With those words, all rational thought is lost to him. It feels as though an electric current buzzes between us, and my eyes drop to his lips. Sin doesn’t miss the gesture, sweeping me up so his lips can reach mine.
“Well, if it isn’t the happy couple,” a man calls out before our mouths connect. The voice startles me out of our small bubble, and Sin gently sets me down as we remember where we are.
Our attention shifts to the man walking towards us. He’s well dressed, in a deep maroon shirt and black pants. His long black hair is tied behind his neck, and a black goatee gives him a devilish look. Immediately, I try to give the stranger a warm smile, remembering I need to make allies tonight. Sin’s hand shifts under the open back of my dress to rest at my waist.
“Artorix,” Sin greets. His voice isn’t warm.
At this point, I’ve decided that powerful men must have zero diplomacy skills. Likely because they’ve never had to work a customer service job in their lives.
That would explain so much.
The man pauses before us, taking my hand and bringing it to his lips. Sin’s tattoos start to glow a faint red. But instead of responding with a healthy dose offear, Artorix laughs, delighted. He doesn’t release my hand.
“I see the rumors are true. Destroyers are very possessive of their mates. How quaint.” His tone is dripping with insincerity, and I yank my hand back.
He turns to me, leering at my body. “Artorix Parvignis, of the Underworld Realm. Council member for many millennia now. How do you do?”
Something about this man is giving off major slimy vibes, and it’s all I can do to keep the polite smile locked on my face.
“Vivian Ryans, of the Mortal Realm. Pleased to meet you,” I add, hoping I sound friendly.
Sin gives me some context, saving me from conversing further, “Artorix’s realm has been under Council rule for longer than most can remember.”
The underworld is ruled by the Council? I wonder if that has something to do with all the souls being used as slaves. I file away the information to ask Sin and Morgana about it later.
“Yes, so intrusive, that Council. Putting their noses where they don’t belong,” Artorix notes, sounding menacing. “Speaking of being where you don’t belong, Vivian, I recall seeing you not long ago at the Council’s Castle. You were with a very different Destroyer there. Getting greedy, are we?”
Sin’s hand tightens around my waist, and his tattoos glow brighter. Not good.
The man is trying to provoke me. I’m not sure why, but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he succeeded. Instead of letting the party end before we’ve had a chance to make any allies, I leer athim like he did at me, only to look back at him with distaste. “I just know a better thing when I see it. Speaking of which, Sin, I think there are important people for us to meet with tonight. Shall we?”
Artorix’s face twists with rage for a split second before masking back to polite humor. “Such spirit, for a mortal.”
We walk away from Artorix, and Sin leans over to kiss the top of my head before whispering, “That’s my good girl.”
I feel his praise in areas I shouldn’t.
Artorix calls out to us before we’re swallowed up by the rest of the party, “Do be careful with her, Sin. Mortals are so breakable.”
I roll my eyes, and Sin looks ahead, his face giving away nothing.
The next hour is spent bouncing between party attendees. All are curious about how I ended up with Sin, and I become way too good at telling them about how I was supposed to kill him but that I fell in love instead. Honestly, I blame my romance novel addiction for how well the story is coming out.
Classic enemies to lovers. Easy peasy.
Sin leads us towards yet another group of emissaries when we are stopped by three stunningly beautiful women. All three have long wheat-blond hair and blue eyes that are so pale they are almost devoid of color. They each wear long white silk dresses, though there’s just enough difference in the cut that they aren’t exact carbon copies of each other. There’s a glow about them that reminds me of Damien, but theirradiance only shines skin deep, as evidenced by the disgusted looks they give me.
I guess mean girls transcend the boundaries of space and time too.
Shame.
“Llayella, Gabrielle, and Rhiannon,” Sin greets them, but once again, his tone is cold.
Though apparently, the twisted sisters don’t mind. The one in the center, Gabrielle, turns to him with a seductive smile. “Sin. Such a pleasure to visit you in the Shadow Realm. You should have mentioned you were looking for a plaything. We could have helped you.”
The one to her right, Llayella, chimes in, giving Sin an eerily similar smile. “Truly, we would still be delighted to help you find someone more… worthy,” she adds, wrinkling her nose at me at the last word.
My spine stiffens, and the last one, Rhiannon, who hasn’t stopped staring at me, narrows her eyes. “She doesn’tlookpowerful.”
