Page 108 of A Sin So Pure

“I am in need of a gift for a special someone,” I say. “And I was hoping you’d be able to help me with that.”

Immediately, a gap-toothed smile spreads across his cheeks.

“Oh yeah? What are you thinking of?” He walks forward to the glass display cases. “Do they go upstate to hunt? Or are you looking for more of a collectible?”

I open my mouth, pausing, realizing that I don’t know any of the proper terms.

I should have asked Wes more questions before this. I don’t want Josie thinking I’m incompetent.

“I’m open to your suggestions,” I say, leaning forward conspiratorially. “All I require is that it’s somewhat small, and I can have something engraved on it.”

“Ah,” he croons. “Lovebirds.” He rummages for keys in his pocket to unlock the case in front of us. “I’ve got just the thing.”

It doesn’t take long for the man to show me a few options and get my order placed. He’s quite cute, the way he fusses over the guns, his knotted knuckles running over the metal with care as he explains what makes each unique.

Most of it goes over my head—but I nod and smile, nonetheless. When he pulled out the more modern model, with its sleek gray gunmetal and wooden inlay on the handle, I knew it belonged to Nora.

When he shuffles to the counter to write down the details, I turn to find Josie staring at a shiny silver and gold western-looking revolver in a case.

I lean forward, my mouth near the shell of her ear.

“Do you want that one?”

Josie startles, jerking away from me. “You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

I snort. “Aren’t you the one always telling the rest of us to be more aware of our surroundings, to be careful, to?—”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

Leaning my hip against the glass display case, I nod my head at the revolver she was ogling.

“That catch your eye?”

Her lips twitch. “Yeah, but I don’t need another?—”

“Hey, Sal!” I call across the shop. “I want to add another to my order.”

“You don’t need to buy me?—”

I tsk and place a steady hand on Josie’s, cutting her off. Her cheeks pinken at the contact.

“Let me spoil you, Josie. Friends deserve good Solstice gifts too,” I say. Then I shoot her a devious smile. “Plus, I got him to give me anunbeatablediscount.”

27

NORA

We find an odd but balanced rhythm by the end of my third week at Mt. Bramble.

Each morning, I take my breakfast alone in my room, savoring the calm loneliness provides before I brave the storm of my companions. Though, I’d be lying if I said watching the duo bicker wasn’t growing on me. Silas was right; Wrath is extremely easy to rile up, and it’s quite entertaining to poke fun at the grouch. Silas has taken to doing most of the poking, and while I egg him on from the sidelines wholeheartedly, Wrath doesn’t shoot me anything more than exasperated sighs.

After that night on the mountaintop, we came to an unspoken understanding. It isn’t a warm and fuzzy friendship. He’s still a grump, and I’m still coarse, but there isn’t that thrumming ire between us anymore.

By noon, we’re killing time, going back up to the range for repeat contests—all of which I win, to their dismay—or finding our own spots within the mountain complex. Silas frequents the library, I tend to linger in the training room, and Wrath sets off to his mysterious workshop. All of us wait for the clock to tick past our daily goalpost so I can release the tether of my magic on another soul.

We worked our way from one minute to thirty within the first twenty-four hours of adopting my newfound method. Pride had swelled in my chest the first time I tethered myself to one of the prisoners for more than a minute. But as we increased the goalpost, waiting for days with my magic stretching between me and the prisoners, we quickly realized how easily that connection could be broken.

Now, Silas has made it his mission to get me to crack. It’s exhausting.

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