Chapter 26
Rule twenty-six: Do not, under any circumstance, admit that you liked that.
S in stalks into my room, and it feels as though time slows. Each of his steps is measured, and lethal intent radiates from him.
My heart rate escalates as I scramble off the floor, not wanting to be caught at a disadvantage.
Which is a complete joke, because Sin always has the upper hand.
Unbalanced. My relationship partnership with Sin is unbalanced.
Probably because his brain chemistry is, too.
My instincts scream at me to back up and run.
I ignore them.
This man has made a habit of trying to intimidate me by invading my personal space. I’m not saying it isn’t effective, but I will rot six feet under before ever letting him know that.
He crowds me, his body pressing flush against mine.
My breath catches in my throat, and I wait for him to stop.
Sin does not, in fact, stop.
He fists his hand into my hair, wrenching a gasp from me.
His grip is firm.
Merciless.
In one fluid motion, he spins me, walking us forward until he has me against the wall. His chest presses into my back, flooding my senses with his scent. His body heat provides a stark contrast to the cool stone wall.
A smart person would recognize that this is not a good idea, and Sin pauses for a moment as if waiting for me to make a decision.
I should tell him to stop.
I definitely shouldn’t like this.
Fuck, why do I like this?
Another breath and Sin growls, grinding his hips against my ass, igniting the desire I’ve been meticulously trying to ignore.
His hand tightens in my hair, tugging it to expose the side of my neck. His warm breath fans over me, setting my nerve endings on high alert. My thighs press together, and I think my heart is trying to escape from my chest.
Sin’s mouth grazes against the sensitive flesh of my neck as he purrs, “I think my kitten is a liar. ”
I close my eyes, trying to remember how to breathe, as his mouth moves to the shell of my ear.
“We both know who gets you soaked,” he adds.
This would be an excellent time for me to set some boundaries.
Instead, I press back into him, only to feel his hard length pressing against me.
Arousal floods my core.
My traitorous vagina clearly holds the reigns to my body, but I have just enough intimacy PTSD to remember what happened the last time a man thought he had the right to control me.
That ship has fucking sailed.
“That doesn’t mean you’re the only one who can. You don’t own me,” I huff, even as I shift so his length is pressed closer to my center.
I swear I feel Sin smile against my neck in response before he whispers, “You’re right, I don’t. But I think you’d like it if I did, wouldn’t you?”
He kisses a trail up my neck, and a small moan escapes my lips before his hand snakes around my waist, pressing us impossibly closer.
“I am not yours,” I breathe, refusing to give up that piece of me, even as Sin dips his hand between my legs, palming my pussy. The action is possessive, sending more heat flooding into my body.
Sin hums against my neck before he answers, “Whatever you say.”
And then his teeth sink into my neck.
I gasp, but the pain is almost immediately replaced by delicious heat as he starts sucking at the assaulted flesh. Every swipe of his tongue goes straight to my core, acting like a shot of desire being pushed through my veins. He starts rubbing circles over my clit, and instead of shoving him away, I dig my nails into his flesh in a silent demand that he not stop.
He continues his tender assault, alternating between sucking and nipping, all the while grinding against my ass and teasing my clit. The heat coils tightly inside of me as he edges me closer to the brink of release, only for Sin to pull his hands back.
I want to scream in frustration, but instead, I hiss, “You bit me!”
He licks the spot in response. “You liked it.”
More than ready to jump into a raging river of denial, I spin to face him, only to catch a glimpse of myself on my dresser mirror. A large red mark has already blossomed on my neck.
My eyes widen at the sight before I round on him. “Sin, what the fuck!”
Sin backs up a step, crossing his arms before giving me an infuriatingly self-satisfied smirk. “Like you said, you’re not mine. But I’ve already warned you, while you’re my partner, no one else will touch you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why the hell wouldn’t they?”
Sin’s answering smile is pure darkness. “Destroyers have a lot of bad qualities. One of our worst is how possessive we get. I don’t share. No one will dare to touch you once they see the mark.”
He sounds far too cheerful.
I shove him .
Of course, Sin is built like a mountain, and he doesn’t move an inch.
“How dare you! You high-handed, arrogant asshole! You don’t get to decide anything about me! I am done being treated like an object!” I yell, livid.
I try to shove him again, but this time, Sin catches my hands. “I’m not treating you like an object,” he placates and then adds, “Kittens are pets.”
I see red.
Sin grins like he’s having the time of his life before the floor gives out from below us.
We land a second later in the training arena. As soon as my body steadies from the jolt of being apparated without warning, Sin releases me, giving me space.
