23. Chapter 23
Arwen
“Did you finally fuck Maddox last night?”
I almost choke on my water.
“Tabby, don’t be so crude.” Cleo says from where she’s seated cross-legged on the end of my bed, not even looking up from the small device she’s dismantling in her lap. “You just walked in the door.”
“What?” Tabby asks, unrepentant. “I’m asking the important questions.”
“The invasive questions,” Cleo corrects.
“The fun questions,” Tabby counters.
I groan, setting my cup down before I spill it. “You two are unbelievable. Why did I miss you?”
Tabby leans forward, her long sheet of black hair falling over her shoulders, eyes glittering with too much interest. “Well?”
Shaking my head at her, I tiptoe toward the door and crack it open just enough to peer into the hall.
Empty.
Satisfied, I shut it again and turn back toward them.
“Obviously not,” I say. “All he does is sleep outside my door and glare at anyone who breathes too loud in my general direction.”
Tabby gasps. “Protective and broody? Disgusting. I love him.”
“He’s basically a pet at this point,” I mutter.
Cleo snorts. “Yes, Maddox West, of all people, is clearly just a puppy dog.” Her voice drips with sarcasm, making us giggle.
It feels so good to have them back. The laughter eases some of the tension in my chest from the strained bonds. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed this.
Tabby points at me once the laughter dies down. “Stop deflecting. He’s your bonded. We’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”
Cleo nods. “It’s medically concerning.”
“It has to be killing you,” Tabby adds.
My smile falters. “It is,” I admit.
“In some ways,” I add. “But I just…” I exhale, rubbing my hands together. “I’m trying to figure out what’s real and what’s the bond.”
Neither of them interrupts.
“I went from having no sin power one moment to suddenly being flooded with one, forming a proximity bond and then completing it through blood exchange all in like… one minute.”
I gesture. “Then I got dragged into a dungeon, treated like a science experiment and dumped into the most insane family in Vail.”
Tabby winces. “When you say it like that—”
“Not exactly a lot of time to process.” I deadpan, slumping back into my chair.
“I just feel…” I search for the word. “Out of control. Like half my emotions don’t belong to me anymore. I had an attraction to Maddox, but I never let myself explore those feelings because I had four other stupid bonds to contend with.”
The room goes quiet.
“That’s the first time you’ve talked about your power,” Cleo says.
She’s right. Outside of admitting I’m no longer sinless, I haven’t delved into details. I’m still trying to understand it myself.
Tabby jumps in. “I know talking about powers outside your faction is technically taboo. SinVail treats it like discussing classified information. But we’re Gluttony…”
I grimace.
Because technically—
“Apparently I am too now, huh?” I finish for her.
“I don’t mind telling you,” I say. “It’s not even about it being taboo. We’re friends. It’s just that… using it is more the issue than talking about it.”
Tabby straightens. “Well then. Tell us everything. What does it do?”
“It’s…” I frown, trying to find words that make sense. “Like a void.”
They both just stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. How do I explain this without showing them?
“A hungry void is what the science team called it when I was back in Greed,” I clarify. “When I summon it, it consumes whatever it touches. Erases them. Like they stop existing.”
Tabby’s grin fades, and Cleo lowers the device in her lap.
“Holy shit,” Tabby whispers.
Cleo blinks several times. “That is… powerful.”
“It is?” I ask.
“It’s a little… terrifying,” Tabby admits.
Cleo nods. “Especially for Gluttony. I’ve never heard of a power like that before.”
I frown. “Why especially for Gluttony?”
“Because most of us don’t have powers like that,” Cleo explains. “Not active powers or mental powers, anyway. Most Gluttony abilities revolve around potion craft or enhancement. Utility. Amplification.”
Tabby lifts her hand. “Or Potion multiplication.”
I look at her as she beams. “My power lets me replicate potions. One becomes three.” She wiggles her fingers. “The gangs find multipliers useful and usually grab them up. It makes sense. Higher productivity with a smaller workforce. Extremely useful if you need to heal multiple people on the fly.”
“Which happens a lot here,” Cleo adds.
Tabby flips her hair back. “But yes. It’s considered a strong support ability. It’s why I’m in the academy.”
I turn to Cleo. “And yours? I assume it has something to do with how much of a tech genius you are?” I point to the device sitting half unassembled in her lap.
She shrugs and adjusts her glasses. “I’ve heard it referred to as a ravenous mind power. But who knows who thinks up these names. They all sound corny.”
“Ravenous mind? That sounds ominous,” I reply.
“I can replicate anything my brain has seen and processed if it involves formulas, systems, or code.” She says. “Chemical compounds. Engineering schematics. Encryption sequences. Most software architectures.”
