Destruction’s Desire (Broken Souls Trilogy #2)

Chapter 31

Rule thirty-one: If the fairy says you’re partying, you party.

I ’m pretty convinced that we blew it at the party. Especially given the whole ‘Sin used his Destroyer powers in front of all our potential allies’ thing after Sin and Morgana explicitly stated that doing so would make us enemies across all the realms. And, of course, I also went and pulled a knife on a party guest for flirting with Sin.

I need to work on myself.

The others have been gone for well over an hour. They have their hands full, making sure all the party guests return to their realms, ensuring all Shadow Realm citizens get home, and re-adjusting the wards to stop emissaries from returning here.

I’ve been playing chess with Damien while we wait for them. He’s just as agitated as I am. He couldn’t attend the party without revealing that he’s a spy, and now, adding insult to injury, he’s on babysitting duty, keeping an eye on me.

Usually, I would be thrilled to hang out with him, but neither of us has had a chance to discuss what happened yesterday with Sin at the table. The tension in the room is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

“Check,” I call, moving my Queen into position.

Damien groans, “I hate this game.”

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “If you get to exercise my body, then I get to exercise your mind. It’s only fair.”

Damien rolls his eyes. “Not that I get to train you anymore. So, I’m failing to see the fairness.”

I don’t miss the slight hint of bitterness in his tone.

Sighing, I answer, “You’re going back to the Otherworld tomorrow. You won’t be here to train me anyway. But don’t worry. I promise to keep running.”

Damien is leaving early on Morgana’s orders to give us an extra set of ears in the Otherworld.

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about,” Damien notes as he moves his king to a more sheltered spot.

“It makes sense for Sin to train me. He’s my partner now, so we need to learn to work together. Besides, that doesn’t mean we don’t get to train when you get back,” I add as I move another piece on the board.

“Do you really think Sin will let me anywhere near you? Have you not noticed we haven’t been running together?” Damien counters.

He doesn’t look angry, just… hurt .

“What do you mean? I thought you were giving me a break because I hurt my leg,” I answer, frowning now.

“This is what Magnus and I were trying to get at last night, red. Because I don’t think you have a clue what Sin did, the moment he decided you belonged to him,” Damien barks, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

The murderous stare he leveled at Sin last night is back, erasing any hint of the easygoing guy I’ve been getting to know.

“What are you talking about?” I ask cautiously.

I know Sin claimed me because he’s sexually attracted to me and didn’t want the others to touch me. But Damien is making it sound like I’ve missed something critical.

“Powerful magic isn’t just snapping your fingers and getting what you want. It changes you, regardless of whether you want it to. The more power someone holds, the more they feel the drive to covet and protect what belongs to them. Think about it. You have magic of your own, and you’ve recently started manifesting more of it. Have you noticed a shift in what you’re willing to do to protect what you deem as yours?” Damien asks, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees so our gazes are level.

My first instinct is to argue. To laugh and pretend Damien is joking around. But he’s staring at me like he expects an answer, the game completely forgotten.

There’s no way.

Is there ?

I’ve never been particularly possessive or protective. It goes against my urge to avoid conflict. But then again, lately, I haven’t been avoiding conflict. I fought Leon when he wanted to risk my friends and my realm. I had no control over whatever power is inside of me when I blasted him across the room. And since arriving in the Shadow Realm, it’s taken no time for me to feel fiercely protective of the people here. I would have murdered Artorix tonight to save Rosie. And I didn’t hesitate to threaten Gabrielle when she almost touched Sin. If Damien is correct, then I’m not taking on Cassandra’s personality traits. This is all me.

I swallow, and Damien gives me a slow nod, seeing the realization on my face. “Sin and I have known each other for ages. He’s a great leader, but he’s also a Destroyer. They hold more power than any other creature in our universe. Whatever possessive urges you’re feeling now, multiply them infinitely to get an idea of what it means to be claimed by him.”

The words have my heart dropping. “That’s not – no. It’s not like that. We’re just…” I start, but Damien continues.

“Sin has never once claimed someone as his own. Ever. Until you. Claiming is something that is done between mates. Do me a favor and ask Rosie what that is.”

The word ‘mate’ gives me pause. Sin called me his mate tonight, but I just figured it was another word for girlfriend.