“Angry, kitten? Do something about it,” he taunts, holding out his arms.
Still, I don’t move, trying to get my rage back under control.
This is a sick and twisted game to him.
If you engage, you’ve already lost.
Sin cocks his head, appraising me. “Well, if you’re going to act all meek and domesticated, maybe I should make you wear a collar.”
My eye twitches.
“I’ll make sure to add ‘property of Sin’ on your pet tag,” he adds.
I launch myself at him.
I don’t care that he’s double my size or that he clearly wants me to attack him and that by doing so, I’m playing right into his hands.
I just want to win .
Just this once, I need to be the one who comes out on top. Not for an audience. Not to prove to Sin that I’m not a liability.
This is for me.
Before today, it wasn’t an issue that Sin always kicked my ass in the arena. But now we’ve crossed a line. One that gives him even more power over me even outside of our training.
Something has to give. He doesn’t get to hold all the power.
So, I’m going to win.
Sin wants me angry and fighting, and he’s succeeded. But I am fighting for so much more.
Cassandra’s voice echoes in my mind, ordering me to move one way or another. ‘ Dive left. Punch him in the kidney. Roll over, feign right.’
But Sin always moves out of the way, a fraction before I can touch him, not bothering to land a hit on me.
I scream in frustration, and Sin tsks, “You’re slow. Cassandra’s memories might show you how to fight, but it’s nothing if you can’t move your ass.”
Growling, I step back, breathing heavily.
He’s right. I might be slower, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be smarter.
‘Make use of any weakness you find in your enemy.’ Cassandra’s memory rings out. And it takes less than a heartbeat to know what Sin’s weakness is.
It’s me.
The mortal he’s partnered with and thinks he needs for some ridiculous prophecy .
I’m breakable. Even now, I’ve been careful to only attack him with my upper body to avoid adding any strain on my stitches.
The same stitches Sin has been keeping a close eye on.
He cares, and I’m more than ready to abuse that realization.
Sin might be the master of riling me to the point of fury, but he has no idea the lengths I will go to never feel powerless again.
I charge him again, raising my fist. Only instead of ever throwing the punch, I wait until the last possible second before throwing myself to the ground, the whole of my weight coming down on my injured leg.
A second is all I need.
Sin’s eyes widen in concern, and I kick my leg out, tripping him.
We connect, and Sin goes down hard, falling backwards. He’s barely hit the ground, and I’m on him, shoving my forearm into his neck.
I lean in, close enough to see the onyx flecks in his gray eyes. “Who owns who now?” I whisper, adding more pressure against his neck.
Sin’s eyes flare, and I swear I see a hint of pride in them before it disappears behind his usual smug look. In a blink, he pins my arms above his head. I shift to knee him in the balls, but Sin uses my movement to wrap his legs around my own, effectively immobilizing me.
I buck against his hold but get hit with a shock of heat when his hard length presses directly against the fabric between my legs .
“If you wanted to be on top, you just had to say so,” Sin notes as he rolls his hips.
I ignore the arousal that floods me.
“Not happening,” I answer, gritting my teeth.
Sin only shrugs, transferring my hands into one of his, refusing to let me go.
I struggle against him, but it’s like fighting a tree.
Without hesitation, he flips us so that I’m on my back, and he’s straddling me. His free hand grips my neck, but any heat that was just his gaze has been replaced by cold calculation.
The mood swings strike again.
“You’re going to be fighting creatures that have been alive for millennia. Get faster, and don’t pick fights you can’t win,” he barks. His hand flexes once against my throat, driving his point home before he climbs off me.
Blinking at the jolt in conversation and the lack of his body pressing against mine, I sit up, huffing, “I didn’t pick that fight. You did.”
My leg stings from the move I pulled, and Sin offers me a hand.
I ignore it, standing on my own.
“I goaded you. You took the bait. Doing that with other immortals will get you killed,” Sin instructs, his tone hard.
“I’m not a confrontational person. I would never go around trying to hurt people,” I argue defensively.
I can confidently say I avoid fights at all possible costs.
Only instead of arguing back, my comment seems to stop whatever frustration Sin is working through. A slow smile spreads across his face, and I diligently focus on not remembering how his mouth felt against me today.
“Oh, so I’m special to you,” he notes, cutting through my issues with fantasizing.
I flush. “You are not!”
My steps are heavy as I stomp away from him, but the stairs leading up to the balcony doors muffle the sound. At this point, I am more than ready for this conversation to be over, but of course, Sin only follows me.
“Careful, kitten. Talk like that, and I might start to think you like me,” Sin says, laughing at me.
