things together,” she said quietly. “I’ll go get lunch with the others—they’re waiting.”

“Ruby!” He called after her, frustration thick in his voice.

But she just patted his shoulder and pushed open the car door.

Maybe because he knew he really had to leave, Sylas didn’t hold her back. This time, Ruby slipped easily from his arms.