I offer him a small smile. “If you’re looking for anger in there, you’ll be looking for a while.”
Sin’s answering laugh is devoid of all amusement. “Kitten, please believe me when I tell you – you don’t just have anger. You’re drowning in it.”
My brow furrows. “That’s not –”
But my response is cut off by a bolt of white-hot fury as Sin finds whatever he is looking for. The anger is accompanied by a memory that is shoved to the forefront of my mind.
Leon is demanding I release him and telling me my realm is insignificant. He’s trying to force me, to manipulate me. Only this time, there’s no fog clouding my mind. The rage that surges forward grows unchecked, like a flame lit too close to kerosine. I don’t stop after I blast him across the room. I want to make sure he can never hurt my realm. There’s not an ounce of hesitation when I grab my blade, intent on killing him where he lies. Never again…
But just as abruptly as the anger appeared, it’s doused back down, leaving me gasping for breath.
“Fuck, you’re okay, kitten. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” Sin says, stepping away from me to give me more space. “I promise I only looked for your angriest memory. I didn’t touch anything else.” There’s a desperation to his tone as if he’s waiting forme to hate him. My heart melts a little, and I mentally kick myself hard.
“I’m okay. It’s okay,” I answer, clearing my throat as I rub my chest. “But I don’t think whatever you did worked.”
My comment pulls Sin out of whatever worry he’s feeling, and he tilts his head, eying me curiously. “I just made you relive your anger when you blasted Leon, and I upped it considerably.”
“And I didn’t manifest any of the magic.” I frown. “Well, shit. I really thought the power was triggered by anger. I was livid when it showed up.”
Sin crosses his arms, watching me. “Tell me again what you felt when you manifested the power.”
I bite my bottom lip, trying to remember the details as clearly as possible. “I was angry because Leon wanted to hurt my realm, and I needed to stop him.”
“So, you weren’t just angry, you needed something.”
“Well, yes, I suppose. I needed to find a way to be strong, to not give in,” I admit.
Sin rolls his shoulders and moves to the arena’s edge, pulling off his sword and daggers.
“Would you mind sharing with the class?” I ask.
Sin’s gaze rakes over me as he strides back. “We have a new emotion to explore. Desire.”
“Oh no. Oh, no, no, no.” I take a step back. “There is no way you are going to use the sexual attraction between us to manifest my power. Hard limit.”
I can’t think of anything worse for my paper-thin resolve to keep things professional with him.
He smirks. “Kitten, if you desire me, all you have to do is say so, and I will gladly abandon training to worship you.”
My knees go weak, but I stay silent, not trusting myself to say the logical thing.
“Hmm, I didn’t think you were quite there yet,” Sin notes, his tongue moving over his teeth. “But to make this work, you need to want something that isn’t easily attained.” He crosses his arms, looking like he has all the patience in the world.
“And what might that be?” I ask, curious.
“Information,” Sin answers, anticipation lacing his tone. “I have information you want. We’re going to train. If you pin me, you can ask a question, any question, and I’ll answer.”
My eyes narrow. “And if you pin me?”
His smirk is replaced by the relentless determination I saw in him earlier. “Fair is fair, kitten.”
Why do I already know this isn’t going to go well for me? Still, he’s offering something I want badly. I’m suspicious about what he was doing in my realm this morning, especially after what we talked about in his bed last night.
“Done,” I answer.
A second later, I learn something of critical importance.
Sin has been holding back.
