Chapter 52
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule fifty-two: If your opponent criticizes you, try horrifying them with suicidal requests.
“The leaders of the rebel armies refuse to apparate their people to the Otherworld until they have elected a leader for the war,” Morgana explains, sounding pissed off.
We’re standing at the entrance to the hedge maze. Ragna and Morgana wanted to hold the meeting inside for privacy, but I vetoed the idea.
Even though Sin could use his power to ensure it’s no longer a death maze, I’m still never stepping foot in there again.
In fact, if I can convince the gnome-squirrel creatures to move out, I think I’ll burn it down once the war is over.
I’ll write it off as pillaging and whatnot.
Ragna also looks like she’s in a sour mood and keeps giving me and Sin dirty looks.
She definitely knows what we were doing.
This meeting is uncomfortable. Unsurprisingly, Sin and Morgana have yet to make up. They’re stiflingly formal with each other, and it makes my heart break all over again.
What does surprise me is the hostility between Sin and Ragna. He’s eyeing her like he expects her to pull a blade on us.
Is everyone forgetting that we’re on the same side?
“Uhm, why is everyone so upset? That is great news,” I note tentatively.
The armies want to vote in a leader who is actually qualified? Sign me up!
“No. It isn’t,” Morgana says, sighing. “Need could mobilize her armies at any moment. We don’t have time for people to drag their feet.”
“The conclave will be held this evening. Hopefully, the vote will be unanimous, and we won’t have to deal with deserters,” Ragna adds.
“Great! Should we be there? Or is this a realm leader thing?” I ask, clarifying.
I don’t want to overstep now that the adults are taking charge. I’m very much okay with staying at the kids’ table.
Morgana looks like she might start banging her head against a wall at any moment. Ragna stares at me like she thinks I’m an imbecile.
I glance between them, wondering what their problem is. It was a valid question. When my gaze drifts over to Sin, I find him already looking at me.
“Yeah, kitten, you should be there. You command a sizable army, and you led the siege of the Council castle.” His eyes dance with amusement, and his lip is quirked on one side, like he wants to laugh.
“Try to keep your hands off each other for at least a few hours at the conclave,” Ragna adds, giving us a pointed look.
I flush, mortified, whereas Sin resumes glaring at her.
“We met a friend of yours last night,” he says mildly, ignoring her comment.
Ragna raises an unimpressed brow. “I’m not surprised. I have many friends in my realm.”
Reaching into his pocket, Sin pulls out her bone ring and tosses it to her. “She must be a very good friend, since she had quite a few of these.”
The way he says the words radiates hostility. Morgana looks as troubled as I am by their budding animosity. Her obsidian eyes meet mine, and she slightly tilts her chin toward Sin.
Understanding the silent message, I give a small nod back.
We need to defuse this immediately.
“Vivian, Sin mentioned you used more of your power last night without issues,” Morgana starts.
“Uhm, yeah,” I agree, only for Morgana to raise a brow, as if to say, ‘help me out here.’ Clearing my throat, I continue, “But Hades warned me against using my power, since my soul is unstable.”
Morgana hums like she’s thinking over my answer, but it seems forced.
“It may grow more unstable as you continue to decay, but you seem to be in your right mind, at least for now. Your power could make a huge difference during the war. Sin and Leon will be busy nullifying each other’s powers… ” she trails off.
I frown, not sure where she’s going with this, and wonder if we can get a redo on the topic change.
But it’s Sin who continues her thought, turning to eye me curiously. “But if she can take out a Destroyer’s power, it would be like having two Destroyers on our side.”
All eyes land on me, and I gape back at them, a little dumbstruck. “You think I’m as strong as the most powerful creatures in the universe?” I clarify, trying not to scoff.
“No, I think you’re stronger than they are,” Ragna answers. “I’ve sensed it since you arrived here, and I assume your attack on the Council wards was only a fraction of what you can do.”
“You’re all insane,” I deadpan.
Sin grins. “There’s only one way to find out, kitten.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“The training fields, please. You’ll be less likely to destroy another wing of the castle,” Morgana interjects, pausing to give me a hard look. “I just saw what you did to the library, Vivian, and I am never letting you near my office, ever again.”
The training yard is bustling with soldiers, only now, it’s filled with familiar faces.
They’re the freed prisoners.
My army.
Before I can spiral on that thought, a pair of warm amber eyes find mine as Varian jogs over. I saw him yesterday morning, but he already looks healthier. His body is filling out with muscle, and his skin has more color. Magical healing is a remarkable thing.
