Sin Undone

“Because I can’t guarantee it. I think it’s likely, but I’m not going to make any promises.”


Sin’s stomach turned over. And as the others went back to taking care of Luc and Kar, Sin backed up until she bumped into the door. While no one was looking, she slipped out, needing space, but once she was out in the cold, where the coppery zest of spilled blood still hung in the air, there was too much space. Too much blood, too much death.

All of which she’d caused.

She stood there, taking it all in, watching as the UG staff tended to the injured and dragged the dead into the forest, where they could be hidden from human eyes. On her arm, her dermoire tingled, a precursor to the pain that would erupt.

Feel, Con had said.

And yeah, she owed these people that.

Grief welled up in her, a massive wave of agony that burst out as a sob. She ran, stumbling, into the forest, and by the time she was deep in the bush, she was bawling so hard she could barely breathe, and tears were trailing down her cheeks.

“Con, I hate you for this,” she whispered. She’d worked so hard to protect herself from pain, and now it seemed like that was all she could feel. She sucked in a shuddering breath, desperate to get herself under control, and then… the air went still. And colder. Her breath formed an icy fog, and right behind her, a horse screamed, a godawful, evil screech that Sin felt deep in her marrow. The distinct whistle of a missile made her heart skip a beat a split second before an arrow punched into the snow between her feet. Secured to the end of the arrow was a twisted piece of sinew from which something shiny dangled.

Knowing she was a dead woman, Sin turned. The horseman came out of the trees like a wraith, with brimstone smoke as an escort. He drew his mount to a halt, and the giant white beast reared up, flashing hooves larger than an old Chevy’s hubcaps. When the horse settled, the rider removed his great helm. Long white hair spilled out over the male’s broad shoulders, which were covered in armor, and just like in the mountains of Montana, it was dull, sooty, and an oily, bloodlike substance oozed from the joints and cracks. His eyes glowed with an unholy sanguine light, the same as the stallion’s. His face should have been handsome, but his smile was pure malice as he inclined his head, gave Sin a two-finger salute, and then wheeled his mount around and disappeared as if the forest had swallowed him whole.

Unbelievably, Sin was still alive.

“What. The. Hell.” Eidolon’s voice startled her, and she spun to find him and Con standing behind her. “Was that the horse guy who’s been stalking you?” “Yeah. And I’m getting tired of his games.” Covertly, Sin dashed away her leftover tears as she bent to tug the arrow out of the snow and snap the gold object off the twine. “It’s some sort of coin. Well, half a coin.” She rubbed her finger over the broken, zigzagged edge. “There’s writing on the back. She who… blood… carries… spread plague… battle breaks… seal’d.” Eidolon frowned, and Sin returned the look. “What? Why do you look like you licked a Mondevilin piss pod?”

“It sounds vaguely familiar.”

“We’ll have to figure it out later,” Con said. “We need to get Sin somewhere safe. We’ve been here long enough to make me nervous.”

Eidolon’s expression took on a sympathetic cast. “Yeah, I’m worried about the damned assassins, too. We’ll get Sin to UG—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Sin interrupted. “I’m not going to be in danger from my assassins anymore.” “Why not?” Eidolon asked.

“Because,” she said quietly, “I’m going back to the den.”

“Like hell you are,” Con and Eidolon said simultaneously.

Sin jammed her hands onto her hips and glared at them both in turn. Maybe if her eyes weren’t swollen and her face damp from tears, she might have looked a little fiercer. And Con wouldn’t feel like such a piece of shit, because he knew damned good and well that every single tear was on his shoulders.

“This is my choice,” she said. “Everyone will be safer if I go back to the den. I’ve made up my mind.”

Eidolon gave her a look that was pure big brother. “You don’t need to go back there, Sin. We’ll find a way to make it safe for you.” Con sure as hell agreed with that. “They can’t touch you at the hospital. Go with your brothers.” “I am going back there. It’s my job.”

“Bullshit.” Gold flecks kicked up in the black of Eidolon’s eyes, and Con braced himself. This could get ugly if the guy started ordering Sin around. “You will not—”

“E,” Con interrupted. “Could you give us a second?”

Though Eidolon’s expression was as frosty as the breeze that stirred up the snow around them, he nodded. “I’ll take Luc and Kar to UG. You two can meet us there.”