I’ve been playing chess with Damien while we wait for them. He’s just asagitated as I am. He couldn’t attend the party without revealing that he’s a spy, and now, adding insult to injury, he’s on babysitting duty, keeping an eye on me.
Usually, I would be thrilled to hang out with him, but neither of us has had a chance to discuss what happened yesterday with Sin at the table. The tension in the room is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“Check,” I call, moving my Queen into position.
Damien groans, “I hate this game.”
I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “If you get to exercise my body, then I get to exercise your mind. It’s only fair.”
Damien rolls his eyes. “Not that I get to train you anymore. So, I’m failing to see the fairness.”
I don’t miss the slight hint of bitterness in his tone.
Sighing, I answer, “You’re going back to the Otherworld tomorrow. You won’t be here to train me anyway. But don’t worry. I promise to keep running.”
Damien is leaving early on Morgana’s orders to give us an extra set of ears in the Otherworld.
“You know that’s not what I’m talking about,” Damien notes as he moves his king to a more sheltered spot.
“It makes sense for Sin to train me. He’s my partner now, so we need to learn to work together. Besides, that doesn’t mean we don’t get to train when you get back,” I add as I move another piece on the board.
“Do you really think Sin will let me anywhere near you? Have you not noticed we haven’t been running together?” Damien counters.
He doesn’t look angry, just… hurt.
“What do you mean? I thought you were giving me a break because I hurt my leg,” I answer, frowning now.
“This is what Magnus and I were trying to get at last night, red. Because I don’t think you have a clue what Sin did, the moment he decided you belonged to him,” Damien barks, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.
The murderous stare he leveled at Sin last night is back, erasing any hint of the easygoing guy I’ve been getting to know.
“What are you talking about?” I ask cautiously.
I know Sin claimed me because he’s sexually attracted to me and didn’t want the others to touch me. But Damien is making it sound like I’ve missed something critical.
“Powerful magic isn’t just snapping your fingers and getting what you want. It changes you, regardless of whether you want it to. The more power someone holds, the more they feel the drive to covet and protect what belongs to them. Think about it. You have magic of your own, and you’ve recently started manifesting more of it. Have you noticed a shift in what you’re willing to do to protect what you deem as yours?” Damien asks, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees so our gazes are level.
My first instinct is to argue. To laugh and pretend Damien is joking around. But he’s staring at me like he expects an answer, the game completely forgotten.
There’s no way.
Is there?
I’ve never been particularly possessive or protective. It goes against my urge to avoid conflict. But then again, lately, I haven’t been avoiding conflict. I fought Leon when he wanted to risk my friends and my realm. I had no control over whatever power is inside of me when I blasted him across the room. And since arriving in the Shadow Realm, it’s taken no time for me to feel fiercely protective of the people here. I would have murdered Artorix tonight to save Rosie. And I didn’t hesitate to threaten Gabrielle when she almost touched Sin. If Damien is correct, then I’m not taking on Cassandra’s personality traits. This is all me.
I swallow, and Damien gives me a slow nod, seeing the realization on my face. “Sin and I have known each other for ages. He’s a great leader, but he’s also a Destroyer. They hold more power than any other creature in our universe. Whatever possessive urges you’re feeling now, multiply them infinitely to get an idea of what it means to be claimed by him.”
The words have my heart dropping. “That’s not – no. It’s not like that. We’re just…” I start, but Damien continues.
“Sin has never once claimed someone as his own. Ever. Until you. Claiming is something that is done between mates. Do me a favor and ask Rosie what that is.”
The word ‘mate’ gives me pause. Sin called me his mate tonight, but I just figured it was another word for girlfriend.
“But Rosie and Irena are mated, so what’s the problem?” I ask, a bit irritated at how cryptic he’s being.
“Two things. First, if Sin has claimed you, and you’re not totally on board, there’s nothing any of us can do to help you. Whatever freedom you’ve found here, away from Leon – it’s gone. You are tethered to him for life because he will never let you go. Second, even if you are on board with that level of commitment, consider the fact that we are about to start a war that hinges on his ability not to lose control and destroy realms. If anything happens to you, he will not hesitate to level the entire fucking universe to get you back,” Damien finishes, sitting back and rubbing his eyes.
I’m at a loss for words. Damien has it all wrong. Sin’s little stunt with marking my neck wasn’t some kind of possessive Destroyer eternally binding claim. He just wants my body. And I get it. My protective instincts fired up when Gabrielle tried to touch Sin. Just like Sin’s instincts were triggered when he saw Damien and Magnus touching me. We’re partners, and we are sexually attracted to each other. That’s all it is.
