“Fuck, that is the best feeling in the universe.”
“Make her smile like that again. Do it every day.”
“Sorry, you should probably say it again, I was busy,” I note with a serious face.
He bursts out laughing and kisses me soundly before taking my face in his hands. “I love you.”
The urge to squeal in delight is so real right now.
“I love you too,” I answer instead, and give myself a ten out of ten for mastering a single social interaction.
“You are so fucking precious,” Sin notes, still sounding like he wants to laugh. His hand falls away, and he goes back to holding me while I eat.
I’ve just finished when he sits up straighter. Alarm pulses through his side of the bond, sending anxiety washing over me. But before I can ask him what’s wrong, he turns to me with a hard expression.
“The wards were just activated. It was Morgana. The war is starting.”
Chapter 61
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule sixty-one:If you’re planning for war, definitely use highlighters.
Ithink I’m going to throw up.
“Show no fear,”Sin notes in my mind.
His hand rests on the small of my back as we stride through the barracks, heading for headquarters. Every step feels like it’s taking too long, and low murmurs fill the hall.
Metal scrapes against stone as the soldiers prepare for battle. Many give me solemn nods, and I try to swallow my rising panic as I return the gesture. There’s a tightness in my chest, and it makes my fighting leathers feel like they’re too tight.
Sin and I only took enough time to get dressed before returning to the Otherworld.
I tried to rush, but he insisted on double-checking all my weapons sheaths before we apparated back. His worry filtered through the bond as he did it, and I know he was reassuring himself that I was okay.
“You’re doing great,”he adds, and I have to swallow the scoff that wants to jump out of my throat.
His hand flexes against me before he continues,“I’ve seen leaders flee the moment war was mentioned.”
Every soldier’s trusting stare is an acute reminder that they’re counting on me. Their lives are in my hands, and the weight of that responsibility makes the urge to run painfully understandable.
It’s terrifying. But instead of letting the fear take over, I swallow it down and try to make light of Sin’s words,“If I run, you’ll just catch me.”
He turns to look at me, and his gaze is fierce and unwavering.“Just say the word, kitten. You’re my priority. You want to run – I run with you.”
My lips part, and my breath catches in my throat. The knowledge that he would choose me over everything steals the air from my lungs.
We’re only a few steps from the headquarters door now. All I want to do is accept his offer.
I square my shoulders instead.“No. No more running. We fight.”
“That’s my good girl,” he purrs, and his answering smile is as devastatingly beautiful as it is deadly.
The moment we step inside the headquarters room, the tension in the air turns heavy. Morgana, Ragna, and Varian are standing around the table, all focused on a large sheet of paper spread across its surface.
Surprisingly, my Mortal Realm friends are here, too. They’re sitting a few seats down, each of them looking pale. Sarah gives me a weak smile, and Isaac waves, while Conner stares at the table, looking like he might throw up.
I give them a small wave and stride over to stand beside Morgana. Sin doesn’t leave my side.