“I hate you,” I mutter.
“Sure, you do,” he patronizes.
I turn to stick my tongue out at him but think better of it at the last second.
The absolute last thing this man needs right now is to think I’m offering him an invitation into my mouth.
A warm hand settles over my lower back, directing me towards the dining room. “Come on, let’s get you fed before you get angry.”
“I’m already angry with you,” I snap.
“Nah, if you were angry with me, you would have used your powers and really tried to hurt me,” Sin notes, still sounding amused. “You’re angry with yourself.”
I scoff, “Why the hell would I be angry with myself when you’re the one who thinks he can claim my body?”
We’re almost inside the dining room when the warmth of Sin’s hand on my back disappears, only for him to snatch me around my middle and slam me against him.
I turn to demand he let me go, but Sin is faster, taking that opportunity to nip at my neck over the spot he marked.
My breath stutters.
He licks at the mark again before whispering, “You’re angry with yourself because you like it, kitten.”
With that, he releases me, lightly pushing me to the dining room.
Any comment I want to throw back at him is swallowed by the sight of the others at the table, already eating their dinner. I throw him a glare that I hope conveys my threat of violence the moment I get him alone.
I don’t miss his answering wink, even as I dismiss him, deciding to focus on the people who don’t inspire my murderous thoughts.
Arianna has squeezed a chair next to Damien, so she’s sitting in front of my spot. Her face morphs from looking lost in her thoughts to unadulterated amusement when she sees us. “Vivian, you look a little flushed, I wonder what you two were up to.”
She says it so suggestively I flush even more, trying not to think about the bright red mark on my neck. I ignore her comment. She’s had a day, so she gets a pass.
Rosie glances my way as I take my seat next to her, but mercifully, she only grins and says nothing.
Magnus cocks his head, looking me over before his focus zeroes in on the offending mark. He doesn’t smile but sighs before reaching over to Damien and whispering something.
Damien’s gaze locks onto my neck, and I think about how cool it would be to be moss. Just some green stuff hanging on a tree, with no mortifying moments.
Moss life sounds good right about now.
While everyone takes a turn staring at me, Sin leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. His expression is smug as he looks at Magnus and Damien, waiting for them to realize what he’s done.
Men are animals.
Territorial, testosterone-infested animals.
My cheeks feel like they might catch fire by the time Damien finally looks away to glare at Sin. Magnus grips Damien’s arm and the tension around the table skyrockets.
Except for Arianna, of course, who makes a kissy face at me.
She’s unhinged.
I try to kick her under the table.
She mouths, ‘Harder please,’ and I commit to ignoring her again.
“Really, Sin? Was it necessary to mark her?” Magnus asks, irritation bleeding into his voice.
“You had no right,” Damien spits.
Sin raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. “I have the only right.”
That comment is enough to have me aiming a second kick at him. I connect, and Sin glances back at me, amused. I open my mouth to tell him he’s delusional, but Damien speaks before I have the chance.
“She doesn’t even like you,” Damien barks out. His typical jovial, lighthearted expression is replaced by one that promises violence. “If you manipulated…” he starts but doesn’t finish the sentence.
The insinuation is there, though, and now I’m irritated with him, too. “No one mani–”
“Oh, for goodness’s sake,” Rosie chirps, cutting me off. “Men are so oblivious it hurts.”
That comment right there is why she is my favorite.
“My partner. My protection. My mark,” Sin growls.
Magnus turns to me, clearly frustrated but still level-headed. “And you don’t oppose his actions, little enigma?”
I turn, and my stare collides with Sin’s. There’s no mistaking the challenge in his eyes. I know he would have stopped touching me if I asked him to. But I didn’t.
I wanted it.
Sure, I’m annoyed that he openly claimed me, but what will admitting that achieve? The last thing my allies need is a rift between them, and Damien looks ready to do battle on my behalf.
Not happening. This fight stays between Sin and me.
“Not at all,” I respond sweetly, but I don’t tear my eyes away from Sin. “Especially since he agreed that I can mark him in return.”
Sin raises a brow but doesn’t disagree .
Still, my comment must be enough to calm Damien because he visibly relaxes against Magnus, his lethal intent somewhat dissipating.
“Well, now that you’ve got that out of your systems,” Morgana starts, clearing her throat. “We have a problem to discuss.”
Her comment sends my anxiety skyrocketing.
The last time we had a problem was earlier today. How frequently do problems happen in this realm?
I don’t need more anxiety.
My needs are simple and consistent.
A bookish realm with a ward that doesn’t allow entry to men would still solve ninety-nine percent of my problems.