Tabby points at her. “This is why she’s terrifying and hacks for fun.”
Cleo ignores her. “It’s not for fun. You know the story. My abilities attracted attention from people I would have preferred not to attract.”
That makes sense.
“So your power is rare,” Cleo concludes, looking at me.
Tabby nods. “The only people known for active combat-type Gluttony powers are usually Councilor West and his direct bloodline. Some of the top mafia lieutenants, maybe.”
As I process what they are saying, I can’t help but wonder if it’s connected to my high power rating?
“Do you know what Maddox’s power is?” Tabby asks.
Both of them look at me. I shake my head.
“You don’t know? You haven’t asked?” Tabby says.
I cross my arms. “We’re barely discussing the bond as it is. Asking him to disclose personal details about his sin power feels a little invasive.”
Tabby groans. “God, you’re both painfully repressed.”
Cleo nods. “However—while you do not need to ask him about his power…”
“It would be very useful,” Tabby cuts in, “if he knows his siblings’ powers.”
I pause. I don’t know if I want that knowledge. Cleo sets her device aside, all business.
“You are a target, Arwen,” she says. “If conflict escalates—and based on what you’ve told us, it will—knowing what his family can do could save your life.”
Tabby nods in agreement.
I sigh. “You’re right… I just didn’t want to add to the nightmare fuel. They’re bad enough without adding powers into the mix.”
“You should ask him,” Cleo says, patting me on the knee.
“Are you prepared if something naughty might happen?” Tabby asks scandalously.
“Like… an attack?” I ask, confused.
“No Arwen! You prude. Like if something sexual were to happen with Maddox. Are you on birth control?”
“I am not a prude! I was on it back in Wrath. It was free there, but it was sort of the last thing on my mind at the academy last year when I was… oh, you know. Trying to survive!” I say.
“You’re in a bond now, Arwen. You need to be prepared if something steamy happens.
Otherwise, we’ll never get to hear all the fun details.
Go to the health clinic when you’re back at the academy.
It’s free there too. Unless you want a bunch of little sinless babies running around Grand Daddy West’s creepy Orgy tower. ”
Cleo throws a small tool at Tabby, missing. She’s right. And she’s also unlocked a new top fear in me.
A knock sounds at the door, interrupting our talk as all three of us freeze.
I move toward it cautiously and pull the door open to find a servant standing there in a crisp black uniform, hands folded in front of him. He keeps his eyes lowered.
“Lady Arwen.”
Lady? Is this guy for real?
He extends a cream-colored envelope toward me. My name is across the front in elegant script. It sends chills down my spine.
Only Maddox and his approved people have come by my room since I arrived—usually to drop off food, deliver a message, or make sure I haven’t somehow set the place on fire from boredom.
“Thank you,” I say, taking it. He bows once and leaves without another word.
I shut the door, turning the envelope over in my hands. A wax seal with the West family crest. That can’t be good.
“What is it?” Tabby asks.
I break it open, clear my throat, and read aloud.
Arwen Davies,
We request your presence in the Grand Hall at your earliest convenience.
— Councilor West
“Nope,” Tabby says. “Absolutely not. Hate that.”
My pulse kicks up. “Maddox isn’t here? He wants me alone?”
Cleo’s expression darkens as a dozen worst-case scenarios hit me all at once.
I pull out my phone and text Maddox.
Arwen: Councilor West summoned me to the Grand Hall. Did you know about this?
I move before panic can settle too deeply. I shove hangers aside until I spot the pantsuit Maddox had delivered after catching me salivating over Valentine’s outfit when she came to warn us.
“If I don’t go, it looks suspicious,” I mutter, shoving the outfit on. “The servant will report back that he delivered it.”
I check my phone again. No response from Maddox.
“Arwen—” Cleo starts. Dread coils tighter in my stomach with every passing second.
“I’m coming with you,” Cleo says.
I turn mid-button. “No. Absolutely not.”
She crosses her arms. “You were kidnapped, tortured, and almost killed. We just got you back. I’m not letting you walk into a summons from the most powerful man in this faction all alone.”
“You would do it for us,” Tabby cuts in.
Cleo nods once. “Without hesitation.”
I exhale hard.
“Fine,” I point at Tabby. “You stay here. If Maddox comes by, tell him where we are.”
Tabby salutes. “Try not to get murdered in your brand-new power suit from Maddox. It would be tragically romantic, but even Romeo and Juliet got to have a kiss before losing each other.”
“Wonderful pep talk.”
“You’re welcome, my favorite Prude. Good luck.”