by Sadie Moss
“We should… go prove that we won,” I manage, when I realize we’ve been uncomfortably standing here staring at each other and I’m still holding my blade.
Sawyer nods. “Yeah. We should.” His mesmerizing amber eyes flicker for a second, and he looks almost like he wants to say something else, but all he adds is, “Well done, Trinity.”
“You too.”
I put the blade away, and we head out, the air between us feeling charged and thick.
Chapter Sixteen
REMINGTON
“Nicely fuckin’ done, Trin.” Nix grins at the angel as she walks out of the arena with Sawyer.
She had to meet with Myron briefly after the challenge to confirm her win, so the rest of us gathered outside the large stadium to wait for her and our brother.
“Thanks.” She grins at Nix, looking happy and a little dazed.
I’m not sure she expected to emerge from the first challenge victorious, but I’m not at all surprised that she has. Sawyer can be extremely focused and capable when he chooses to be, and I’ve already witnessed Trinity’s toughness and tenacity on more than one occasion. They were a force to be reckoned with today.
“Just four more to go,” I tell her encouragingly as our little group falls into step behind Ryland and Beckett.
She makes a face. “Ugh. Don’t remind me. At least let me bask in this glory for a second longer.”
I chuckle, bumping her shoulder with mine. “You should. You deserve it.”
We draw more stares than we did this morning, making it clear that news of Trinity’s win has already spread far and wide in the town. A few of the other competitors emerging from the arena look at Trin with calculated, grudging respect in their eyes.
Today was her “freebie,” so to speak. Today was the only day her opponents will underestimate her as much as they most likely did at the start of the match. Now everyone will pay close attention to her and whichever one of us joins her in the next challenge.
It takes us fifteen minutes to walk back to the house we’re staying at, and when we get inside, I immediately head toward the kitchen. Cooking soothes me, and to be honest, watching Trinity compete in the game was stressful.
Or, well, watching Trinity’s likeness.
Since the challenge took place outside the arena, we weren’t able to watch the actual contestants. But illusory images of them moved around the arena floor, their actions a reflection of what each contestant was doing in that particular moment. So although we didn’t see Trinity and Sawyer fight off the serpencias in person, we were still able to witness the action unfolding.
I found my muscles growing tense, my body anxious to spring up and dash down into the arena to help. I knew it wouldn’t have done any good, since Trin and Sawyer weren’t even actually there, but that knowledge didn’t stop the urge. And it certainly didn’t dampen my worry.
So now I’m going to cook, and then I’m going to feed everyone. That will take the edge off the anxiety gnawing at my stomach.
My brothers all head to other parts of the house, but to my surprise, Trinity follows me into the kitchen.
I shoot her a glance. “I was about to start on dinner, but I can whip you up a snack to tide you over if you’re hungry. I’m sure you worked up an appetite.”
She smiles, her teeth bright against her mocha skin. “It was more tiring than I expected, that’s for sure. But I can wait until dinner’s ready. I actually…” She bites her lip. “I actually just thought I’d see if you need help.”
I don’t. I’m so well-practiced in a kitchen that I can attend to several different dishes at once and easily whip up a several-course meal for all of us in no time.
But a grin tugs at my lips as I nod. “Yeah. That would be great.”
Trin looks pleased. She glances around the kitchen, spreading her arms a little. “I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to cooking. I was more a Chinese takeout and Netflix kinda girl before I met you guys. So you’ll have to tell me what you need.”
You.
The single word answer pops into my head before I can stop it, and I clear my throat to keep it from spilling from my lips. I don’t fear Trinity like some of my brothers seem to, but I’m surprised at the strength and depth of my feelings for her already.
She’s only been a fixture in our lives for a short while, but it’s almost hard to imagine a time when she wasn’t with us.
It’s like she was always meant to come to us.
She just… fits.
My brothers and I are a motley crew, a strange group with a broad array of often clashing personalities. But somehow, Trinity fits in with us in a way that no one else ever has before.
“That’s all right,” I tell her, crossing to the pantry to begin pulling out ingredients. “I’m used to managing sous chefs in my kitchen. I’ll show you what to do.”
Trinity’s face lights up with excitement, and she walks over to accept the items I hand her. My gaze catches on her face, and for a moment, I can’t look away. Just a couple hours ago, she was battling magical snakes, and now she’s happily helping me prepare dinner. But both sides of her—the fierce warrior and the eager innocent—are utterly her.
There isn’t an ounce of artifice in this woman.
Our fingers brush, and an electric charge seems to spark between us. Her eyes flare a little as her breath hitches in her throat. A dozen memories rush through my mind, reminding me of the kiss we once shared.
Then she pulls her hand away from mine and crosses to the counter, setting down the ingredients I gave her. She glances over her shoulder at me. “Okay. What do we do first?”
Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I grab some produce from the fridge. Ryland’s assistant is good. She procured this place for us in under an hour and made sure it was stocked with everything we would need. It’s hard to believe she doesn’t have magic—although she has access to Ryland’s vast wealth, which can sometimes be as powerful as magic.
