I start choking on my coffee. This is becoming a bad habit of mine.
Sin crosses his arms, leaning against the table. “I had business to attend to in the Mortal Realm.”
That gets my full attention, and I turn to him. “What were you doing in my realm?”
The timing is far too close to his asking about who gave me my scars. And no matter how hard I try to remember, I can’t remember if I told him who was responsible.
Sin shrugs, indifferent. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
I want to argue, but Morgana addresses the room again, “Now that you’re all here, we need to discuss our next moves. Like I said last night, war is coming, and we must be prepared.”
My pulse picks up at her words. I still think war is terrifying, but I refuse to let the Council continue to manipulate and hurt people. I want to help.
Morgana continues, and the rest of us stay deathly quiet. When our leader speaks, we listen. I briefly wonder if the others are as intimidated by her as I am. “Our allies will decide whether to join us in the coming days. Once their answers start to arrive, we’ll have a good idea of where we stand, army-wise. In the meanwhile, we can’t stay idle,” she says before turning to Damien. “After the attempt on Vivian’s life last night, it’s unclear as to whether any of our allies have notified the Council of our plans. The last we heard, they want Vivian alive, so this may have been an outside job. Find out what they know.”
“I’m not scheduled to get back into rotation for a while yet, but I’ll frequent the barracks and taverns to see what kind of rumors have been going around,” he answers, and once again, I’m struck by the loss of his goofy, easygoing personality. This Damien looks… hardened.
Morgana looks to Rosie next. “Rosie, I need you to listen to the Council through their plants again, as much as possible. I know time in the Otherworld is dangerous for you, so I’m sending you with Arianna. Keep each other safe.”
Rosie and Arianna both nod solemnly, all trace of humor gone.
Morgana turns to Magnus, but he stands before she has a chance to address him. “I know, I know, boss, back to the black market. I’ll be taking some potions from the warehouse. I’ll need the goods to bring in more loose-lipped customers.”
He leaves the room, and Morgana turns to me. “I will be visiting our allies, pushing them for an answer. Vivian, we need to know more about your other powers. The energy storm you caused when you arrived here – if you can learn to control it, will make you a valuable asset in the war. Sin will adjust your training so you can focus on energy-wielding. If anything, we’ll hopefully be able to figure out what you are.”
Sin nods in agreement, and I do the same, trying to avoid the pit of anxiety in my stomach at the thought of using that energy.
Everyone but Sin leaves the room, looking determined. No one says goodbye, and my stomach twists further. But rather than letting myself worry about the what-ifs, I push that thought down and focus on the very real problem staring at me from across the room. Sin and I are about to be alone together, at least for the next few days. The thought has me gulping, andI consciously remind my body that any more intimacy with Sin is a very bad idea.
But from the way he’s watching me, I think Sin has also just realized we’re about to be alone. His eyes darken as he stalks over from Morgana’s desk. No matter how hard I mentally kick myself, I can’t look away.
“How are you feeling?” he asks. His voice is gruff, but there’s a gentle edge there that I’m not accustomed to from him.
“I’m fine,” I lie. Because a lie is easier than blurting out the truth. Sin’s admission that he wants me to scream I’m his has only made me more confused. Does he just want sex? Or does he want more? Not to mention, I’m still worried about what he did in my realm this morning, I’m freaked out about using a power that doesn’t look particularly safe, and, finally, I’m out of coffee.
None of those things are fine.
Sin raises an eyebrow but doesn’t call me on my fib as he sits across from me. “About yesterday…” he starts.
I’m quick to cut him off, already blushing down to my toes, “It’s fine, really. We don’t have to talk about it. I know this is just physical and that you bit my neck to warn away Magnus and Damien.”
The words taste sour, but I’m proud I managed to get them out. Sure, I’ve never had to go through the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ chat before, but I think I’ve watched enough Netflix to know where this is going.
At my answer, Sin sighs, standing.
My pulse picks up.
Is he going to ditch training today? Should I have stressed that we can still be friends? Oh crap, I’ve blown it. I totally forgot to say that.
But my anxiety spiral is cut short when Sin picks me up off the couch before sitting back down and settling me on his lap. Yelping, I start trying to climb off him, but he holds me still before growling out, “Keep rubbing your ass against my cock, and things are going to get very physical, very fast.” His words come out strained, and I go still immediately.
Sin tucks me against him, and I relent, melting against him, but not without grumbling, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I need to not be having this conversation. Not when we’re about to be alone together. I can’t see a path forward that doesn’t end badly for me. Either he admits it’s just physical, I get attached and then hurt, or he explains he wants more, only to realize I’m not worth it.
That’s a strong ‘no thank you’ from me. My heart hurts less if I don’t know.
Sin’s sigh is blistering, but he grumbles back, “Fine. For now,” before releasing me.
