Page 313 of Sinister

I open my eyes.

I ignore Valerion’s presence. My gaze is drawn to Sin—my darling Sin, who’s suffered so, so much to get me; who sacrificed the world for me.

My feet move before my mind can register it. And once I’m in front of him, I drop to my knees, my head bent. Tears drip down my cheeks as shame eats at me from inside.

“I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” I whisper.

The way I’d been so suspicious of him, how I thought the worst of him, physically hurts me. Yes, I can blame it on the fact that I did not have all the information. But still, I should have known better.

If all else failed, I should have trusted his devotion.

“Petra—” His eyes widen in shock, and before I can blink, he’s on the ground, kneeling next to me. “Don’t. Don’t you dare kneel before me.”

“I am so sorry, Sin,” I repeat. “I said words I regret. I blamed you for things I did not understand . . . oh, how you must have felt when you saw me back away from you.”

He pulls me tightly in his arms, his hand stroking my back in slow, languid movements.

“Don’t. I was prepared for it—for all of it. In fact, you reacted to everything far better than I expected you to. You think in all the time I’ve been waiting for you to be reborn I did not entertain scenarios in which you shunned me? I was aware you would have no memory of me in the beginning. I knew you would not see me as I see you. And I was prepared for all that.”

He lifts my chin to gaze into my eyes.

“And once more, you proved to me why I love you so much; why all the sacrifices were worth it. Because even when all the circumstances told you I was the bad guy, that you should run away from me, you still stayed.”

“I almost did,” I whisper.

“But you did not. You had your suspicions about me, but deep down, there was still a part of you that trusted me enough to allow me to explain myself. I could have never asked for more.”

I swallow a sob. “Thank you. For everything.”

Valerion clears his throat in the back. We both turn to look at him.

“I believe I still have to fulfill my side of the bargain.”

I frown, not understanding at first. But then Valerion produces a small glass vial and extends it toward Sin.

“She has all her memories. It is time you recover yours, too.”

“You mean . . . ?”

“A deal is a deal. I promised you that you would be reunited with your beloved, and he would retain his memories.”

Sin glances upon the vial with trepidation. Slowly, he accepts it, and popping off the lid, he brings the drop of liquid to his lips.

I stare at him, waiting.

He blinks, slowly, and a different type of awareness seems to penetrate his gaze.

“I remember.”

Two words, and I finally exhale in relief. He smiles at me, that warm smile that I missed with all my might.

He is now, just like me, the sum of all his personas—Elroy, my original lover, past-Sin, and present-Sin. All the pain I endured, all the lone years spent thinking about him, were not in vain.

Both of us made sacrifices to get to this point, and all of our actions completed each other, working in tandem for the same ultimate goal.

We glance at each other, and a silent current of acknowledgment passes between us.

I’d made the first deal, but I’d forgotten about it before I fulfilled it. He’d made the second deal, but fate had intervened, so he’d made a third deal that put all the wheels in motion so I could finally fulfill my deal.