“Vivian! Is something wrong?” He asks, concerned.
“Not at all! Ignore us,” I note with a reassuring smile. Everyone is probably on edge over the war.
Varian stops in front of us, and he arches a playful brow. “Ah, so you must be here to enthrall some more creatures. Getting greedy? A three-headed dog and a dragon aren’t enough?”
Sin’s hand twitches against the small of my back, but I laugh off the dragon shifter. After Conner, Magnus, and Damien, I might be immune to flirting.
“You have it all wrong. I don’t enthrall creatures, I train them. There’s a difference,” I clap back, thinking the jab at his pride will put a stop to his advances.
Of course, it backfires.
Varian’s eyes heat, and he steps closer, invading my personal bubble. “In that case, mistress, what kind of treat are you going to give me if I’m a good boy?”
I immediately try to back up a step, only to bump into Sin. There’s a flash of red, and in less than a blink, Varian is sprawled onto the ground, gasping for air.
“I would advise against flirting with my mate,” Sin notes mildly, before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
Butterflies erupt from an area that definitely isn’t my stomach.
That can’t be normal, can it?
Varian sputters as he pulls himself back to standing, “But she isn’t your mate.”
My eyes widen. Is this man seriously challenging Sin’s claim over me? “No, I definitely am,” I correct before this goes badly.
Varian glances between the two of us, looking genuinely confused.
“You aren’t. I’m a shifter. We can smell the difference.
When females form a mate bond, their scent becomes muted to anyone but their mate.
” His eyes drift down my body, and he adds with a rumbling purr, “And you smell like temptation incarnate.”
“How upset will you be if I kill him?” Sin whispers, not caring that Varian can definitely hear him.
I tilt my head back to give him a soft kiss. “He’s on our side.”
We should at least try to explain the situation before resorting to violence. Still, I’m not keen on broadcasting the news about my shattered soul. My friends and Ragna know, and that seems like more than enough.
It takes me a second to realize that I didn’t immediately dismiss the idea of hurting our ally.
Oh boy, maybe I am getting more violent than usual. The whole soul deterioration thing might be a problem sooner rather than later.
Maybe I should try to meditate tonight.
Thankfully, Damien jogs over before my severely impaired judgment gets someone killed.
He claps Varian on the shoulder. “Sorry to break it to you, but Vivian is definitely mated. The reason she smells so good is because she’s holding out for more mates.”
I laugh at his terrible excuse, only to stop short when I realize everyone still looks serious.
Sin tenses behind me.
Varian looks at him like he’s deliberating something, before his eyes come back to me. He inhales, and the amber in his eyes becomes small slits, as his black pupils expand. “I can share,” he says, and it comes out on a low, shuddering breath.
A growl builds in Sin’s chest.
Damien jumps in again, and his hand tightens on Varian’s shoulder. “See, Magnus and I had the same thought, but you might as well give up hope. Vivian already told us she’s holding out for Irena and Rosie.”
“I did say that,” I agree, and it takes everything in me to keep a straight face.
Varian’s brow lifts before he throws his head back and lets out a sound of pure suffering. “Lucky bastard. That’s a mental image that will be playing in my fantasies for centuries to come.”
I really didn’t need that information.
“Keep talking, and I’ll make sure to burn them from your mind,” Sin warns, and I melt back into him a little more.
“Come on,” Damien says, elbowing Varian in the ribs. “I’m guessing they’re here to train, and I promise you won’t want to miss this.”
The dragon shifter throws me a longing look and sighs as he turns to follow. “Let me know if you change your mind,” he calls over his shoulder.
I shake my head. “I won’t.”
He mimes a broken heart and then turns away.
“Killing people really isn’t the best way to make friends,” I point out, as we step into the largest training arena.
It’s at least ten times the size of the arena in the Shadow Realm where Sin and I were training.
The ground has been reduced to bare dirt from what looks like eons of training.
A simple wooden fence wraps around the space, and already, people are hanging off it, whispering and nodding our way.
Others are gathering on a grassy hill, watching us intently.
I’m not particularly keen on having an audience, but I’m hopeful the size of the space means they won’t be able to hear us.
Sin shrugs when we reach the center. “I don’t do friends.”
I give him a dubious look. “You’re friends with me.”
“That’s different,” he notes, and then gives me a devilish grin. “You’re mine.”
That’s just unfair.