Chapter 28
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule twenty-eight: The answer is, without a shadow of a doubt, cannibalism.
Faster than I can blink, Sin sweeps me behind him, placing himself between the guards and me. The motion snaps me out of my bubble, and I watch in horror as my worst fear becomes a reality.
Sin is about to face off against the Council’s guards, completely powerless and unarmed.
A scream gets caught in my throat, just as a hand twists in my loose waves. Pain lances through my skull as I’m yanked off my feet.
“You stupid whore,” Leon hisses, dragging me away from the mayhem.
Sin turns, and murder flashes through his gaze when he sees Leon’s hands on me. Frantically, I point to the door, begging him without words to save himself.
They can’t take him. He needs to escape.
The rhythmic clanging of metal grows louder, and more soldiers continue to pour into the room. Sin is surrounded.
All thoughts of loyalties, wars, and rebellions fade to nothing when I see their blades pointed at the man I love. None of it matters if he doesn’t live.
Guests panic and try to flee, but the guards stand firm, blocking every exit. We’re all locked in.
I hiss as Leon jerks me upright, keeping a death-grip in my hair. He forces me to watch as guards approach Sin.
One is holding a set of black cuffs. They’re the same ones Arianna was wearing when I found her – the kind that nullifies magic.
No, please no.
Another soldier swings an axe at Sin’s head, but he ducks out of the way. In a flash, Sin grabs the guard and throws him into two others approaching. He moves with ease, reminding me that even without power or weapons, he’s lethal.
But the tide of soldiers looks endless.
Five guards charge him at once, and I forget how to breathe. One gets a chain around Sin’s neck, causing him to stumble back. The world seems to stop as another guard lifts his sword, ready to impale Sin in the gut.
An ear-splitting roar fills the room.
The floor trembles as a silver wolf the size of a freaking horse launches into the fray.
The silver beast aims for the soldier behind Sin, clamping its teeth around the guard’s head.
In another second, there’s a sickening rip as the soldier’s body is thrown across the room, and the head falls to the ground, rolling until it hits Sin’s feet.
A new wave of chaos erupts, as dozens of soldiers charge. Sin and the wolf fight perfectly in sync, bathing the floors in red. All around the room, terrified guests scramble, pressing themselves against the walls.
“Traitorous bitch,” Leon spits, and he turns on his heel, dragging me to the grand staircase. He only stops once we’re halfway up the steps, well away from the danger.
Still, he doesn’t release me. Instead, he twists me until my back is crushed against his chest. He uses his hold on my hair to force my chin up, ensuring he can watch my expression as the fight unfolds.
“Watch, Vivian. Watch him die because of your selfishness,” he whispers, clearly excited.
A whimper escapes my lips, despite my efforts to hold it in, and something firm twitches against my back. But not even Leon’s touch can stop the spark of hope that ignites inside of me when I refocus on the fight.
They’ve managed to clear a path to the doors. The wolf lets out a menacing growl and looks at Sin before flicking its muzzle in that direction. It’s a clear order to ‘get your ass out of here.’ Then, the beast returns to turning soldiers into chew toys.
The brief pause is all it takes for me to recognize the beast’s yellow eyes.
Ragna.
The queen of the Beast Realm is fighting with us. We have an ally.
The hope is short-lived, though, when Sin turns, easily spotting me. He takes in Leon’s rough hold on me, and his easy confidence is replaced by lethal fury.
He doesn’t move for the doors.
I try to shake my head, pleading with him not to do this as he continues to cut down soldiers, coming back for me. Leon’s punishing grip doesn’t let me move a muscle.
Ragna looks annoyed by his change in direction, but doesn’t falter. They move like a two-person army, spilling the blood of countless soldiers.
With each fallen soldier, more unease builds in my gut. Something is wrong. These soldiers are hardly putting up a fight, and they seem unorganized. They don’t move with the deadly calm that I’ve come to recognize in the Elite soldiers.
But why?
Just as I ask myself the question, I catch a flash of purple on the floor above us. Sin and Ragna freeze, mid-attack.
“That’s quite enough,” Need calls out. Her voice is coming from above us, and Leon turns us to face her. Dread washes over me as I take in the dozen men in purple robes on either side of her.
Council mages.
Their arms are extended toward the fight, and their lips move in a soundless chant. No light leaves their palms, but I know they’re using magic to hold Sin and Ragna.