I set everything on the counter and nudge Trin’s shoulder. “I’ve seen you with a sword. So I suppose I can trust you with a knife?”
She grins broadly. “I think I can handle it.”
“Atta girl.”
I show her how to slice up the vegetables I’ll need for the ragù and then get to work at the stove while she continues her own task with careful precision. We work in comfortable silence for a few moments, then I feel her look up at me.
“Hey, Remi? Can I ask you a question?”
I glance over my shoulder at her. “Anything.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I know this isn’t really my business, so you don’t have to answer, but… what happened between Ryland and Beckett?”
I sigh, reducing the heat on the burner before turning to face her. “That’s a complicated question, Trin. Or rather, it’s a simple question with a complicated answer. It’s not really my story to tell, but a—a falling out several years ago, and neither one of them has been able to move on from it or forgive the other.”
She purses her lips, her soft brown eyes seeming to darken a little. “That’s sad. They seem like they should be best friends. They’re so alike in so many ways, and it almost seems like they miss each other.”
My head jerks back a little in surprise. I’m startled to hear her quiet assessment of my brothers, and to realize how deeply observant she is. I couldn’t have said it better myself, and I’ve known the two of them for my entire existence.
I don’t think it’s something most people would pick up on either. Anyone can see the tension between them, the harsh anger—that part is easy to see. But the way their anger masks a deep pain? The way even when they try not to, the two of them find themselves working together, functioning as a unit?
They were the glue that held all of us together once.
Then they were the bomb that blew us apart.
Now?
I’m not quite sure what they are now, but I do know one thing. Trinity is bringing them closer together again. H
ell, she’s the one who brought all of us together again after so much time scattered to the wind.
And this time I get the feeling we’ll either stay together or be splintered apart for good.
“I think you’re right, Trin.” I step toward her, hearing both hope and pain in my own voice. “I think they do miss each other. But it’s not too late. They’re both stubborn sons of bitches—we all are, really—but there’s always a chance to change. To be different.”
Trinity goes absolutely still. Something sparks in the depths of her brown eyes, but I’m not quite sure what it is. She seems almost stunned by my words, although I know they weren’t that eloquent.
Her chest rises as she draws in a deep lungful of air, as if she forgot to breathe for a second. She looks strangely vulnerable in this moment, and I can’t help myself. I step closer, ignoring the food all around us as I indulge in the one thing I’m most hungry for.
Her.
My arm slides around her waist, and when I draw her toward me, she comes willingly, her body soft and pliant against mine. Her small hands rest against my chest, not pushing me away but not quite pulling me closer either. Her fingers curl against the fabric of my shirt, and when she drops her mouth open to draw in another lungful of air, I can’t resist.
I follow her deep breath with a kiss, tasting the sweetness of her, the perfect flavor I might already be addicted too.
“Remi…”
Her words are a muffled murmur against my lips, and now she does pull me nearer, rising up onto her tiptoes to meet me as she kisses me back like she’s been waiting for this.
Like she needs it as much as I do.
Like she’s indulging in her sin just as I am.
My hand splays over her back, and I love how small and delicate she feels in my arms. Her breasts press against me as she releases my shirt to slide her hands up and around my neck, running her fingers through my hair as our bodies press flush together from head to toe.
I could get used to this.
I could live and die happy like this.
I could forget everything else in the world except Trinity.
Her taste. Her feel. Her smell.
“Fuck, Trin,” I mutter as I pull back to nip at her lips. My hands begin to roam over her body, eager to feel more of her, to trace every perfect curve and dip. “I’ve been thinking about this. Dreaming about this. Ever since that day at the club.”
Her fingernails scratch lightly against my scalp, and a shiver runs down my spine, making my cock thicken and harden against her.
I’m not lying. Those memories are imprinted on my damn brain, and I’ll never forget them for the entire remainder of my existence, no matter how long it may be. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve wanted more.
And now I have it.
Trinity is in my arms, gasping helplessly into my mouth as I kiss her again and again, trying to satisfy the bottomless hunger inside me.
The pungent smell of something burning reaches my nostrils, but even that isn’t enough to pull me away from the woman in my arms—at least, not until smoke begins to waft through the kitchen.
Trinity yelps in surprise, pulling away from me as her eyes widen. “Oh, shit!”
She darts toward the stove and turns off the burner as I grab a towel and wave it in the air to disperse the smoke. Trinity flaps her hands, sending more tendrils of smoke curling away into nothingness as she stares down at the scorched pan.
Then she looks back up at me with a grimace. Her eyes are a little glazed, and her lips are swollen from our kiss. She looks gorgeous. “Um, I’m guessing this wasn’t meant to be a flambé.”
I tip my head back and laugh, and before I know it, she’s laughing too.
“Nope, not so much.” I shake my head ruefully. “That’s the first time I’ve burned food in a long time. Decades, actually.” Unbidden, my tongue darts out to taste her on my lips, and I see her pupils dilate as she watches the small movement. “You’re distracting,” I add.
