Page 101 of The Sin Binder's Chains

I press my lips together to hide my smile. Elias is never thrown off. Never caught without something sharp, something cutting, something insufferably cocky to throw back. But Layla? She doesn’t play by his rules.

Elias sighs, dragging a hand through his hair. “Unbelievable. Betrayed in my own camp.”

Layla leans in, conspiratorial. “Do you think he knows this isn’t his camp?”

I exhale, shaking my head. “He definitely does not.”

Elias squints at us. “I feel like I should be insulted.”

Layla grins. “You should be.”

Before Elias can retaliate, Lucien calls his name from across the camp, voice clipped. Elias groans, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Great. My dad’s calling.”

Layla chokes on another laugh. “You have a death wish.”

Elias just grins. “Always.” Then he turns, swaggering back toward Lucien, undoubtedly about to make his mood even worse.

Layla watches him go, shaking her head. “I kind of love him.”

“You say that now.”

“Okay, okay.” She refocuses. “So that’s two. But there are more, right?”

My throat tightens.

Layla doesn’t miss it.

Her gaze sharpens. “Who?”

I don’t answer right away. Instead, I glance toward the far side of the camp, where Riven sits alone, sharpening a blade withslow, methodical precision. His dark hair falls into his eyes, and he makes no move to push it back.

Layla follows my gaze. “Oh.”

I exhale. “Yeah.”

She watches him for a long moment. “He’s different.”

I nod.

Layla hums, thoughtful. “And he’s…?”

I don’t look away. “Everything.”

She’s quiet for a beat, then sighs. “Fuck. I need more details.”

I smirk. “Too bad.”

Layla groans. “You’re the worst.”

I sigh. “You have no idea.”

Layla eyes me like she’s about to ask something dangerous. She’s been holding back for the past five minutes, but I know my sister. She doesn’t do patience well.

“So,” she starts, drawing out the word as she kicks a loose rock across the cracked earth. “Which one’s your favorite?”

I don’t slow my pace, don’t look at her, but I feel her smirk even without seeing it.

“You’re asking the wrong question.”

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