His gaze darkens as he pulls away from me, giving me space to sit up. “Of course I’m serious. Fates above, kitten, did you seriously think I’d stand by and do nothing as you die?”
Stunned, I gape at him for a moment. “Sin, you can’t possibly believe I’d agree to letting you break your soul for me. That’s ludicrous.”
I can’t believe this conversation even needs to happen. Morgana said that if Sin splits his soul, it will eventually kill him.
The shattered pieces of my soul ache, and even though it’s only been a few days, it already feels likeit’s gotten worse. The thought of condemning Sin to this pain is unthinkable.
Gray eyes track every shift in my expression, narrowing the second I let myself think about the pain. He must be feeling my emotions, I realize, and I try to shove it back down.
His jaw ticks, and he only looks more frustrated. “When is enough going to be enough,Vivian?”
My eyes widen at his use of my real name, but he continues, “You keep insisting on sacrificing yourself for others, but you refuse to let us do the same for you.”
I wish he sounded angry, but he sounds bitter and hurt instead. His expression is tortured, and he looks as though he’s trying to peer into my soul.
It leaves me feeling raw and exposed.
Instead of answering right away, I huff, sliding off the bed in search of my shirt.
He’s right, I would never let my loved ones sacrifice themselves for me. They don’t deserve to suffer.
My shirt slips over my shoulders, just as Sin all but growls, “Stop thinking you don’t deserve to be helped. Sacrificing–”
Sacrificing. The word sends a bolt of anger surging through me.
The fucking audacity of this man.
Snapping my gaze back to him, I storm to where he’s still seated at the edge of the bed. “You want to get angry with me about sacrificing? You tried to have your soul eaten by the Fates to get me out of here! And now two out of three, possibly all-seeing, all-powerful creatures think they get to consume your soul. I’m not going to agree to something that will leave you evenmore vulnerable to them, or to the other Destroyer, who is very much intent on killing you. I willgladlystay broken if it means you can be whole.”
Anger and frustration crackle between us, and Sin looks murderous as he stands to meet me. “I respected your wishes when you wanted to end your mortal life, and when you decided to choose Leon to save others. Every time, I could have stopped you. But Ididn’t. Because what you choose to do with your body is your choice. Always.” His gaze bores into me. “But this time, the choice is aboutmysoul, my life. It’s your turn to bend, kitten. That’s how relationships work.”
My chest heaves as I try to rein in my anger. Even now, I can see some truth to his words. He could have stopped me. Every time, he could have forced my hand, but he didn’t.
The thought is enough to give me pause and really consider whether I would have stood by him and respected his wishes if the tables were turned.
Some of my anger dissipates when I realize the answer.
I don’t think I would have.
Not out of some twisted desire to control him, but because at our cores, there’s one major difference between us.
Every sacrifice I’ve made has been to save the people I love. I would do anything for Sin, because I love him. And while I know he cares deeply for me, I also know my love is one-sided.
Sin doesn’t love me.
It’s not just the fact that he’s never said the words back, even when I’ve mouthed or written them. Thisgoes deeper, because even when our bond was whole, he never sent love through it.
I’m not even hurt. If anything, I’m just grateful he cares for me at all. But ultimately, how can I let him forfeit his life for someone he doesn’t love?
The answer is simple.
I can’t.
He watches me, waiting for my answer, and I force down the lump in my throat.
I can’t tell him the truth. If I do, he’ll just lie and pretend to love me, so that he gets his way.
The thought hardens my resolve.