“Oops. Sorry.” She’s still watching my mouth, and I can see such pure want on her face that I almost wish we had let the whole house burn to the ground rather than stop.
I want to sweep her into my arms and carry her upstairs, to feast on her body and tell my brothers they’re on their own for dinner.
But something I can’t even name holds me back.
Not now. Not yet.
Still, I can’t resist her. Resting my knuckle under her chin, I tilt her head up a little to meet my gaze.
“No apology needed, Trin. Especially not for that.”
Her grin is shy and sweet as it blooms across her face like a beam of pure sunshine. “Well, good. Because now that I think about it, I’m not really sorry at all.”
That pulls a laugh out of me, and I brush my thumb over her bottom lip before reluctantly stepping away from her. “Shall we try take two on dinner?”
I scrub out the pan that was neglected on the stovetop, and we get started chopping and prepping ingredients, working comfortably together side by side.
But the heat that flared between us never fully dissipates, hovering over the kitchen like an unfulfilled promise.
Chapter Seventeen
TRINITY
I wake up the next day feeling energized and determined. I’m ready to tackle the next challenge, ready to get a move on and win us the weapon that will close the portals for good.
As I get ready, I can’t help but wonder if my sudden boost in energy is because we won the last challenge, or if it’s because of what happened last night with Remi.
What he said.
The way he looked at me.
I can still feel his kiss on my mouth when I concentrate, and I brush my fingers over my lips, like I can feel him there with them. Which is ridiculous, of course.
But there was something amazing in that kiss. It didn’t have the same kind of violent passion that’s infused the kisses I’ve shared with Ford or Beckett. That didn’t make it any less intense though.
It was the kind of kiss I could give myself over to entirely, because I trust Remi. Because I genuinely care about him. It was hot and unexpected and a hundred times better than our kiss in the sex club where we found Henrik. There was no lust dust involved, nothing but the two of us and what we both wanted in that moment.
My lower belly is dissolving into liquid heat as I think about it, and I close my eyes as I blow out a breath.
Uh oh. I’m getting in way deeper than I should be.
And to be honest, I’m not sure if I’m any closer to redeeming them. Remi’s words about how people can change have kept playing in a loop in my head, but the truth is, I haven’t noticed any of them really behaving differently than before.
Meanwhile, I’m changing, finding myself caring more about them, feeling softer toward them. How am I supposed to get back home when I’m being tempted by the sins themselves?
And no matter how much I’m starting to care about all of them, I don’t think they’d take too kindly to my suggestion that they pledge themselves to my kind’s side in the war.
They’re still helping me try to close the portals, though. That has to count for something, doesn’t it? They’re fighting the corrupted and trying to help humanity, and those are both good things. So I should just focus on the next challenge and take care of that. Then once we close the portals, I can use that as proof to Anderson that the sins are doing good in the world and are on their way to being redeemed.
You can do this, Trin. I square my shoulders, giving myself a firm nod. One day at a time.
After my silent little pep talk to myself, I slip out of my bedroom and head downstairs. Even though it’s just a temporary home base, the mansion is large enough for each of us to have our own bedroom, with several rooms leftover.
“Who’s going to be my partner this time?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen, my stomach already growling at the smell of coffee and savory pastry.
To my surprise, Nix raises his hand.
&nb
sp; I’m not the only one who’s surprised by it either. The other six sins stare at Sloth like he’s lost his mind.
“Are you sure you heard her right, brother?” Sawyer drawls.
“Uh, yeah. She asked who was going to be her partner for the next trial.” Phoenix points at himself. “I raised my hand. Thought it should be pretty obvious, even to all of you stubborn idiots.”
“Nix.” Remi steps forward carefully. “Are you sure you want to help her out with this?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re okay with this?” Now Remi shifts his focus to me.
Nix follows his brother’s gaze and wrinkles his nose when he takes in the expression on my face. “You think I’m too lazy, don’t you?”
I have to laugh. “You’re Sloth, so yes, sort of.”
He shrugs languidly. “No harm no foul, babycakes, but I’ll have you know that the height of laziness is also efficiency. If you’re good at something, it doesn’t take you nearly as long to get it done, you know? It’s the amateurs that fumble around. I’m pretty skilled at a lot of things, and I don’t just mean different video game systems. I could be useful.”
“He’s got a point,” Beckett says, although he sounds frustrated that he’s saying it. “Nix picks things up quickly. He’s a fast study.”
Sloth gets a triumphant look on his face, and I’m not sure if it’s because Beckett used his nickname—something the stoic man usually seems to avoid—or if it’s because his brother is agreeing with him. Possibly both.
“All right,” I concede. “If you really think you can handle it…”
“I won’t let you down,” Nix assures me. “Hell, I’m probably the most reliable one of all of us.”
“Uh huh.” I lift an eyebrow skeptically, and he grins.
The others all look amused—except for Ryland, who still looks like he’s casually contemplating where to hide my body after he murders me—and I have a feeling that they’re looking forward to watching this whole thing unfold.
