Destruction’s Desire (Broken Souls Trilogy #2)

Chapter 19

Rule nineteen: When offered a three-way as pain relief, the answer is always yes.

T he crushing weight of the forsaken is off me in an instant.

Slowly, I uncurl from my protective ball and pull myself to standing, blinking at the brightness. My usual silvery wisps of light have been replaced by a solid silver sphere. But the light isn’t stagnant. I watch, transfixed, as it pulses outwards from me. Within the sphere, every forsaken is enveloped by the silvery light.

The humming sensation inside of me continues like there is a battery powering this energy.

I don’t think I’ve even taken a breath yet. I may not be capable of it. I’m paralyzed, watching the light spread further and further. Until finally, whether hours or seconds later, the light comes violently crashing back toward me.

I only have a second’s warning, but it makes no difference as the bright silver glow slams into me, its crushing impact knocking me back to the ground.

Everything goes dark.

When my consciousness trickles back in, my immediate thought is that I really hope there are no more forsaken around. All I can picture is a pack of them feasting on my innards while I was blacked out.

My imagination is not my friend.

Thankfully, when I open my eyes, I only see a few freed spirits circling me. They don’t seem violent, and though they’re silent, they keep gesturing to each other, repeatedly pointing to my leg.

Frowning, I sit up, only to realize the entirety of the forest still retains a faint silver glow. My jaw drops once I realize its source. Every last forsaken has been replaced by a freed spirit. Beyond the few directly around me, the others all wait, standing at attention, forming a circle around me. There are thousands of them.

One of the spirits closest to me kneels, pointing to my thigh. He looks concerned. Following his gaze, I catch sight of the scratch left by one of the forsaken. Blood is oozing out.

I grimace. It looks deep. And it will undoubtedly start bleeding more when I start walking. Still, I can’t just sit here all night with my new ghostly entourage.

The spirit doesn’t move, and I smile weakly at him. “It’s okay. I can patch myself up. ”

He nods, accepting my answer before returning to stand with the others.

The scratch starts just below my hip and ends halfway down my thigh. I need to slow the bleeding before I can get out of here.

You’d think fighting outfits would come equipped with mini first aid kits, but I’m high and dry. That’s a serious workplace safety hazard.

Instead, I pull off my belt and tighten it around the top of my leg, making it so tight I want to scream. It’s excruciating, but does the trick, slowing the blood loss.

I don’t think about the matching scratches on my arm and back or about the possibility of supernatural sepsis. Instead, I stand, testing my weight on my injured leg.

It hurts like hell, but I can walk.

I look at the huge crowd of spirits waiting all around me. “Will you walk me home? In case there are more threats?”

The spirit in the water outside Leon’s castle didn’t leave until I told her to go. Hopefully, these spirits will be similarly inclined because I don’t think I have enough energy even to light a match.

Thankfully, the spirits look like they’re willing to help. Some nod, while others place their fist to their chests in a show of solidarity.

The forest is much calmer now. There isn’t a single screech to indicate there may still be any forsaken left.

We make it through the forest without incident, and to my relief, Morgana isn’t waiting for me up at the castle. Instead, she stands on a hill not far from the path’s entrance. Sin stands beside her, his arms crossed and his expression hard. Magnus and Damien wait on her other side, their eyes widening at the sight of me. At least those two look concerned.

I take in Morgana’s self-satisfied expression, and rage unfurls inside of me. She left me to possibly die in here after murdering me once already. My eyes lock on hers, and I watch with petty satisfaction as her expression morphs into shock. Behind me, a massive line of freed spirits comes into view, their glow lighting up the tree line.

I am finished with being deceived by powerful creatures.

I am not helpless, and I will fight back.

I take a step forward, now fully exiting the forest.

“I don’t know what kind of sick and twisted game you think you’re playing, but you will never do this to me again.” My voice shakes from the shock starting to take over, but I’m not finished.

I take another step, and without hesitation, the line of spirits behind me, who have been magically contained in the forest by Morgana for who knows how long, step out behind me.

Whatever magic she had over them is no more.

Seeing the spirits leave the forest, Sin shifts, subtly placing himself between me and Morgana. The move sends a pulse of satisfaction through me.

I am not powerless.

“The forsaken are no longer yours to command.” I don’t shout the phrase, but I watch as the blood drains from Morgana’s face. She heard me.

I cup my hands to my mouth, helping to project my voice. “I release you from this place! Go and be free! ”

With my words, the silvery lights from the spirits blink out, one by one, as they disappear, moving on to wherever they need to be.

I never break eye contact with Morgana, who now looks terrified, as I slowly make my way towards her. Rage still simmers in my veins.

Sin doesn’t move from his protective stance, and I hear him ask, “What is she?”

Morgana swallows before answering, “I have no idea.”

I’m limping up the hill when two heavy bodies collide with me, arms tucking around me on either side. Damien and Magnus plaster themselves against me, helping me walk. I stiffen at the contact but then let myself lean on them. It helps ease the sting in my leg.

I try not to think about the arms pressing against the gashes on my back.

