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Her smile sharpened. “I wondered when you’d catch on.”

“Oh gods,” I muttered.

“He’s stirring too. I don’t think he’s aware of it yet, but his powers have awakened. I can feel it, similar to when a new god or goddess awakens or is born.”

“Wonderful,” I drawled, but inwardly I reeled. We’d been searching for the final sin for nearly twenty years. Was the wait almost over? I had to tell the others!

And yet...I still wasn’t over his death.

I finished the rest of my drink in one swallow, the fire tracing its way down to settle into my gut like a coil of serpents. I put the glass down.

“I’ll need to reinforce the wards. I–”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Diana cut over me.

I froze. “I don’t know–”

“Wrath burns brightly, but sometimes the flame is too hot and burns everything in its path...including itself.”

I stuffed down all of those emotions rising to the surface.

Don’t feel. Don’t hurt.

“It won’t be like that this time. I vowed to watch over you–all of you. You’re like the brother I never had,” Diana confessed, her voice breaking a little.

My head snapped up to stare at her.

“I–”

She grabbed my hand.

“You have a little family here. I know we’ve gotten on each other’s nerves from time to time, but...I always considered myself a part. And now that Kiva is here–”

“Never said she was staying,” I grumbled, but Diana smirked.

Sloth was obsessed. The rest of us wouldn’t be far behind.

“Prepare for a battle on that front. The fae will want to give her back,” she said.

I funneled that away. That was a problem for future Gluttony. .

“Try to enjoy this odd stroke of domesticity,” she advised and moved to join Wrath and Kiva.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

JUNIPER

Icollapsed into one of Gluttony's plush armchairs in the parlor the moment we went inside. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, but in the good, achy way that came with purging demons physically and emotionally.

Kiva was resting, led to her room by Sloth. The poor dear had been ecstatic about her own room, bouncing around for an hour before passing out on the lush carpet. Sloth had tucked her in.

"Drink?" Lust appeared at my side, offering a crystal tumbler filled with amber liquid.

"Thanks," I murmured, accepting it gratefully. Our fingers brushed, and despite my exhaustion, that familiar warmth sparked between us. That strange pull I'd been feeling toward all of them seemed stronger now, more insistent, like invisible threads drawing me closer.

Around the parlor, the other Sins were making themselves comfortable. Pride stood at the bar, measuring out scotch with scientific precision. Sloth had already claimed an entire chaise lounge, one arm draped dramatically over his eyes while somehow still managing to hold a drink aloft. Envy pacednear the windows, casting occasional glances my way. Greed examined Gluttony's collection of vintages with calculating eyes.