Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 564

“Responsibilities?”

Ruby, who hadn’t cared about Cassian’s departure, latched onto his final words. She turned to Sylas, her brow furrowed. “What did he mean by that?”

Sylas feigned a look of wide-eyed innocence and shrugged. “He’s just trying to sound mysterious. He’s jealous that I get to be with you.”

Ruby scrutinized his face, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth, but all she got in return was a series of innocent blinks. With a sigh, she gave up. “You may be out of the hospital, but you still need to rest. Let’s get you inside.”

As they went in, Sylas’s arm brushed against Ruby’s hand, and a pleased blush colored his cheeks. But as soon as the others looked away, his expression darkened for a fraction of a second, a flicker of frustration in his eyes. He glanced back in the direction Cassian had gone, a feeling of oppression settling over him.

“What’s wrong?” Ruby asked, noticing his distraction as she helped him to a chair.

“Nothing,” he said automatically. “Just overwhelmed by your intoxicating scent.”

The comment earned him a magnificent eye-roll from Hayley. Fanny chuckled, while Ruby just shot Sylas a glare that clearly meant *shut up*. He pouted but obediently sipped his water in silence.

“You did the right thing, Ruby,” Hayley said, crunching on a candy Pamela had offered her. “Don’t you dare forgive Cassian. Don’t let him think he can buy his way out of this with money. If he’s so sorry, why doesn’t he go spend a year in prison himself?”

Ruby managed a small smile at her friend’s ferocity. “I have no intention of forgiving him.”

“Mira is Ruby’s daughter,” Hayley declared, poking Fanny in the forehead. “Ruby decides who her father is. And besides, who needs a father when she’s got two godmothers? You think he could top that?” She crossed her arms, sniffing disdainfully. The thought of Cassian being Mira’s father was even more repulsive to her than the idea of Sylas winning Ruby’s heart.

Hayley’s blunt words, though crude, broke the tension. Fanny realized she’d been caught in a conventional way of thinking. “You’re right,” she said, nodding. “I was being narrow-minded. Ruby, only the man you choose deserves to be Mira’s father.”

Sylas, who had been watching them, cleared his throat. “I think…”

“You,” Ruby said, clamping a hand over his mouth, “are going upstairs to rest.”

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