Page 75 of Magic of Sins

“No.”

I look down at Syrus, at his writhing body. He will get what he deserves.

“Look at me! This isn’t you.”

Caden cups my face in his hands and forces me to look at him. I see him as if from a great distance. His gray-blue thundercloud eyes, his high cheekbones, his full lips.

“Come on, Kaya, you’re better than this,” he whispers. “Let him go.”

He pulls me to him. His lips on mine, stifling any protest. There’s a desperate passion in Caden’s kiss. It confuses me so much that for a moment I’m distracted. Jared’s thread slips away from me, and with it goes the feeling of power. All at once, it leaves my body, and my head falls against Caden’s shoulder. It feels like I’ve completely spent myself. The world around me sways slightly.

What have I done? By all the seven virtues, what have I done?

Caden takes a step back and pushes me to stand behind him so no one notices my trembling. I’m observing everything through a veil. Overturned chairs. Anxious faces. Someone is crying.

This is my fault.

I caused this.

“Let that be a lesson to you,” Caden says in a loud and unyielding voice. He’s now back to wearing the cold mask he always hides behind. “No one messes with me or my people.”

He leads me out of the room. Away from Jared, who’s slumped on the floor, making no sound. Next to Syrus, who’s gasping for breath.

Rey and Choi follow us, trying to shield us from the angry crowd. Tears well up in my eyes, but I carelessly wipe them aside. I humiliated someone. I almost made Jared kill another human being.

“Shh… It’s all right. It’s over,” Caden’s speaking to me softly, reassuringly, as we take the winding staircase up to our room. “It’s all over now.”

But I don’t believe a word he says. This nightmare will never be over. Because now I’m no longer afraid of what’s waiting for me out there.

I’m afraid of the monster inside me.

Epilogue

I watch her. Her green eyes, so full of joy. Her pale, heart-shaped lips and the dimples that appear out of nowhere when she laughs. Does she look like me? Could I have guessed she is my half-sister?

At my request, Caden brought me back to the palace. He wanted me to stay with him—for my own protection and because he didn’t want to leave me alone with my gift. But I couldn’t. Not after everything I experienced. Not after everything that happened.

I know I can’t stay holed up in the palace forever. I still don’t have my sin magic properly under control. I might hurt someone or cause them to harm someone else.

And then there’s my father, the king. One day he’ll wonder what I’m still doing here, and if he finds out I’m his daughter… I don’t even want to think about what will happen then.

For now, I sit with Ophelia in the sitting area of her bedroom having tea, laughing and joking as if nothing has happened. As if I don’t feel torn up inside, mourning the death of my best friend.

Caden took care of Ava’s body. His people cleaned up the apartment so that no trace of the terrible deed remains. I asked what I should do if Mrs.Hughes or anyone else asks me any questions, but he said no one would.Ava simply vanished like she never existed.

“Earth to Kaya.”

“Huh?”

Ophelia waves her hand in front of my face, laughing. She seems chipper today. Maybe because Erin complimented her on her new dress.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

I force myself to smile.

Trust me, you don’t want to know, little sister.

“Can I have another cup of tea?” I ask to avoid answering.

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