“Easy, little enigma,” Magnus whispers as we move together. “It seems you may have a little scratch,” he notes, making light of the blood that coats most of my body.

Sin glares at us but moves back to Morgana’s side.

I guess I don’t look like a threat anymore.

Shame.

“What did you do to them?” Morgana’s voice trembles, and she’s matching my anger now.

Good, we’re all angry.

Damien’s hand squeezes my shoulder in a comforting gesture. I try not to black out from the pain. I guess there’s a scratch there, too.

“I freed them,” I grit out .

“That – that’s not possible,” Morgana answers.

She looks devastated. Maybe she thinks I killed them. The thought immediately cools my anger.

“I’ve been doing it for years,” I answer honestly. “They’re trapped, and it sucks the humanity out of them. I release them from their ties so they can finally find peace. There are similar creatures in my realm.”

Morgana nods, frowning. “I don’t know what you are. I’ve never heard of such a power before. To free spirits and to almost split realms, it’s unheard of.”

Sin cuts in, “That wasn’t the same energy signature she had last night.”

I shrug. “The other power only started after I met Leon.”

“Do they know? About this power?” Morgana asks, sounding concerned.

I shake my head, starting to feel dizzy. Blood loss is fun like that.

Sin notices. “She needs medical attention.”

He steps forward, and I give him my best ‘No shit, Sherlock’ expression.

Morgana stops him, grasping Sin’s arm. “Magnus and Damien, patch her up. Sin, we need to talk.”

They apparate away without another word.

I ignore the tiniest hint of disappointment that hits when they leave.

Damien turns to me. “So, red, how about we go back to the castle so we can look at those papercuts?”

I choke out a laugh, still feeling woozy.

“Yeah, sure. I must have tripped and scraped my knee,” I answer lightly .

We apparate back into the sitting room where I found them earlier. I hadn’t realized the two were together like that. My cheeks heat, realizing I may have interrupted an intimate moment between them when I barged in.

“Sorry about derailing your evening,” I say as Damien walks me over to a lounge chair, and Magnus steps out to grab some first aid supplies.

Damien smiles, and I can’t help but notice how he lights up the entire room. He just has this energy about him; he practically glows.

“No need to be sorry, red. You’re more entertaining than anything we had planned. But we weren’t thrilled to learn that Morgana left you in the forest,” he answers.

“We wanted to escort you back out,” Magnus calls as he re-enters the room with towels, water, and a small case. “But Morgana said she’d have the forsaken slit our throats the moment we set foot in the woods.”

He puts the supplies down and kneels, inspecting my leg. He tuts, lightly prodding at the torn flesh. I bite my lip to stop from screaming.

Damien joins him and gives an exaggerated sigh, “This isn’t how I pictured this happening, but red, we need to take your pants off.”

Magnus grins. “It was only a matter of time until she gave in to our charms.”

I roll my eyes but use the lounge chair to help pull myself up. Magnus is there in an instant, helping me stand. I laugh at their antics. “I bet you two come on to all the kidnap victims that are beaten up here. ”

If I ever get to see Conner again, I’m going to push aside my aversion to physical affection and hug him. This situation would be utterly mortifying if it weren’t for his desensitization to male attention.

Damien works the belt off my thigh slowly, and blood starts to return to my leg. Black circles line the edges of my vision from the pain.

“Easy, little enigma, we’ve got you,” Magnus whispers into the shell of my ear as his arm tightens around my waist.

I’m grateful for the support because my knees are weak.

“To clarify,” I hiss through the pain. “I think you’re both great, but I’m really not looking for anything at the moment. I have enough boy drama.”

I look down at Damien, and he winks, loosening the belt a little more. “Understood, red.”

Magnus’ whisper comes again, “But perhaps you’ll allow us to distract you while we get you patched up.”

Damien finishes opening the belt, and the full pressure of blood returning to my leg makes me lightheaded.

“I thought – aren’t you two a thing?” I ask, confused.

“We enjoy each other’s company,” Magnus notes.

“And we especially enjoy sharing,” Damien adds, his hands coming to the waist of my pants.

“Oh boy,” I whisper. My cheeks heat, and warmth uncurls in my stomach at the thought.

My brain mustn’t be firing properly because I’m considering their offer. Magnus and Damien are both attractive and while I’m not feeling any toe-curling passionate fireworks towards them, I’m not entirely put off either.

Maybe I’m not as broken as I thought.

I think about what Sarah would say if I asked her for advice and almost laugh at what would be the most enthusiastic agreement of all time.

“Sure, why not?” I answer, shrugging.

I’ve only ever been intimate with a man I was magically spelled to want. It would probably be helpful to try being intimate with someone without magical coercion.

For educational purposes, of course.

Damien starts working my pants down as gently as possible, and Magnus licks a trail up my neck. Goosebumps erupt on my skin everywhere his forked tongue touches.

“She’s lucid,” Magnus says. “I can taste it on her.”

Damien groans as he realizes I’m bare underneath the pants.

I didn’t plan on becoming an advocate for going commando, but no one put any kind of underwear in my room. I’m working with what I’ve got.