“But Rosie and Irena are mated, so what’s the problem?” I ask, a bit irritated at how cryptic he’s being .

“Two things. First, if Sin has claimed you, and you’re not totally on board, there’s nothing any of us can do to help you. Whatever freedom you’ve found here, away from Leon – it’s gone. You are tethered to him for life because he will never let you go. Second, even if you are on board with that level of commitment, consider the fact that we are about to start a war that hinges on his ability not to lose control and destroy realms. If anything happens to you, he will not hesitate to level the entire fucking universe to get you back,” Damien finishes, sitting back and rubbing his eyes.

I’m at a loss for words. Damien has it all wrong. Sin’s little stunt with marking my neck wasn’t some kind of possessive Destroyer eternally binding claim. He just wants my body. And I get it. My protective instincts fired up when Gabrielle tried to touch Sin. Just like Sin’s instincts were triggered when he saw Damien and Magnus touching me. We’re partners, and we are sexually attracted to each other. That’s all it is.

At the skepticism on my face, Damien shrugs. “Fine, don’t believe me. But talk to Rosie before you convince yourself I’m wrong.”

I open my mouth to promise I will when voices stream in from the corridor.

The others are back.

Morgana, Sin, Rosie, Magnus and Arianna all file into the room. We’re still dressed to the nines, though Morgana looks uncharacteristically – happy?

But before I get a chance to unpack that sight, Arianna flings herself at me, crushing me against the couch with her tiny – but very sharp-edged body. “I’m so happy you’re okay. You scared the shit out of me, Viv. Don’t ever do that to me again.”

Sin hums in agreement, but I refuse to look at him. Instead, I turn to Rosie. “Rosie, I’m glad you’re okay. And Ari, you’re about to choke me to death.”

Arianna releases me, a sheepish grin on her face, before scooting over to the other side of the couch. She’s effectively blocked off any chance of Sin sitting beside me, and I’m grateful. After what Damien told me, I’m not ready to have Sin close to me just yet.

Of course, that’s when I feel a presence at my back, and without turning, I already know Sin is leaning against the back of the couch. Even if I didn’t know his scent, it’s almost like my body wants to lean back to be closer to him.

I sit up straighter.

Morgana doesn’t bother sitting but instead stands in front of her desk so she can see us all. “The party was a complete success. Anyone who may have doubted your relationship with Sin left completely convinced that you are both in love,” she notes, grinning.

Magnus winks at me. “Good job playing the damsel in distress, little enigma.”

I gasp. “I did not!”

Rosie elbows Magnus in the ribs, looking no worse for wear. “She was an absolute badass and saved me. That’s twice now. Thank you, Viv,” she says, hugging me before taking a seat next to Damien.

“Everyone did well tonight. We’ll be hearing from our allies over the next few days. In the meantime, get some rest. We will have a busy week ahead, preparing for war,” Morgana orders before turning and leaving the room.

Her parting words instantly deflate the good mood, and everyone looks a little more sombre after she’s left.

Rosie is having none of it. “Unacceptable. I planned a huge party, and we were going to stay up all night.”

She stands, turning to the men with her hands on her hips. Her wings flit, and she floats a few inches off the ground. “Gentlemen, it’s been great. But we need a girl’s night.”

Damien looks like he’s about to argue when she chirps, “Goodnight then!” and grabs Arianna and me, apparating us out of the room.

We land in my room in a fit of giggles. Arianna is already pulling her hair out of her updo, and Rosie has removed her glamor. “Ladies, I’m going to get that expensive wine you worked so hard to fetch today and as many cupcakes as possible. I’m over all the doom and gloom. We need to unwind.”

With that, she disappears from the room. After the way tonight went and what I just learned from Damien, a night of drinking away my problems with some girlfriends sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

I grin at Arianna, only to find her digging through my drawers.

“What are you doing?” I ask, walking over to her.

“What kind of comfy clothes does the mortal world have? I only have nightgowns,” Arianna notes, rooting through my tops.

I laugh, pushing her hands away, before closing the drawer and opening the one with my pyjamas. I grab my comfy kitten shorts and then gesture to her to take her pick. “Raid away, Ari.”

The comfy kitten shorts are off-limits. Not because I associate them with Sin. That would be ridiculous. I just happen to like them a lot.

