She looked down, choking on what seemed to be her own blood, expecting to see a wound. But it wasn't her body she saw. It was Sin's. There was a sword stuck through him and it burned like the very fires of hell. Every beat of her heart sent more agony pounding through her until she wanted to scream from it.
And it wasn't the only painful memory he kept buried. She was in a long, open hallway that was light and airy, with thin white curtains billowing in the breeze. Sunshine poured through it as Sin walked toward the back of his temple in Ur. There was a feeling of happiness in his heart until the sounds of grinding sex intruded on it. The joy turned to vengeful rage as he entered his bedroom. He approached the bed in the corner and parted the heavy red curtains.
What she saw there jolted her into releasing Sin's arm. Kat gasped as she stepped back in shock.
She couldn't breathe. Couldn't see or hear anything other than the unbelievable agony inside her. It hurt... it hurt... Over and over images continued to flash in her mind. Sin's memories. She saw his wife in the arms of another man. Saw his son, Utu, and his daughter, Ishtar, as they died fighting the demons Sin's own father had created.
The agony was unbearable...
How could Sin stand all that had happened to him? How? They had laughed at him and they had shamed him.
Then they had died and left him completely alone...
Kat wanted peace, but there was no comfort to be found. All she could see was bitter images that ate at her. Bitter images of guilt and betrayal.
"Help me," she whispered, her heart breaking.
Sin stood beside Kat, watching her shake. The sadistic part of himself enjoyed the sight of her there like that. It was what she deserved for intruding on his emotions and memories.
But he wasn't the bastard he wanted to be and the joy only lasted a millisecond of a heartbeat before he was gathering her into his arms. She was sobbing against him.
"Sh," he whispered as he rocked her. "Let it go. It's not yours to feel." Closing his eyes, he cradled her against his chest and reached out with his powers to ease the pain she'd taken from him.
Kat continued to tremble uncontrollably as the images receded. She felt the comfort of Sin's arms that warred against the residual emotions that continued to sting her.
There was so much pain inside him. So much betrayal. How could he stand it?
But then she knew. It was what fueled his fight against the gallu. He channeled all the anger and pain and used it to strengthen him.
It was also what kept him isolated from everyone around him. Even Kish and Damien. And she finally understood what he'd said to her earlier. "There is more than one kind of death," she whispered.
"Yes." His own voice was low and that single word carried more emotion than a lovesick poet. "Cowards aren't the only ones who die a thousand deaths. Sometimes heroes do, too."
It was true. She'd seen it firsthand and she now understood so much about him.
Kat leaned back so that she could touch his face. He was so handsome in the dim light. His dark features were perfection. Yet she could still see in her mind the blood on his skin, the anguish on his features...
And she wanted to soothe him more than anything.
Sin's breath caught as he saw the compassion in Kat's eyes. The sympathy. It'd been so long since anyone had looked at him like that. Hatred, anger, disgust, those he could handle. But this one look was enough to weaken him.
It touched a part of him he didn't even know. And it softened him. He'd never been so naked to anyone. She'd seen his past and she didn't mock him for it. It was refreshing and terrifying.
She fingered his lips, which ignited a spark deep inside his body. It'd been a long time since any woman had...
No, he'd never felt like this with a woman. Not even his wife had attracted him the way Kat did. There was something about her that was infectious and inviting. Her humor, her courage. All of it.
And he wanted a taste of her so badly that all he could think of was stripping them naked and making love to her until the end of time.
Or at least until the Dimme ate them...
Kat watched the emotions sweep across Sin's face. His desire was bold and hot in those golden eyes, and even without using her powers she knew what he felt.
She held her breath in expectation of his kiss.
His hold tightened an instant before he took possession of her mouth. She laid her hand against his cheek so that she could feel the muscle in his jaw working as his tongue danced with hers. He tasted of wine and man. Of comfort and warmth. She didn't know why, but she found a strange sense of peace with him. Desire overwhelmed her.
Sin growled at the sensation of her tongue sweeping against his. Part of him expected Apollymi to blast them apart again, but as each second passed and all he could feel was Kat's warm touch, he relaxed. There was no one here to break them apart. No one to come between them.