Page 54 of The Sin Binder's Vow

“What is it?” she asks after a moment.

“Festival,” I mutter. “Or a warning. Maybe both.”

Her gaze flicks to mine, and it hits me in the chest. Hard. She alwayslooksat me like that—like she’s trying to see through the walls I spent lifetimes building. She doesn’t realize those walls are what’s keeping the worst parts of me in.

“Lucien thinks we should stay,” she says. “Says the people here might know more about the cathedral. About what Branwen’s building.”

“Lucien thinks too much. And not enough.”

Her mouth twitches like she wants to smile but knows better. “So you want to leave.”

“I want to survive,” I say. “I don’t care how.”

She’s silent for a beat. Then, “You don’t mean that.”

I finally look at her. Full-on. And gods, it hurts.

Because she’s standing so close. Because I can feel the heat of her. Because there’s thisachein my chest that never fucking stops—not when I’m near her, and not when I’m away.

Because the bond chose her. And maybe so did I.

“You’re dangerous,” I say, voice low.

She raises an eyebrow. “To you?”

“Toallof us.”

She steps closer. Not touching. Just...present.Like the fucking sun.

“Then stop looking at me like I’m your last salvation,” she whispers.

I don’t flinch. But I want to. Because she’s right again. And she knows it.

I tear my gaze away, fists clenching at my sides. “Go back inside, Luna.”

“No.”

“Luna—”

She reaches out and lays her hand on my forearm. Not to soothe. Not to beg. Justthere.

And gods damn me, I don’t pull away.

She is not my salvation.

She is my damnation.

The thought echoes, low and molten, as I stare at her fingers wrapped around my forearm like they have any right. Like they haven’t already ruined me. She’s soft in a way that should make me recoil. Delicate. Warm. Human.

And I hate that it doesn’t.

I hate that it softens me.

Me—the fucking Sin of Wrath. Built from bone and blood and fury that burned kingdoms before I ever tasted her name on my tongue. I am not meant for softness. I am not meant to yield.

And yet.

Her touch sinks past muscle and marrow. Slides between ribs. Settles against my heartbeat like she belongs there.

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