“This is a disturbing attack,” Need continues, sounding disappointed.
“We have gathered here as a gesture of goodwill, in an effort to bring peace between the realms. And yet even now, the Shadow Realm spits at our good intentions. I am incredibly saddened by this betrayal, and even further disappointed to see the Beast Realm has chosen to align itself with a realm that would choose violence and war over peace.”
She makes her way down the steps, and I swallow thickly when I realize she’s headed for me.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“It seems our sweet, naive Creator has been drawn in by their lies. Her heart is being pulled in two directions, and I believe it’s time we settle, once and for all, where her loyalty truly lies.
” Need reaches my side, but her words are loud enough to carry across the room.
“Vivian, you must choose which Destroyer you will align yourself with. If you choose Sin, you are choosing war. The Shadow Realm has already shown it isn’t willing to accept peace.
As such, we will be forced to end Sin’s immortal existence.
It will be a loss, but this is the only way we can ensure the safety of the realms.”
Oh gods no. They can’t kill him.
Terror spears through me, but Need isn’t finished. “Or you can choose to bind yourself to Leon, of your own free will. If Sin is willing to accept your choice, then he and Ragna will be given a final chance to leave peacefully.” Her eyes narrow on me. “Their fate rests in your hands. Choose now.”
“You will answer her,” Leon growls.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to hold back tears. It isn’t even a question. Sin’s life is on the line, and there is nothing I won’t do to save him. But that doesn’t mean I can bring myself to look at him when I answer in a barely audible whisper. “Leon.”
Need steps closer. “What was that? The room must hear you.”
Swallowing, I force my eyes open, and Leon wrenches my head to the side, making sure Sin is now directly in my line of sight.
His gaze burns into mine, pleading with me not to do this – not again.
“I choose Leon. I will willingly bind myself to him,” I call out in a clear, loud voice, even as my heart breaks.
The shattered pieces of my soul throb, and I welcome the pain. I deserve to hurt for this.
Need opens her arms, a triumphant smile now firmly locked in place.
“There, that wasn’t so difficult. The Creator has chosen.
Let us put this matter behind us. Our attackers will have one last chance to leave peacefully.
If they continue to fight, I’m afraid we will have no choice but to put them down.
” She turns to the mages. “Release them.”
Whatever magic was holding Sin and Ragna dissipates, and tension coils through them as they regain control of their bodies.
Still, they don’t run. Rage emanates from Sin as he takes another step toward me.
My blood turns to ice at the thought that he’s going to continue to fight, but he doesn’t press any closer.
“Don’t make me wait long, kitten,” he growls.
He gives me a final warning look and then turns on his heel. He and Ragna don’t look back as they stride out of the castle.
I crane my neck, trying to ensure they make it out safely, but Leon twists my head back, forcing me to look at him instead.
His twisted, humorless laugh sets my hairs on end. “Don’t worry about them, pet. The Council mages will ensure the traitors never cross these wards again, not without cuffs binding them.”
His free hand grips my throat, and he doesn’t try to mask his unbridled rage as he gives me a sadistic smile. “You, on the other hand? You should be very worried about yourself.”
Whispers and shuffles fill the room as guests watch us, visibly uncomfortable. No doubt, they’re appalled with the way their precious Creator is being treated, but fear keeps them from interfering.
Need narrows her eyes at the crowd before turning back to us. “Get her out of here, and get it done,” she orders with a hiss.
Leon takes a deep inhale as he skims his nose along the back of my neck. “Gladly.”
The anticipation in his tone makes my skin crawl.
“Smile, darling,” he orders, as he picks me up bridal style and starts up the steps.
Distantly, I hear Need telling the guests that Leon and I will be consummating our mate bond.
Bile rises in my throat.
Leon carries me in a mockingly tender embrace as he walks through the corridors. He smiles at every servant and guest, but even his charming mask can’t hide the crazy look in his eyes.
My breaths quicken, as once again, I try to find a way out of this.
Sin said they can’t hold me.
I grit my teeth together. The forced smile on my face and the way my body refuses to answer certainly feel like they’re holding me.
Why can’t people in fantasy realms be less cryptic?
What’s wrong with telling someone, ‘oh hey, tap your toes together three times and say “no means no,” and all your troubles will melt away?’
The instructions are unclear. I need an adult.