Destruction’s Desire (Broken Souls Trilogy #2)

Chapter 12

Rule twelve: Do not stab your murderer at breakfast.

I thought the relationship between Leon and I was messy, but it has nothing on what was between him and Cassandra.

Leon is completely convinced that we shared a great love when really, he never loved Cassandra. How could he when she never truly let him know her?

Leon loved a lie.

The thought hits me with an unwelcome pang of guilt. Leon loved someone who never existed for millennia. And here I am, running from him, hurting him even more.

What does that make me?

The question is enough to have me hustling out of my room in search of other people. My thoughts are dangerous .

It’s late morning, but Magnus and Sin are still having coffee at the table. Magnus eyes me appreciatively before whistling and asking, “Is it true then? Is Sin spreading falsehoods, or has the mighty warrior priestess, who hides amongst pacifists, returned?”

I’m still feeling raw from Cassandra’s memories and the dark thoughts that followed them. It isn’t something I’m keen on discussing yet, so instead, I give Magnus a slight nod before pouring myself a cup of coffee.

It’s still hot. I am at peace.

Magnus wants to disturb my peace. “You know, despite your extensive training, I’m still impressed you were able to kill so many soldiers under Sin’s command, the night Atlantis fell.”

My eyes snap to Sin, a coil of rage escaping the box of repressed emotions. “You. You came for Atlantis.”

It isn’t a question. It’s an accusation.

Cassandra’s memories flash back to the surface. She loved Atlantis – cherished it. And she lost everything the night it fell. While her emotions might not be my own, they don’t leave me unfeeling, either. Instead, a flare of protectiveness sparks within me.

Sin has the audacity to lean back and look bored. There isn’t an ounce of remorse in his voice when he answers, “I did a lot of things when I was the Council’s attack dog.”

Magnus must be on a mission to stir things up because he chimes in, “Don’t be so closed off, Sin.” He turns back to me and adds, “It has always driven him mad that a single priestess was able to take out hundreds of his men.”

I glare at Sin, realizing he is likely responsible for killing me. My mind drifts to the kids at the Moon Goddess temple, and my heart hurts. They’ve been dead for millennia, but I mourn them, hoping I bought them enough time to escape.

Sin quirks an eyebrow at me.

A strange urge has my hand itching to move to one of my blades.

It’s a surreal feeling. Something tells me that if I wanted to hurt this man, I might have a chance. And in my present emotional state, I’m less frightened of the consequences.

What’s the worst that will happen – he kills me?

Been there, done that.

It’s a dangerous combination: the violence of Cassandra’s memories, paired with the despair that keeps overtaking my thoughts.

I fold my hands on my lap instead.

Sin smirks like he knows what I was about to do.

Jerk.

Magnus keeps prodding. He leans forward on the table, resting his head on his fists. “So, little enigma, now that you have all your memories back, have you decided whether you’ll be staying on with us? In lieu of returning to your fated beau.”

I focus on my coffee and the buttered pastry that appeared on my plate at some point. “I haven’t decided,” I mutter as I dig into my breakfast.

Magnus asks me the same question every morning. And every morning, I give him the same answer. Usually, I say I’m undecided because I want to meet Morgana first. But today, there’s a new reason pulling me away.

I’ve already spent one life deceiving Leon, and now I’ve kept secrets from him in this life as well. The guilt digs deeper, bringing back the broken voice in my head that reminds me that this is all my fault.

Sin slams his cup down, and it startles me out of my spiral. I can feel his eyes boring into me, but I refuse to look at him. I’m still mad at him for attacking Atlantis and for him probably killing me in a past life.

If I’m going to hold a grudge, I one hundred percent think those are valid reasons.

Magnus refuses to let it go. “Interesting. I was convinced you would lose your good opinion of Leon when you realized how temperamental he can truly be.”

“It’s not that simple. I’m not innocent in this. And Leon, well he deserves to know the truth. I owe him that much,” I answer.

Maybe, if I can convince Leon of the truth, that he never even knew Cassandra, he’ll see sense and let me go.

Magnus opens his mouth to say something, but Sin cuts him off, “Magnus, let it go. She’s useless. She’s too comfortable being a pampered princess and will go crawling back to her fated the first chance she gets. A nice, easy, violence-free life is what the warm hole needs.”

I don’t think. I react. I reach for a throwing knife, and the next moment, it’s lodged in Sin’s chair, millimeters from his neck .

My heart hammers in my chest as I realize what I’ve just done. Throwing a book is one thing, but a knife? I’ve just crossed a very big line. My eyes widen and before I can think of something to say, Sin has the audacity to smile at me.

Not a cruel smile. But a genuine one that is filled with dark promises.

I gape at him.

Magnus lets out a long whistle and notes, “Well, it’s good to have you here.”

I don’t dare take my eyes off Sin, expecting his tattoos to light up and for him to annihilate me for threatening him. But he looks calmer than I think I’ve ever seen him before.

Maybe he’s having a stroke?

I open my mouth to apologize when he interrupts me, “Don’t. You’ve finally done something to defend yourself. Celebrate the victory, mortal.”

I frown, trying to process his words. “How – how can you be so calm? I could have killed you.”

The corner of Sin’s mouth twitches like he might laugh. “It will take far more than a blade to kill me.”

He stands, handing the blade back to me. I take it, careful not to let our fingers touch. I’m still reeling over what I just did.

“Your memories will help you survive, but your body is weak and hasn’t been conditioned to fighting. You need to train,” Sin orders as he steps back.

“Are you prone to memory loss in your old age? Because just two days ago, you crashed Damien’s training session. He’s already on it,” I answer dismissively, hoping to put a stop to whatever renewed interest he has in my life.

“Not today,” Sin answers. “Today, you’re with me. Finish your food and meet me in the courtyard,” he adds before leaving.

I swear he sounded almost happy. What alternate universe have I landed in?

The joyful feeling must be in the air because Magnus springs up, looking like he might start jumping up and down from excitement.

“I’m going to fetch Damien and Rosie; they won’t want to miss this!” he practically squeals as he darts out of the room.

And just like that, it’s only me, my coffee, and a half-finished buttered pastry.

I savor the peace, having a strong feeling that this training session is going to suck.