Chapter 57
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule fifty-seven: If you’re going to accidentally cause the apocalypse, do it because of daddy issues.
“What?” It comes out as a harsh whisper. The disbelief hits first, because there’s no way.
Ragna’s expression softens as her gaze meets mine. “It’s true. I suspected it the moment I met you, but I only became certain of it yesterday, after the titan stormed into headquarters.”
“Explain,” Sin growls. His arm is still wrapped around me, feeling like a tether as my mind tries to riot.
“I suspected it because they look almost identical. But I was certain once the titan tried to freeze everyone in the room. He wasn’t able to touch her, because like me, divine blood flows through her veins.”
I shake my head. “No, he left me mobile so he could ask me about Nymara.”
Ragna scoffs. “He did not. I saw it happen. The titan’s power extended across the entire room.”
My brow lowers as I try to remember the attack, but Sin interjects, “Who looks identical?”
“Vivian, of course. You and your sister could pass for twins,” Ragna answers matter-of-factly.
“The girl in the Beast Realm,” I whisper, almost to myself.
Ragna nods encouragingly, like she’s pleased with how I’m taking the news. “She’s your half-sister. You’re a year older than she is.”
My mind flashes back to the party just a few doors down, remembering the glimpse of red hair after someone touched my wrist – right before my bracelet disappeared.
The tangled threads of deceit finally start to untangle.
I get flashbacks of the undead corpse saying I was born first, and of Ragna knowing what I was because she’d smelled one before.
“It’s her. She’s the other Reaper,” I choke out.
“She is. And like you, she is a demigod,” Ragna explains, and there’s a protective edge to her tone.
I swallow, still trying to process everything. A half-sister seems easy enough to accept. I always knew it was possible that the man who fathered me had more children.
But the idea that we’re demigods? That’s a little too far out of the realm of possibility, even for me.
She must be lying, and I desperately search for a hole in her explanation.
“It’s still not possible. Need would have known. She would have leached all your power,” I argue.
If it comes down to believing Nymara or Ragna, I’m siding with my absentee frienemy.
Ragna moves to sit on a nearby chair, like she’s settling in for a lengthy discussion.
I stay standing.
“Need has many qualities that make her a formidable enemy, but she’s blinded by arrogance.
She’s always focused on hunting beings from her own pantheon, believing they’re the only true gods.
Others were occasionally captured over the years, if they grew powerful, but many of us have stayed hidden in plain sight,” she explains in an infuriatingly rational tone.
“So, who exactly are you supposed to be?” I ask, not particularly caring if it’s rude.
This is something she should have told me, and instead she chose to announce it to the rebel army leaders.
Ragna folds her hands over the silver layers of her gown, seemingly unperturbed by my tone. “The people of your realm stopped using my name long ago. But when they did, the Norse called me Sol, and your father Mani.”
At the word ‘father,’ I start to shake my head again.
“No. This is quite literally impossible. My father is some random guy my mother had a one-night stand with. And you’re trying to tell me she slept with a freaking god?
That of all the possible people in the realms, a god looked at my mother and thought – absolutely, that’s the one,” I finish with a harsh laugh.
Finally, Ragna’s calm facade slips, and she frowns at my tone.
I throw all my defiance into glaring back.
Not long ago, I would have tiptoed around this powerful creature, not daring to voice anything other than the quietest hint of concern. But those days are long gone.
“Your father was contacted by Clotho and set on a path to ensure you would be born,” she answers with a pointed look.
My stomach drops, and it feels like someone just pulled the rug out from under my feet.
How fucking far has the Fate been tampering with my life?
Ragna takes a breath, and her tone softens again as she continues, “This is why you were able to tolerate holding so many different energies for as long as you did. It’s why you’re able to function, even now, when your soul has been shattered.”
She’s still talking, but not even Sin’s grounding presence is enough to keep my focus on her words. Because as the truth of my heritage settles, one glaring thought stands out, and it sends electricity hissing under my skin.
They fucking left me.
“Gods are fueled by worship. It’s why I continue to hold power, since I’m worshipped by the Beast Realm. But it’s different for demigods. Demigods require ascension before they–” Ragna’s voice is like a dull echo traveling over a long distance.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I whisper in a flat tone.
She pauses, her shifter hearing easily catching the words. My pulse roars in my ears, even as she gives me a warm smile.
Sin shifts, wrapping a second arm around my waist. “Easy, kitten, stay with me,” he whispers in my mind.
When I stay silent, Ragna starts talking again, oblivious to my spiraling, “Of course, there’ll be plenty of time for that later.” She stands, extending her arms like she expects a hug. “Welcome to the family, Vivian. Your father will be thrilled to finally meet you.”
Her words fuel the rage building inside me.
They fucking left me.
With her.
The violet power surges, the pain dulling as Sin works to neutralize it.
But I can’t stop.
Ragna takes a step toward us, still looking pleased. “And you’ll be able to visit freely, without the ring, of course, those are–”
“No.” This time, it isn’t a whisper. My voice is firm and void of inflection.
Ragna’s brow pinches. “What do you mean, no?”
“No, I’m not visiting. And no, I’m not meeting the man who fucking abandoned me,” I answer with a hiss.
The pain turns sharper, scorching through my veins and narrowing my vision.
Ragna looks completely taken aback. “Vivian, you were not abandoned. Clotho insisted we not–”
“Do you have any idea what kind of monster you left me with?” I growl, cutting her off.