Arianna squeals and starts pulling out different sets of pyjamas until she settles on black silky pants and a matching tank top. I grab a pink tank for myself and head over to the bathroom to change.

Hours later, my head is spinning, and I’ve eaten at least seven cupcakes. We’ve migrated from my room to the stone balcony that looks out over the courtyard, and we’ve made a huge nest of pillows and blankets. Rosie thought to apparate over some enchanted floating flower lights, to give a warm ambience. Arianna is in a fit of giggles, and Rosie is fiddling with the tiny boombox she must have smuggled over from the mortal realm at some point.

“You’re telling me that this is music?” Arianna asks again, tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

I nod solemnly, swearing on my life that, at one point, everyone was listening to this song.

Rosie adjusts the volume and jumps back onto our pillow nest. “Is it a common issue? Dogs being let out, and wondering who stole them?”

I giggle. “It really isn’t. The song just happened to talk about it a lot.”

Shadow Realm wine is fantastic. The world around me is swirling, like I’m on a slow carousel.

Arianna snorts, and I lay back, staring at the stars .

Rosie chirps, “Vivian, catch!” She throws a piece of chocolate my way, and I open my mouth to catch it, only for it to hit me in the chin and bounce into my shirt.

That starts a fresh spurt of giggles in Arianna, and I’m quick to join in once I realize I can’t find the chocolate.

Oh well, it lives there now.

Rosie looks at me thoughtfully. “Do you miss it? Your realm?”

I sigh, “I miss my friends. I made some good ones in college. They must be really worried about me.”

I turn to Arianna. “What about you? Did you miss the Mortal Realm?”

Arianna scrunches her nose. “Not really. Everyone I knew is dead. Besides, the other realms turned me into ten times the spy the Guardians ever could have produced.” She winks at me. “Don’t worry, Viv, I can teach you my tricks.”

I can hear the competitive teasing in her tone, and I sit up, ignoring how the stone wall is spinning behind her. “Pfft. I don’t care how much of an old hag you became while I was gone. You’re still not as good as me.”

Arianna gasps, throwing a pillow my way. I try to dodge it, but Arianna is just as drunk as I am, and it comes nowhere near me. “Spoken like a true petulant child. Too bad, Vivian. The student has surpassed the teacher.” She drives the point home by blowing a raspberry at me.

I open my mouth to sass her back, but Rosie stops our competitive bickering. “There’s only one way to settle this,” she calls authoritatively, standing between us.

Arianna and I look up at her, and I think we’re all swaying.

“The Olympics,” Rosie says, solemnly nodding.

I frown up at her. “They’re not for a few years.”

Rosie’s brow furrows. “No, silly. We’re going to do the Super Spy Olympics. Right here. Right now.”

Arianna’s competitive streak is immediately triggered. “I’m in.”

I sit up, grinning. “I’m in, too. Ari – you’re going down!” I egg her on for added effect.

Arianna huffs, but Rosie shushes us. “You’re both going down if you don’t listen to the rules.”

We focus as hard as we can on her instructions. I can’t tell if Rosie is slurring or my ears aren’t working properly.

Maybe both?

“You’ll have three – er, actually,” she pauses to focus on the two of us. “Make that one challenge. I don’t think we’re going to stay awake for three.”

It feels like gravity is getting stronger by the minute, pulling me down to the stone floor. Rosie’s probably right on that one.

“What are we doing, oh wise one?” I ask her, trying not to giggle.

Arianna bursts out laughing, and that sets me off. Rosie is bent over, holding on to the wall, trying to stay upright.

“Shhhusshhhh, both of you!” she croaks through her own cackling. “If you don’t let me explain the rules before someone passes out, then I’m the best spy of them all.”

Arianna and I both look away from each other. I know if I make eye contact, I will lose it.

“Your mission is simple. It’s a scavenger hunt. Each of you has to bring me back an item. Arianna, I want Morgana’s dagger,” Rosie instructs.

Arianna blanches. “She keeps it in her room with her.”

Rosie nods slowly at her. “You’re a super spy, aren’t you? Prove it.”

Arianna swallows but nods.

I stick my tongue out at her and whisper, “Hah, sucker.”

Rosie turns to me, stifling a giggle. “Viv, you have to bring back Sin’s necklace.”