Sin
Fear clawed at her insides, sharp and insistent.
The bond had weakened—she could feel it, a fading echo in the back of her mind.
What if she was too late? What if Max was already gone?
Panic threatened to steal her focus, her thoughts turning frantic, her heartbeat a rapid pulse of dread.
She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t lose him.
Not now, not when they had fought so hard.
Her hands trembled as she raised them, and she screamed, a raw, primal sound that carried her agony and fury through the blood-soaked halls.
The tempestum magic roared to life, writhing beneath her skin like a caged beast, each spark a violent burst of her desperation.
It hurt, and she let it—needed it—to burn, to keep her moving.
She focused it on the stone walls, her mind commanding them to move.
The walls groaned in response, as if the sentience within them defied her.
But her magic would not be defied. She—would not be contained.
The stone rippled like liquid, shifting, parting, creating a direct path that would lead her to Max. Nothing else mattered.
The castle walls shuddered under her command, groaning as if they carried her pain. Every shift in the stone sent shivers up her arms, the texture of ancient rock giving way beneath the relentless force of her magic.
As she charged down the hallway, she heard echoes of Max’s laughter in her mind—one of those rare, fleeting moments when his guard dropped.
She remembered the heat of his body against hers, the way his breath tickled her ear in the dead of winter, the promises he whispered—promises meant only for her.
His hands, always a mixture of gentleness and possession, the way they traced her skin like he could imprint himself into her bones. Without him, the darkness threatened to devour her, the ghosts of his touch slipping through her fingers.
A sudden explosion from above sent chunks of stone crashing down, cutting her off.
Dust filled the air, and Sin was forced to shield her eyes as the path ahead was blocked once more.
She found a stairway, jumping down several steps at a time, screeching and shouting as she used her power to manipulate the castle walls, leading to a massive door that she threw open.
She was yanked back. The dungeons—full of the king’s soldiers, each face twisted with intent to kill. A tide of bodies, a wall of rage.
They shouted their war cry as they poured out of the door. The last obstacle to her mate, Sin thought as she raised her palms, gathering power.
Their faces were vicious, filled with fear, like they knew this might be the last moments of their lives.
Sin could feel enough magic to kill the king if she had to, but if she killed all of these soldiers, she would be depleted, and they would all be fucked.
Time was running out, the others were cursing over and over, unsure of what to do.
Sin was ready to do it, the last bit of magic that it would take, the magic she needed to save her mate. But if she didn’t do it, they would all die. She raised her hands and began drawing power to the palms of her hands, to the pores on her skin, when hissing erupted within the halls.
A soldier lunged at her, blade aimed for her head. A hiss—then chaos. Dozens of snakes slithered into the hall, their forms shifting mid-air.
The serpentine army joined the fray, their movements sleek as they struck down the king’s men.
One of them caught her gaze, his eyes narrowing as he shielded her from an incoming blow.
She wasn’t used to allies, especially not in a place like this.
The instinct was to push them away, to trust no one but herself.
But they fought for her, carving a path with her, and that tiny flicker of hope almost hurt more than the wounds she’d sustained.
Red hair stole her attention.
Hope turned to a heavy stone in her stomach as she saw the King on the other side of bodies. His hands were crossed behind his back, and he was smirking as he walked into a cell, shutting it behind him.
Molten rage flooded her bloodstream.
The muscles in her legs screamed for reprieve, her bones threatening to splinter beneath the force of each blow. But pain was a familiar friend, one she embraced as it whispered, ‘You’re still alive.’
The sweet voice was back again, unnerving her as it reminded her, “Your future is waiting for you. Hurry!”
A soldier hesitated, his blade raised but not yet striking. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw something there—fear, uncertainty.
A part of her ached at what she was about to do. But there was no time for mercy. Not when Max was waiting. Not when she could feel the bond fading. She gritted her teeth, swung her magic wide, and he crumbled. There was no room for hesitation. Not now.
Sin knew the lines she was crossing—the bodies piling up, each one another step away towards the person everyone said she’d become. She saw their faces, saw the flicker of fear before her magic struck. But what choice did she have? She’d become the monster they feared if it meant saving him.
Max was worth the darkness. For him, she would burn it all.
A soldier stepped in front of her, kneeling at her feet, his weapon lowered.
His face was pale beneath the grime, eyes hollowed with sleeplessness.
“I’m not your enemy,” he said, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
“I have a daughter… she’s waiting for me at home.
I can’t let her grow up in a world ruled by him. ”
Sin’s breath hitched. She nodded, seeing the fear and determination in his eyes, recognizing a reflection of her own resolve. “Then fight with me,” she said, her voice fierce. He nodded, raising his sword—not against her, but for her. A few more of the king’s soldiers followed suit, unnerving her.
Serpentine soldiers noticed them. Becoming wary, several neared closer to her, helping to try and force a path through. With the help of her heightened senses, she was able to duck, and evade strikes aimed for her head.
Tears and blood were blinding her at the thought of losing the only good thing that came into her life. And it wasn’t only good, it wasn’t perfect. He had his demons, and they played so perfectly well with hers.
The silence in the bond was suffocating. Sin forced herself to keep moving, refusing to listen to the voice in her mind that whispered it was already over. That she was running too late. Her magic lashed out, wild and dangerous, like her heart.
“You’re stronger than you think, Sin,” Max’s previous words echoed in her mind, and for a heartbeat, she almost believed it was real.
She remembered the warmth in his tone, the steadiness in his gaze as he had said those words.
She clung to that memory now, let it fuel her, even as the walls groaned and the soldiers closed in.
She had to be stronger. Strong enough to save him.
She thought of his smirk as she slit the last throat standing in between her and the dungeon cell door.
The battle continued behind her as she gathered all the magic within, and she absentmindedly made the door compact, falling to the floor. She met the face of the male she loved, met the gaze of one green eye, as the other was missing, and everything went quiet.