“Did you ever think to check? Do you beat your children in the Beast Realm? Because my mother beat me. Other days, she just starved me. Until, of course, she grew paranoid that the neighbors would find out. That’s when she switched to breaking me with her words. ”
With every sentence, another piece of me cracks. Purple bolts snap at the floor, despite Sin’s continued efforts to dissipate the energy.
“No–” Ragna starts, eyes widening as her expression crumples. “No, she said you would be–”
“Ragna, you need to leave. Now,” Sin grits out, interrupting her.
Hurt and betrayal intertwine, coming together to feed my fury. All that time, all that pain, it was all on purpose.
It was planned.
“NOW, Ragna!” Sin growls as he turns me to face him.
There are footsteps, and the door slams. Sin is saying something else, but I’m too far gone.
The two wells of power bubble over, spilling and merging. The snapping hiss of electricity grows to a roar as more bolts fracture from my skin, lashing out at everything in sight.
“Fucking Fates,” Sin growls, and then his lips are on mine as he tries to pull me back.
But this time, my body doesn’t respond. All I can feel is the scorching heat of a power I was never strong enough to contain.
It’s consuming me.
“Kitten! Vivian!” He’s yelling now, and the room is a blaze of lavender as our energies clash.
They fucking left me.
How long will it take until Sin realizes he has to do the same?
How long until everyone knows that there is something critically wrong with me, and I’m alone again?
“Fucking, fuck!” Sin screams.
“PINEAPPLE!”
The word detonates inside the center of my skull, reverberating so loudly that it almost makes me dizzy.
I pause, and the universe feels like it’s holding its breath, as my eyes refocus, meeting Sin’s terrified gaze.
Slowly, I exhale, the single breath pulling back every trace of volatile power.
“Did you just safe word me?” I ask, a little dazed, even as tremors start to wrack through me.
Sin is on me the second the words are out, and we collapse onto the ground. He hugs me so tightly that I can hardly draw a breath.
“Fates, kitten. You fucking scared me,” he utters against my hair. His voice is hoarse, and his hands shake.
It feels like someone has been painting my insides with a hot poker. I melt further into his touch, needing him closer.
We stay like that, silently comforted that we’re both alive, until we both stop shaking.
“I’m getting worse,” I finally whisper, and a tear runs down my cheek.
This is too soon. I need to at least make it through the war. I need to protect Sin, to keep my friends safe, and free everyone still trapped under Need’s control. I have to help them, but my body is crumbling.
“Please. I am fucking begging you. Please take part of my soul. Don’t do this,” Sin begs.
The usual strength behind his words is gone. They’re desperate and afraid, like he’s breaking right alongside me.
“I can’t,” I whisper, shifting in his embrace to meet his tortured gaze.
“Why? Please… just tell me why,” he pleads, unshed tears clinging to his lashes.
My heart clenches. Sin has been in my head since we were at the party, but he still hasn’t gone looking for answers that I’m not ready to give.
“Because I love you,” I whisper back.
His eyes soften, just for a moment. “But then why won’t–” he starts.
“It’s okay. You can enter my thoughts and see for yourself.” I try to give him a reassuring smile, savoring this moment before our relationship is forever changed.
He hesitates, searching my eyes to make sure I mean it.
Reaching up, I give him a small kiss before whispering against his lips, “It’s okay, I trust you.”
That’s all the reassurance he needs, and in the next moment, his hand fists into the hair at the base of my neck, and he crushes our mouths together. The kiss is desperate, searching, and I can vaguely feel him in my mind.
I kiss him back with everything I have, our teeth clashing as I try to draw out this moment for as long as possible, until finally, it happens.
Sin pulls away, looking furious. “You think I don’t love you?”
My gaze drops, and a piece of my heart breaks. “It’s okay, you don’t need to pretend. I felt you through the mate bond. And knowing that I’m special to you, that you care for me and want me… It’s more than I ever could have hoped for. I’m–”
“Stop. Fucking. Talking,” Sin growls. His tattoos flare as he pulls away even further and stands.
Grief crashes over me, threatening to pull me under as more tears stream down my face.
It’s happening. He’s going to put up walls. He’s shutting me out for good.
Sin tugs me up to stand, but doesn’t release my hand as he storms out of the room. His tattoos flash a little brighter, just for a second.
Rage radiates from him, and I hustle to match his pace.
“What are we doing?” I ask, remembering Hades’ advice that Sin either fix me or put me down.
I guess that’s one way to end things. But for some reason, I’m not afraid, just resigned.
“I jumped into Morgana’s head to tell her that we’ll be back tomorrow,” he grits out, emphasizing the word, like he’s more than aware of where my thoughts just went.
He doesn’t slow his steps as we head outside, and he’s silent as he leads us to the edge of the wards.
The entire time, my mind reels, wondering what he could have in mind, if he isn’t going to kill me. When no obvious answers come, I finally relent and dig my heels into the ground. “Sin, where are we going?”
He glares at me, and the look sends a fresh surge of guilt through me. It makes me want to shrink until I disappear.
Something dark flashes in his eyes. “We’re going somewhere private, because I need very strong wards for what I’m about to do. Because you’re right, kitten. I don’t fucking love you. And I think it’s time you see why.”
With that, his grip on my hand tightens, and we apparate away.