Lips press against mine, and the scent of woodsmoke floods my nose.
I don’t respond.
My body is in agony, and instinct is driving me to lash out, to get free before I can hurt even more. But the kiss is insistent, refusing to pull away.
Warmth begins to radiate through me, only this heat feels like a balm over the damage I’ve inflicted on myself. His tongue brushes against mine, feeling like a beacon guiding me home. I melt into it, drawn to the familiar comfort. He coaxes me back until the storminside me fades, and it feels like I’m taking my first breath in hours.
Sin breaks the kiss, and his head drops so that his forehead is pressed against mine. “There you are,” he whispers, when my eyes finally flutter open.
I blink, finding myself wrapped in his arms, my back pressed against the ground.
He exhales, even as he squeezes me a little tighter. “Fates above, kitten. For a moment, I thought I lost you.”
It takes me a few shuddering breaths before I find my voice. “Another moment and I think you would have.”
His grip on me tightens, and he takes me with him as he turns to lie on his back. He keeps me tucked against his chest, and I’m content to listen to the beating of his heart. His chest is rapidly rising and falling, and I’m shocked to realize he’s panting.
Terror sweeps through me.
I barely dipped my toes into my power.
Who will stop me if I use too much?
I lift my head to look at Sin, expecting him to be as somber as I am. Instead, I find him smiling.
“Why are you so happy?” I demand. “There’s no way I can use my power in the war. I’ll accidentally kill us all.”
I am deeply concerned.
The warlord wannabe has the audacity to laugh. He full-on belly laughs before taking my face in his hands and kissing me soundly. “Two reasons, kitten. First, you’re stronger than me. That means Need and Leon can’t touch a fucking hair on your perfect head.” Histhumb caresses my cheek. “Second, I won the fight,” he adds with another heart-stopping smile.
He looks so happy, and I don’t have it in me to press the issue. Instead, I give an outraged gasp and shove away from him. “You kissed me mid-fight, that’s cheating,” I argue, moving to straddle his waist.
Sin winks, his hands coming to rest on my hips. “We agreed, anything goes. And I am very much looking forward to hearingexactlywhat’s going on in that beautifully violent mind of yours.”
His eyes heat, and all of a sudden, my clothes feel too rough against my skin. I push back, letting my core drag against his cock. It’s already straining against his pants.
“Kitten,” he warns in a low tone, “we have an audience.”
Kill them, someone whispers in my mind.
It’s my voice, I realize with horror.
Sin laughs, likely thinking the fear was from embarrassment.
I should probably tell someone about my homicidal inner voice.
“Could you please not fuck in the courtyard?” Arianna groans.
I turn to find her sitting on a fence post, with her nose scrunched. That’s when I notice our audience has grown. Morgana and Ragna are here, surrounded by a dozen people I’ve never seen before. They’re all staring at Sin and me, looking duly impressed.
Morgana and Ragna look smug.
“And the woman you just saw take on a Destroyer without flinching is Vivian Ryans. The same personwho took the Council’s castle and dethroned Need,” Morgana explains.
“Who are they?” I whisper to Sin as I climb off him.
He bites back a smile, standing with me. “Those would be the voting members of our allies. And I believe you just impressed the fuck out of them.”
