Page 38 of The Sin-Binder’s Fate (The Seven Sins Academy #1)

“It really does,” Elias mutters.

Riven scowls. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Orin finally looks at him, dark eyes unreadable. “I’m not.”

Lucien exhales, tapping his fingers once more against the desk. “He’s right.”

Riven’s fists clench at his sides. “No.”

Elias lifts a lazy hand. “Seconded.”

“Thirded,” Silas chimes in, grinning. “And not just because it’s funny.”

Ambrose nods. “Strategically, it’s the strongest choice.”

I smirk, watching Riven like a cat watching something it wants to pounce on. “It’s adorable how much you hate that they’re right.”

Riven ignores me. His jaw tightens, his teeth grinding together like he’s already gearing up for a fight. “Pick someone else.”

Lucien lifts a brow. “There is no one else. ”

Riven exhales sharply. “It can’t be me.”

“It should be,” Ambrose corrects.

Riven glares.

Lucien leans forward, forearms braced against the desk, voice cool, level. “You’re Wrath.”

Riven scoffs. “Observant as ever.”

Lucien doesn’t acknowledge it. “She needs strength. Someone who can actually teach her how to survive what’s coming.”

Riven’s scowl deepens. “And you think that’s me?”

Lucien’s gaze sharpens. “Yes.”

The weight of it settles over the room. Because he’s right. And Riven knows it. That’s why he’s fighting it so hard.

Elias shifts against the wall. “She’s already trained with you.”

“Barely.”

Ambrose lifts a brow. “And yet, she’s improving.”

Silas grins. “You did almost lose to her.”

Riven spins toward him, scowling. “I did not.”

Silas smirks. “Denial’s a cute look on you.”

Riven exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face. “Fucking hell.”

I stretch, tipping my head toward him. “Just think, Riven. If you bind to her, you can really teach her what it means to fight.” I smirk, voice dipping lower. “And she’ll have all that power at her fingertips.”

Riven looks like he wants to throw me out a window.

Lucien folds his hands together, watching him carefully. “It’s the best option.”

Riven’s jaw tightens. “It’s not.”

Ambrose lifts a brow. “You’re the only one who can handle it.”

Riven exhales sharply. “I won’t do it. ”

Lucien leans back in his chair, studying him. “Why?”

Riven looks at him, expression dark, unreadable.

And then, quietly, “Because if she binds to me, I will ruin her.”

Lucien exhales through his nose, his gaze flicking toward me. “Caspian.”

I grin. “Don’t look at me, dearest leader.” I lift a lazy hand. “I already volunteered.”

Lucien sighs, rubbing his temple like we all give him migraines.

Riven shakes his head, backing up a step. “I won’t be the one to bind to her.” His voice is quieter now, but no less firm. “Pick someone else.”

Lucien watches him for a long moment, something calculating flickering behind his gaze.

Then, finally.

“Fine.”

But I know Lucien. And I know that means nothing. Lucien watches him, his expression unreadable, but I know him too well to be fooled. He’s already adjusting. Calculating. Pivoting.

And then, smoothly, casually, “Ambrose, then.”

Stillness. A shift, slight but unmistakable.

Riven stiffens.

Ambrose’s head tilts slightly, assessing. “Interesting.”

Lucien steeples his fingers, his voice even. “You’re strategic. Logical. If she has to bind to one of us, you’re the safest option.”

Ambrose exhales, considering. “That depends.”

Riven scoffs. “On what? ”

Ambrose’s dark eyes flick toward him, sharp and unreadable. “On whether you actually believe that.”

Riven glares, jaw tightening. “I don’t give a shit who she binds to.”

Silas hums from his corner. “That’s funny, because you look very pissed off right now.”

Riven turns his glare to him instead. “I always look pissed off.”

Elias snickers. “At least he’s self-aware.”

Riven’s fingers curl at his sides, but his attention is back on Ambrose now, like something about this is grating on him in a way he doesn’t want to examine too closely.

Lucien tilts his head slightly. “You disagree?”

Riven exhales sharply. “I don’t care.”

Lie.

I grin, watching him carefully. “If you don’t care, then what’s the problem?”

Riven turns toward me, something burning in his expression. “You are always the problem.”

I laugh, slow and easy. “Flattered, truly. But let’s not pretend this is about me.”

He scowls. “It’s not about anyone.”

Lucien lifts a brow. “Then why are you reacting?”

Riven exhales sharply, like he’s barely holding onto his temper. “Ambrose isn’t the right choice.”

Ambrose lifts a brow. “Why?”

Riven doesn’t answer.

