Page 43 of The Sin Binder's Chains

Because I have been alone in this fucking room for three days, and the only entertainment I’ve had is watching her move through the Void, feeling her getting closer, the bond tugging at me like a leash, like a promise, like a goddamn lifeline.

And it is making me feral.

So I prop an elbow up, rest my chin on my palm, and continue my descent into madness.

"I'm thinking of running at you full speed when you get here," I muse, watching the way she moves, unaware of my gaze. "Very dramatic. A sweeping, romantic reunion. Maybe I'll dip you." I tilt my head. "No, wait. You'll probably punch me. Fair. Maybe I'll let you. Just one. For the dramatics."

I pause, considering.

"But only if it's a sexy punch. You know, one of those meaningful ones." I tap my chin. "God, I’ve missed you. It’s disgusting. I hate it. Come save me faster."

The mirror flickers, distorting for a second before realigning.

I squint.

"Are you… with Elias?" My voice dips dangerously low..

I sit up, scowling at the image, watching her on horseback with him, watching the way she leans forward and I snarl, jabbing a finger at the glass. "Excuse me, Miss Evernight, but your Sin of Envy would like to file a fucking complaint."

The mirror remains silent. Which is probably for the best. Because if Luna was here, she'd be smirking, calling me out on my bullshit, telling me I have no right to be pissed when I’m the one locked up in a luxury cage of my own damn sin.

But still.

Still.

"You know," I continue, smirking despite myself, "the moment you step in here, you're mine again. I hope you know that."

The mirror flickers, showing me the moment she stiffens, like she heard me, like she felt me through our bond.

And my smirk widens.

Because oh, she is coming.

And I will never let her go again.

I groan dramatically, letting my head loll back against the ridiculously plush chair. "Ugh. You again?"

The door creaks ominously, but I don’t even bother looking. I know who it is.

The big bad Sub-Sin himself.

"To what do I owe the displeasure, Severin?" I sigh, stretching my legs out like I own the place. "Here to monologue? Gloat? Tell me how I'm just a poor, lost little Sin who doesn’t know his place?" I let my head roll to the side lazily, cracking an eye open to watch him. "I love those. They’re my favorite bedtime stories."

Severin steps inside, the light flickering over his sharp features. He’s always brooding, like someone took a grudge, poured it into a body, and gave it knives for hands.

He doesn’t look at me, though.

No.

He looks at the mirrors.

And I bite back a smirk.

Because those mirrors? They only show him what I want him to see. Which means right now, he’s probably staring at his own glorious, scowling face.

"Still enjoying your accommodations, Envy?" Severin asks, his voice bored as he drags a slow glance over my too-nice prison, the dark velvet, the ever-burning candles, the gold-inlaid flooring, the literal throne I’ve been using as a footrest. "I expected you to start clawing at the walls by now."

I snort, lounging back deeper into the chair. "What can I say? You really rolled out the red carpet for me, Sev. A king-sized bed, mood lighting, a throne? I half-expected a bottle of wine and a welcome basket."

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