But I’m distracted when Carys stands and gives me a small, amused smile. “I’ll keep you updated as well. Thank you, Vivian.”
They both nod and stride out of the room.
An awkward silence hangs in the air until Damien decides to break it. “You know, Red, if Sin is pissing you off, you can always crash with me and Magnus tonight,” he offers with a wink.
Magnus gives him a horrified look, and in the next moment, there’s a slight pulse of red light. Damien’s eyes go comically wide, as his eyebrows fizzle out of existence.
I mirror his shock when I snap my attention back to Sin. “What did you do that for?”
He shrugs nonchalantly, and I glare at him, not impressed with how he’s treating our friends.
The corner of his mouth lifts, and his eyes twinkle with amusement.
Exasperated, I resist the urge to throw my hands into the air, because for some reason, Sinlikesmy anger.
“You can’t just go around zapping people, Sin,” I scold.
I try to stay cool and collected as I do it, but I’m starting to be concerned. He’s been a little extra aggressive with others.
“He shouldn’t have flirted with my mate,” Sin grumbles, his sole focus remaining on me.
He watches me like the rest of the world is barely an afterthought, and it causes my breath to catch.
His possessiveness should probably bother me.
Instead, a small lick of heat travels to my core over the way he’s openly claiming me.
Sin’s smirk grows.
I wrench my attention away from him. Clearly, I am not the picture of healthy relationship preferences, because I am definitely liking this too much.
Still, Sin should at least apologize to our friends.
Before I can tell him so, Magnus interjects, “I’m sorry to say, little enigma, that your lord of frowns is well within his rights. You didn’t have time to see the effects of a completed mate bond before you left the Shadow Realm. But, at least for shifters, when we first solidify our mate bonds, we become fiercely possessive, at least for the first few months until the bond settles. Damien’s words would have gotten him killed in my home realm. I can only imagine the inclination is even stronger in Destroyers.”
For a second, I think he’s messing with me, but Ragna is nodding in agreement.
Damien gives me a sheepish grin. “Morgana filled us in on your broken bond. I thought I’d throw our hat in the ring, just in case.”
My headache worsens. “That’s… no. I’m flattered, but I love Sin, bond or no bond.”
Sin’s breath catches.
“Of course, little enigma. Please forgive Damien. He’s suffered far too many blows to the head and can occasionally be an imbecile,” Magnus gives me a polite smile, his serpentine eyes flicking to Damien.
“Hey–” Damien starts, but he’s interrupted by a piercing shriek.
I jump half a foot off my chair, and Sin mutters, “For fuck’s sake.”
A blur of black hair sprints into the room, and the next moment, I’m ripped from Sin’s side and am being squeezed to death. Or at least, that’s what it feels like when Sarah is bear-hugging me.
There’s another blur, and suddenly, we’re knocked to the ground as Conner dives onto us, turning our bear hug into a dog pile.
“Vivi! I’ve been so worried!” Sarah sobs.
“I can’t believe you faced those baddies!” Conner exclaims, even as my face is being smushed into the marble floor.
“Oh my god! How could you sacrifice yourself for us like that! But oh my god, that is so cool! But also, how freaking dare you!” Sarah squeezes me even tighter.
