Page 200 of The Sin Binder's Chains

Her eyes narrow. That little tilt of her head. Like she’s dissecting me in real time.

“Elias,” she says again. And fuck, that name shouldn’t feel like a command. But it does.

I meet her gaze, and I see it, The flicker of something darker than desire. Need. And maybe even... yes.

I should shut up.

I should.

But I don’t.

“I get that this isn’t the time,” I say, fast, a little breathless, like maybe if I get the words out quickly enough they won’t sound as fucking tragic as they feel. “Honestly, it’s the worst time. Apocalypse-adjacent. Vibes are grim. Caspian and Ambrose are missing. Severin’s throwing curses like party favors. And I’m out here giving confessions like it’s prom night.”

Still no reaction.

So, naturally, I keep going.

“But my brain is mush, Luna. Just... completely gone. I can’t think about anything else until this is done. Until we’re done, this, and it’s not about being dramatic, okay? I’m not Silas, I’m not trying to perform an emotional striptease and then cry on your floor.”

Her mouth twitches. Just barely.

“I want to bind with you,” I say. The words fall sharp, finally clean. “Not because I feel like I have to. Not because I’m afraid. But because I love you.”

And fuck, there it is.

I blink. My stomach turns inside out.

“I love you,” I repeat, quieter this time, like maybe softening it will make it sound less like I’m handing her a knife and saying please, cut me open.

“I’m sorry this is coming out weird,” I mutter. “I’m not good at... this. Feelings. Intentional vulnerability. Sincere declarations of emotional depth. You know. Talking.”

She hasn’t looked away. Not once.

“If you say no, that’s fine,” I add quickly. “Fine. I’ll just crawl away in shame. Possibly relocate to the Shadow Realm. Change my name. Start a new life as a morally ambiguous flower vendor. You won’t hear from me again.”

Her expression shifts.

Not laughter.

Something worse.

Something better.

She steps back. Just a little. Just enough. And opens the door wider.

“Come in, Elias,” she says, voice low, lethal, Luna.

And gods help me, I go. Because if this is the start of my undoing? I want her to be the one to end me.

She doesn’t speak when I step inside. Just closes the door behind me, quiet, slow, and the sound clicks like a lock sliding into place beneath my skin.

It’s not the room that makes my heart race.

It’s her.

She stands there in the low glow of candlelight like she was carved from every wicked dream I’ve never admitted aloud. The robe clings to her, black silk barely hanging on her frame, and her eyes…

Gods. Her eyes.

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