Destruction’s Desire (Broken Souls Trilogy #2)

Chapter 32

Rule thirty-two: Do not mix alcohol and super spy missions.

M y jaw drops, and Arianna cackles, rolling on the floor. “Admit you’re beaten, Vivian.”

I narrow my eyes at her, or maybe I just squint a bit. I can’t tell. “You wish.”

I’ve already snuck out of the castle without getting caught. I’ve totally got this.

Rosie lifts her hands and calls out, “Go!”

Arianna and I scramble up, detangling ourselves from the blankets, and stagger towards the doors. Arianna holds onto the wall for support, and I hold onto her.

Once we reach the doors, we turn in opposite directions. “I’ll see you when you come back to Rosie,” I call out, using the wall to make my way to the stairs.

Arianna snorts, “Dream on!”

Once I round the corner, I pause, holding on to a sconce, trying to remember how to climb stairs. Standing up seems so dangerous. Stairs are steep.

I shake my head at how careless I’ve been, walking upstairs while standing up all these years. Instead, I do the sensible thing and crawl on all fours.

Brilliant.

I make my way to the hallway, where Sin and I’s rooms are, before pulling myself back up to stand.

Okay, Vivian, it’s time to go super spy mode.

I try to pull up some of Cassandra’s memories of being sneaky, but nothing happens.

Huh . Her memories must be drunk. I sigh. That is so irresponsible of her.

It looks like I’m on my own.

I pause in front of Sin’s door, listening for any sound. Hearing nothing, I test the doorknob.

Unlocked.

I turn the knob slowly, opening the door mostly silently. Sin’s room is shrouded in darkness, but I don’t want to risk him opening his eyes and seeing the open door. That’s not what a super spy would do.

Spies are sneaky.

Padding inside as quietly as possible, I close the door behind me. Sin’s dresser is the most obvious place to look, but after a few hushed breaths, I come up empty. The bed is only a few feet away, and I eye the large figure sprawled over the blankets. Sin is fast asleep, his breathing even.

My heart rate elevates as I step closer, making it all the way to the edge of his bed. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He hasn’t bothered with pyjamas and only wears a pair of boxer briefs.

Dark romance novels must be rubbing off on me because I spend way longer than I should, taking in every line of his body. Everything about this man screams power, and I am drawn to him like a moth to his flame.

This is so wrong. I’m crossing a line.

But then I spot it. The leather tie of his necklace. It’s still around his neck.

Well, shit.

I was really hoping he took it off before he went to bed.

Biting my lip, I consider how to do this. Sin’s breathing hasn’t shifted, and I’m guessing he must be a really deep sleeper.

I shrug.

I need that necklace.

Reaching down, my fingers graze Sin’s neck as I try to lift it off him.

A hand catches mine, and I shriek as Sin’s eyes open, and he tugs me into his bed. Before I can blink, I’m flipped onto my back, with Sin straddling me. I struggle for a moment, but my hands are caught in his, held over my head. My head swims at the rapid movement, and I giggle, “You scared me!”

“What are you doing here, kitten?” Sin asks, frowning. I don’t miss the warning in his tone.

His voice is gravelly like he just woke up. It’s doing things to me. His hair is mussed up, a strand catching one of his long eyelashes. I want to move it for him, but he holds me firm .

I frown back at him. “I’m trying to win the Olympics. I needed to be sneaky, but you caught me.”

Sin eyes me warily, and I suddenly realize how much of his bare body is touching mine, given my pyjamas don’t cover a whole lot either. The sight of him pressing me down onto his bed has me heating, and I forget to worry about winning the challenge.

Sin must notice where my thoughts are headed because he sighs, letting me go to lay beside me. “How much have you had to drink?”

I turn to face him, grinning. “We drank the wine cellar.”

His hand moves to rub his temple like he has a headache coming on before he mutters, “Of course you did.”

He looks tired. Guilt hits at waking him up after such a long day, and I shift to climb out of his bed. “Well, it’s time to face the music and tell them I lost. Sorry for waking you, nighty night.”

I don’t make it a foot before Sin’s arm darts out and grabs me around my middle, slamming me back down on the bed, flush against him. I blink, confused as to how I got there so quickly.

Sin’s voice is low as he whispers against my ear, “Do you remember what I told you about coming inside my room, kitten?”

My brow furrows, my head still swimming.

“I told you that the next time you came in here, I wouldn’t let you leave until I was finished with you.”

His voice goes right to my core, and I clench my thighs together.

Sin growls, feeling my movement, “Kitten? ”

“Hmm?” I ask, my voice higher than I want it to be. This man is dangerous for my panties. If I blink, he’ll have them.

He shifts, turning me to face him. I try to focus on his face, to read whether he’s angry. But my vision isn’t focusing fast enough.

“I’m not finished with you,” he answers.

His face finally comes into focus, and I stare at him wide-eyed. Sin is pretty in a rugged, deadly kind of way. His beard is close to my face, and I reach out, running my fingers through it, curious about how it feels. The hairs tickle my fingers, but Sin grabs my hand, placing it against his chest.

I recognize the sexual nature of Sin’s promise of not letting me leave his room, and my blood warms. Considering how much I’ve had to drink, I’m impressed I’ve even realized it at all. I frown at him again. “You know, we’re doing things backwards.”

Sin quirks a brow at me.

I try to prop myself up on an elbow so I can look down at him. The movement causes the room to spin, and I sway, falling back onto the pillow.

Sin tucks me more tightly against him, so I can’t move. “What are we doing backwards, kitten?”

Heat coils in my core at the nickname. I shouldn’t like it this much. I don’t think Sin has ever called me by my actual name. I’m not sure what he has against the name ‘Vivian,’ but it’s always ‘mortal’ or ‘kitten’ with him. “Why do you call me that?” I ask, ignoring his question .