“Now that Vivian has removed the forsaken from the realm, we have lost our army. We are vulnerable, and if the Council finds out, they will not hesitate to attack,” Morgana says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Arianna looks at me quizzically, and I shrug, not even remotely sorry. “Enslaving souls is disgusting. I freed them.”
Morgana narrows her eyes at me. “So, you say. However, I note that you have no proof they’ve been freed. And believe it or not, I happen to agree with you. I never enslaved the forsaken. My realm was a sanctuary to them, and they helped me in return.”
I frown at her. “I’m sorry, but don’t you have a freed Destroyer here? Can’t he just dis-exist the Council? Why didn’t you guys do that the moment you got his key?”
I’m not trying to be rude. I’m genuinely curious as to why they’ve dragged things out for so long .
Rosie coughs, and Sin mutters under his breath, “So bloodthirsty, kitten.”
Morgana sighs. “The Council’s Castle is protected by magic that nullifies Destroyer energy. We couldn’t hit them at their heart, even if we wanted to.”
I still don’t get it. “But can’t Sin just un-exist any soldiers sent here?”
Sin sits forward and answers, “I can. Can’t people in your realm just throw nuclear bombs around any time someone misbehaves?”
I swallow. Touché .
Morgana continues, “If Sin uses his powers to that end, we will draw the anger of every neighboring realm. They’ll feel threatened, even if we mean them no harm. We’ll have more enemies than ever. I’m not prepared to commit genocide in every realm. We want to do this properly, to bring peace. Not more war.”
I nod, a bit in awe. Morgana really isn’t evil. She and Sin have the power to destroy the universe, but they refuse to use it.
“We need allies now, more than ever. I’ve made many contacts over the years. Some in the Council, some outside. They have large armies at their disposal. If they can be convinced to join us, we might have a chance at taking down Need and any other corrupted members,” Morgana says, hope entering her tone.
My brow furrows. “But why only do this now? Again, why wait so long to form allies?”
Morgana smiles, and it’s calculated. “We didn’t. I’ve been trying, but they’ve refused to side with us for fear of retaliation from Need. However, there is one thing that can change their mind. ”
The others turn from Morgana to me, and I shrink back into my chair a fraction under the weight of their attention.
“No one dared move against Need after they heard the prophecy. They’ve been waiting for you, Vivian. To see which side of the war you would take,” Morgana finishes.
I swallow. “That seems like a really bad battle strategy on their part.”
This is ridiculous. People shouldn’t be deciding to move armies just because I exist.
It’s too much. I only want to worry about midterms. Those are stressful enough. I don’t want to add war to my plate.
You can’t just color-code war with highlighters and expect things to be okay.
A cool sweat forms on my back, and my vision darkens around the edges. I’m pretty sure I’m about to have a panic attack in front of everyone. That realization only makes it worse. My ears start to ring, blocking out the noise around me. The only sound making it through is my heartbeat, thundering in my ears.
I can’t breathe. The walls are starting to close in on me.
I try to gasp for air, but I’m distracted by the feeling of something touching my leg. I jolt in my seat as my leg is pulled up and placed on something firm. It takes me a second to realize Sin’s just grabbed my leg and is resting it on his thighs.
His fingers start tracing circles around my calf, and I try to pull back .
He doesn’t let me.
My cheeks flush, and I glance around the table, but no one is watching us. Sin looks like he’s comfortably sitting in his chair with his hands on his lap.
I narrow my eyes at him, and he winks, all the while continuing to massage my calf.
‘Stop it,’ I mouth at him.
He grins.
‘Make me,’ he mouths back.
He’s such a child.
Sin turns back to Morgana, effectively dismissing me.
Insufferable jerk.
The others continue to discuss the impending war, and it takes me a few minutes to realize I’m not panicking anymore. Sin distracted me long enough for my anxiety to stop spiralling. The realization has me frowning at my plate, picking at the food.
That makes no sense. Sin wouldn’t purposefully calm me down. He riles me up. The timing had to be a coincidence. He just grabbed me to annoy me and to drive home the fact that he can touch my body if he wants to.
I ignore how good his touch feels, trying to focus on my food.
Rosie whispers in my ear, “So, are you going to be up for it?”
“Up for what?” I ask, turning to her.
“The plan,” she answers, glancing at the others. “The one everyone just settled on.”
I choke on some bread .
Rosie pats my back as I try to inhale air instead of carbs.
“Sorry, I was lost in my own thoughts. What’s the plan?” I ask.
Sin must be listening in because he’s the one who answers.
“Us, kitten. We’re the plan.”