Ambrose leans back slightly, something knowing flickering across his face. “Because you are?”

Riven scoffs. “I already said I’m not.”

Ambrose considers him for a moment, voice smooth. “Then why does the thought of me binding to her bother you?”

Riven’s jaw tightens. Lucien watches them both, gaze sharp and considering. He doesn’t speak. Doesn’t interfere. Because this is exactly what he wanted.

Ambrose exhales, tapping his fingers once against his knee. “If I were to bond to her, I’d make sure she never fell into Severin’s hands.” His voice is even, unbothered. “I’d give her stability.”

Riven’s nostrils flare. “She needs more than that.”

Ambrose inclines his head. “Exactly.”

Something flickers across Riven’s expression. A realization. A frustration.

Lucien exhales through his nose. “So who should it be, Riven?”

Riven doesn’t answer.

Lucien tilts his head. “Because if it’s not Ambrose-”

Riven glares.

Ambrose watches him, waiting. Not smug. Not pushing. Just… waiting.

Riven exhales sharply, like the words physically pain him. “Fine.”

Lucien lifts a brow. “Fine?”

Riven’s hands flex. “I’ll do it.”

Silas whistles low. “Damn. Didn’t even have to twist your arm that hard.”

Riven glares at him.

Lucien exhales, something settling in his expression. “Good.”

Riven mutters something under his breath, jaw still tight, muscles still coiled like he hates this.

Because he does. Because he knows. This isn’t just a battle tactic. It isn’t just a means to an end. The moment he binds to her, she becomes his. And worse, he becomes hers.

The weight of Riven’s reluctant agreement lingers, stretching between all of us like a blade waiting to drop. No one says anything at first.

Because now comes the real fight. Who the fuck is going to tell Luna?

I know I’m not doing it.

Riven hasn’t moved since he spat out his agreement, his jaw locked, his body a coiled spring of irritation. His hand flexes at his side, the only betrayal of just how much he hates this.

Lucien, of course, is watching him like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place. He’s smug without being overtly smug. I hate when he gets like this.

Ambrose shifts slightly in his chair, exhaling as if the conversation is already exhausting him. “So,” he says, ever the practical one. “Who’s telling her?”

Riven’s nostrils flare. “Not me.”

Silas, still flipping his knife, grins. “Well, it sure as hell isn’t gonna be me.”

Elias hums from where he’s slouched against the wall. “I feel like Caspian should do it.”

I press a hand to my chest, feigning offense. “Why me?”

Silas snickers. “Because she likes you.”

Riven scoffs. “She doesn’t like him.”

I smirk. “But she wants me.”

Riven glares. “You’re disgusting.”

I grin. “And you’re deflecting.”

Ambrose drums his fingers against his knee. “It should be Riven.”

Riven actually snarls. “It should not be me. ”

Lucien tilts his head slightly, considering. “It makes sense.”

Riven rounds on him. “Does it?”

Lucien exhales, exasperated. “You’re the one binding to her.”

“I don’t want to bind to her.”

“Too fucking bad,” Elias mutters.

Riven glares at him. “I will set you on fire.”

Elias grins. “That would take effort.”

Silas hums. “And we all know how angry you are.”

Elias groans, dragging a hand down his face. “It’s not anger- ”

Lucien cuts in smoothly, “It’s irrelevant.” He turns back to Riven, his voice even, measured. “She’s going to know eventually. Would you rather she hears it from someone else?”

Riven exhales sharply, his hands tightening into fists. “I’d rather not do this at all.”

Ambrose lifts a brow. “And yet, here we are.”

Riven glares at him. “You could do it.”

Ambrose shakes his head. “No.”

Elias grins. “You could always let Caspian do it.”

Riven actually looks at me then, his dark eyes burning with something dangerous.

I grin wider. “I’d love to break it to her.”

His nostrils flare. “Not. A chance.”

Lucien watches him, expression unreadable. “Then it’s settled.”

Riven turns his glare back on him. “It is not settled.”

Lucien lifts a brow. “You’re telling her.”

Riven looks like he wants to break something. Preferably Lucien’s face. But Lucien has him trapped, and we all know it .

Riven exhales, long and slow, then mutters under his breath, “Fucking hell.”

Silas hums. “She’s gonna love this.”

I smirk, stretching lazily. “Oh, I cannot wait to watch this go down.”

Riven turns toward the door, jaw tight, body stiff.

Lucien calls after him, “Sooner rather than later.”

Riven doesn’t respond. Doesn’t even look back. He just stalks out of the room like a man walking to his own execution .