He finishes slipping off my pants and prods at the fully exposed scratches again. I wince, and Magnus responds by placing hot kisses against my neck. It distracts me a little from the pain, and I’m grateful.

“So, are you both mortal, too?” I ask, breathless.

This is probably not the best time for small talk. But their heated touches are bringing back memories of Leon touching me the same way. Memories of pain, fog, and lust, all so tangled that they leave me feeling cold, and I’m desperate to drown them out .

I need to do this. I need to push through the rising panic in my throat and not let Leon be my only memory of being intimate. Otherwise, he’ll still be controlling me, and I refuse to give him that power.

I am in control.

Damien answers as his hand slips between my thighs, reaching for the back of my injured one, “Not at all. Snake shifters can live for generations, and I –” he pauses as his hand grazes my center before lifting the back of my thigh so that my leg is propped up on his knee, “I’m a descendant of the Angelic Realm. Immortality is one of the few perks.”

I inhale sharply at the intimate contact, but Damien pulls back as the cuts start oozing blood more quickly.

“We need to get her sitting back down,” Damien calls.

Somewhere between the blood loss and their touch, the panic in my throat starts to subside.

Magnus gently lowers me onto the lounge, resting my back against the headrest. “We’ve been alive for a long time.”

Why does that sound provocative? Am I into older men? Is that it?

Magnus kneels next to Damien on the floor and gently pulls my thighs open, settling between them. More heat floods me at the sight.

Magnus gives a quick nod, lowering his head, just as Damien presses a hot towel to my leg. I scream, but Magnus is already in position, placing hot kisses against my inner thigh and working his way up. The sensation has my scream fading into a breathless squeak .

If this is medical care, I’m happy to give these people all my tax dollars.

“Easy, little enigma,” he pauses his kisses to whisper, “We’ll take very good care of you.” His mouth inches closer to my center as Damien applies another hot towel.

I squeeze my eyes shut at the pain, only to startle when their touches are replaced by cold air. I blink, only to find Damien and Magnus are crumpled against the back wall. They’re both staggering to get up. But I’m quickly distracted by the giant warlord-looking man standing in front of me.

Sin looks ready to commit murder. His tattoos glow a deep and bright red, and even his eyes hold the glow. I snap my legs closed, not wanting to give him a bigger show than I already have.

His voice is low, and there’s a dangerous edge to it, “You were told to heal her. What the fuck are you doing, touching her?”

Magnus stands, helping Damien up. They look annoyed.

“We are healing her,” Damien snaps.

“We are simply providing some pain relief in the process,” Magnus adds.

Sin’s jaw works, and his eye twitches.

“Out,” he whispers.

“But…” Damien starts to argue.

Sin doesn’t raise his voice, “For as long as she is my partner, you will not touch her. Do not test my good nature. ”

Magnus rolls his eyes before placing his arm around Damien and giving me a final wink as they head out of the room. “Until next time, little enigma.”

Sin growls, but it isn’t enough to mask Damien’s complaint. “Typical possessive Destroyers. They never share.”

Their voices fade, and it’s just me and Sin.

Only Sin is wearing pants. I think that puts me at a disadvantage. I shift, placing my hands in front of the junction of my thighs in a last-ditch attempt at modesty.

Sin’s eyes track the movement, and his gaze grows heated before he notices the blood on my leg and glares at me. “Would you care to explain why you are half-naked?”

I huff, “It’s not rocket science.”

Sin growls again.

I roll my eyes at his display. “What else am I supposed to do? I don’t have any underwear here, Sin. I’m working with what I’ve got.”

Sin narrows his eyes before grabbing a hot towel and placing it on the cut. He pushes on it, making me hiss from the pain. “Hold this, apply pressure, and don’t move,” he orders before apparating out of the room.

He’s back a second later, throwing a pair of lace booty shorts at me. I catch them and gasp, “These are mine! Sin, what the hell are you doing with my underwear?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Sin answers.

I glare at him, pulling my leg away, when he steps closer .

Sin rolls his eyes as if I’m the biggest inconvenience in the world. “I was in your realm tonight, gathering some of your things. I figured you might want them after you decided to stay.”

“I –” I pause, shell-shocked. “That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.”

Sin nods to the underwear. “Can you get them on?” he snaps impatiently.

I nod, leaning forward, but wince as the action puts more pressure on my injured thigh, causing the cuts to bleed more.

Sin’s sigh is so strong it could probably knock over a small house as he reaches over, snatches the underwear, and gently threads my legs into them. He doesn’t make eye contact as he mumbles, “Fates grant me strength.”

Rude.

I know I’m covered in blood and dirt, but he doesn’t have to sound so offended at having to touch me.

“Look, if this is too uncomfortable for you, just send Magnus and Damien back in. I’m sure they can finish the job,” I snap, my cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Sin’s eyes snap back to mine, and his hand reaches under my non-injured thigh, tightening before lifting my hips.

“Let me be clear, kitten,” he says, his eyes darkening. “While we’re working together, I am the only one you’ll be finishing with.”