Sin pauses before answering, “Because you reminded me of a kitten when I brought you here. You curled into my arms like you belonged there.”

My heart skips a beat.

He nudges me. “You were going to tell me what we’re doing backwards.”

I huff, trying not to love being enveloped by the scent of woodsmoke. It’s so cozy being held like this. Sin gives off a lot of heat, and I wrap my legs around him to steal more of it. He stiffens but doesn’t stop me.

“You’re going backwards,” I answer, feeling very much like the authority on the subject.

“Care to elaborate?” Sin rubs his beard on top of my head, and I nuzzle into him.

I sigh at his lack of understanding.

“You. You’re backwards. You keep touching me and teasing me. You admitted that you want me when we don’t like each other. We haven’t even kissed. It’s all backwards. And now I’m in your bed, and god only knows where that will go,” I huff.

Sin chuckles, “I’m not going to touch you.”

I manage to squirm out of his hold enough to look up at him, disgruntled. “Then why are you keeping me? What do you want from me?”

Sin’s answering smile is wicked, and it sends my heart into a wild beat. “So much. But we’re going to start with one thing since you’re in such an agreeable mood.”

I narrow my eyes at him.

Sin’s arm tightens around me. “Names, kitten. I want the names of those who hurt you back in your realm. ”

My head swims, and danger bells start going off in my head. Sin’s tone is mild, but I know there’s a reason I didn’t want to give him names. Why don’t I want to tell him about Em?

A sharp intake of breath, and I remember. “You can’t kill them, Sin.”

“Why in the Fates not? They tried to kill you.” Sin looks annoyed, but he also seems genuinely curious.

I smile at his reasoning. It’s kind of sweet in a morbid way. Giggling, I tease him, “Okay, I take it back, you like me.”

Sin rolls his eyes and lightly pinches my waist. I squeak, and he prods again, “I want an answer. Why can’t I kill them?”

I sigh. He isn’t going to drop it. He’s been tenacious in trying to get the answer from me. But then, I think I wanted answers about things, too.

I chew at my bottom lip, trying to remember what it was I needed to know.

Right, mates. Damien is freaking out. Sin can set him straight.

Giving Sin my own wicked grin, or at least I think that’s what that was, I shift so our eyes are level. “I’ll give you the names on two conditions,” I note, feeling ridiculously impressed with myself for stringing together such cohesive sentences.

Sin arches a brow, and I continue, “You can’t kill them. I love Em’s parents. They were really kind to me, and they already lost their son. I can’t be the reason they lose their daughter, too. So please, no killing. Promise? ”

Sin sighs and agrees, “Fine.” But his small smile is entirely at odds with the subject matter. My brows furrow, confused, when he prods me, “What’s your other condition?”

“I want to know about the mate bond.”

At my demand, Sin’s hands tighten around me, and I’m back to nuzzling at his neck. His grip doesn’t loosen when he asks, “Who told you about mate bonds?”

I giggle. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I take another breath, and Sin doesn’t answer me, so I pinch his arm. “Tell me,” I demand, fighting to keep my eyes open when I’m being lulled by his delicious warmth.

He sighs again, and I rest my hand on his chest, fully committing to the cuddling. “Mate bonds are something more frequently found in other realms. They’re only found in creatures that hold magic. Some, like shifters and Fae, can usually pick up quite quickly if someone is their mate. It’s like a rubber band snapping into place, and they know they’ve found their other half. The person who compliments their soul. The mate bond tethers their souls so they can be together eternally. Amongst other perks.”

I frown, thinking of the corrupted Keeper bond I have with Leon. The idea that there are pre-determined mates for people gives me the creeps.

But Sin continues, “From what I’ve heard, it’s different with Destroyers. Once we find someone we want to be mated to, we get the undeniable urge to claim them. We crave them, and it’s impossible to stop. From there, we build the mate bond using our own magic.”

I stiffen at his answer, and he pauses, but I want the whole of it. “How do Destroyers build the mate bond, Sin?”

He inhales deeply before answering, “We claim our mate, and they accept it by giving themself over to us completely.”

His answer instantly sobers me.

Leon insisted I tell him I belonged to him. Repeatedly, he tried to pull the words from me. I thought it was the possessiveness, but oh god. He was trying to bind us together as mates.

The realization sends a chill down my back, and I want to cuddle in closer to Sin, to pretend for a while that I’m safe. Until I remember what Sin said to me before the party. That he is fighting to make me scream that I’m his.

I blanch. “You’re not…” I start, trying to figure out how to confirm he isn’t trying to tie our souls eternally without my consent. I might need to borrow one of Sin’s knives and stab him if that’s the case. No wonder Damien is so pissed.

Sin growls against my head, “Don’t even imply that I’d coerce you. The bond must be made willingly on both ends. You’re not mine unless you want to be.”

His answer tones down some of my anger, but I’m still frustrated. Something nags at the back of my head like I forgot to turn something off at home. I try to focus on it, and suddenly, I look back up at Sin, bumping his chin with my head. “I’m going to lose the Olympics. Are you finished with me? ”

Sin lets out a low rumble and gently tucks my head back against him. “No.”

I huff, “Why not?”

“Because you’ll just find more trouble,” he answers firmly. “Now go to sleep.”

I frown at his tone. “I’m still not yours,” I mutter. “You don’t get to own me.”

Sin starts tracing small circles on my back. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Nodding against his chest, my eyes finally start to droop as exhaustion pulls me under.

I almost miss Sin’s whispered confession as the darkness overtakes me.

“You’re not mine, kitten. But I think I’m quickly becoming yours.”