Page 98 of Beg the Night

No, I wouldn’t do it. Not when there was so much at stake.

“You can’t be afraid of yourself forever.”

Unease coiled tight in my belly. “I don’t see any other way.”

Sinner tipped his head back and huffed at the sky like he was looking for answers.

Good luck with that.

“Okay, new plan,” he said. “If you’re afraid to use your own magic, fine. You’ll learn to use mine.”

I swallowed past the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat. Shit.

“We share power now. You can feel it, I know you can.”

As if on cue, that tether tugged at my chest like it had each time Sinner had used his magic since our unfinished claiming ceremony.

I hadn’t had time to really assess the sensation. It all happened so fast, and then we were running.

But holy hell. He was right. I could wield Sinner’s shadows.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Teach me how.”

A wicked smile spread across his face. Shadows pulsed out of his chest, right above his heart. They did not flood the area like I had seen them do before. These were slower shadows. Subtle. And completely under Sinner’s control.

At the sight of those black wisps, my own chest tightened. He was standing close enough that if I reached out, I could touch them?—

“Will them to come to you,” he ordered.

Uncertainty fluttered through me.Yeah. Like it would be that easy.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, silently urging the shadows to move closer. It felt ridiculous. This was all…it was all magic, for god’s sake.

Still, I willed them forward. With my hands at my sides, I turned my palms up, and I pulled, as if there was a physical string tethering me to each of the black clouds that snaked around Sinner’s body.

I pulled and pulled and pulled.

And got nothing.

“You don’t want it bad enough,” Sinner said matter-of-factly.

A humph escaped me as I let my shoulders sag. Was this guy on drugs? “Um, yes, I think I do. Our lives are at stake here.”

Sinner laughed under his breath while he shook his head. “And when have you ever cared about your own life?”

“Excuse me, but I do possess a little self-preservation, thank you.”

“Really? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

I glowered at him.Real good, Athena. Great scary work. I’m sure he’s trembling right now.“I understand what’s at stake here. Those people in the dungeons will continue to suffer. That’s not a life I’d wish upon anyone.”

A darkness flickered in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. “Then act like it. Control these shadows. Their lives depend on it. We have no chance of standing up to the Ministry if you’re not using a gift.”

My heart rate spiked. I hadn’t wanted to believe that I’d need to, but the earnestness and concern in his tone struck deep. We were their hope.

Possibly their only hope.

Instead of pushing the shadows from his chest again, Sinner held one hand out between us. A single shadow appeared, twirling like a tiny tornado in his palm. “Show me how badly you want it, then.”

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