Page 66 of The Sin Binders Ascent

“He doesn’t even deserve cereal,” he growls. “You know, he asked me if Luna snores?”

I blink. “Does she?”

“I don’t know,” he snaps, scandalized. “I don’t listen when she sleeps, Elias, I’m not a fucking creeper.”

“You are.”

“Only withher,” he says, as if that makes it romantic.

I look back at the garden, watching the way her pinky flicks against the edge of the mug. She’s pissed. Not loud, not explosive. Just that cold, simmering fury that makes her quieter. It’s the worst kind of mad, because you can’t fix it. You just have to ride it out.

And Theo? That bastard is loving every second of it. Every time her wrist tugs against the chain, his eyes follow it, like he’s cataloging the weight of her restraint. Like helikesbeing attached to her. And okay, sure,who wouldn’t, but it’s thewayhe looks at her. Not reverent. Not soft. Hungry.

I hate him.

“You think if I climb that tree and drop a rock on his head, I could play it off as bird shit?” Silas asks.

“I think you’d miss and hit Luna.”

Silas flinches. “You’re right. She’d be mad. She’d yell at me. Gods, that’d be hot.”

“Seek help,” I mutter, then groan as I sit up. My spine cracks like a goddamn haunted house. “Alright. Screw this. I’m done watching Desire play footsie with what's mine.”

Silas snaps to attention, and I catch that manic glint in his eyes. “Are we about to do something stupid?”

“Always,” I say, dragging myself to my feet. “Let’s go interrupt breakfast.”

We descend the steps like a couple of very judgmental ghosts. Luna clocks us immediately, one arched brow, the mug pausing mid-sip. Theo doesn't even glance our way. Of course not. He’s too busy watching her.

So I clap my hands once. Loud.

“Morning, lovebirds,” I say cheerfully, like the sheer volume might annoy him into cardiac arrest.

Luna groans. “Gods, Elias.”

“Just doing my part to keep the day balanced.”

Silas flops onto the bench next to her like a golden retriever made of knives. She nudges him with her knee, and he beams, instantly mollified.

Theo finally looks at me. His grin curves slow, like he thinks he’swinningsomething. And that’s when I decide. I’m not letting him win shit. Because lazy doesn’t meanstupid. And I’ve been watching long enough to know Desire doesn’t want to seduce Luna.

He wants tostealher. Not happening. Not while I’m still breathing. Not while Silas is still plotting. Not while every damn one of us would tear down the world just to keep her ours.

So I smile right back at Theo. Let him think I’m not a threat. Let him think I’m harmless. Because when I move?

It’s going to hurt.

Silas moves like he’s not moving, all lazy limbs and a wolfish grin, but I know him,chaos wrapped in sugar,and there’s a method to his madness. His arm slides over Luna’s shoulders like he’s stretching, like the morning sun is just so heavy it’s dragging his limbs with it, but the second his palm lands at the curve of her neck, his fingers tighten. Possessive. Silent. He doesn’t pull her outright, no, that’d be too obvious. Too controlled. Instead, he shifts his weight so their bodies press together shoulder to thigh and Luna, still annoyed, still boiling under the surface, lets it happen.

Her body leans into his like gravity’s made the decision for her, and that puts her just far enough from Theo to make the cuff between them pull taut.

A single, heavy inch of space.

And Theo fucking notices. His eyes cut to the chain, then flick up to Luna. No expression on his face. No change in his posture. Just a brief flex in his jaw, like he’s grinding down on something sharp and bitter behind that amused smirk. He doesn’t like being on the other side of want. That’s clear now. He’s used to controlling it, manipulating it, making people ache until they give in just to make the burn stop.

Good.

Let him ache.