Page 134 of Glutton for Punishment

“No,” he says without hesitation. “It changes nothing. I have no intention of announcing our connection to the academy.”

Relief unfurls through me so quickly it almost makes me dizzy. Something unreadable flickers across his face before his expression smooths again.

Gabriel watches me for a moment before asking, “Have you mentioned our bond to Maddox or Atticus?”

Guilt punches me.

“No,” I admit. “There just… hasn’t been a good time.”

A tiny crease forms between his brows, though his tone stays even.

“Ultimately,” he says, “whether you tell them is your decision. But the more people included in this situation,” he continues carefully, “the more variables we create. More people to account for. More opportunities for mistakes.”

“I know,” I whisper.

Gabriel holds my gaze for a long moment. “Your secret is safe with me, Arwen. I have your best interests at heart.”

The sincerity in his voice makes something ache in my chest. And that’s an ache I can’t act on. I’ve gotten what I came for.

“Right. Okay. Thank you.”

I stand slowly. He inclines his head once, already reaching for a stack of papers on his desk.

I should leave. Instead, I linger awkwardly near the door.

“You still have something on your mind,” he says without looking up.

I hesitate, then decide we already have one secret. What’s another one added?

“I had one question…”

I take a few steps back towards his desk. “Only someone with a Sloth sin power could use Sloth relics… correct?”

Everything about him stills. His fingers stop against the edge of the paper. His gaze lifts slowly to mine.

“That’s correct,” he says. “But use of Sloth relics beyond the few sanctioned by the Council is strictly forbidden.”

I nod.

“So hypothetically…” I start, “someone who already had another faction’s sin power shouldn’t be able to activate or use one, right? Even if they had access to one?”

His expression darkens. “Where this is going, Arwen? If you’re in possession of a Sloth relic, that could be extremely dangerous.”

He folds his hands together. “Just tell me what’s happening. You can trust me.”

Something about the way he says it makes my chest tighten. I exhale and sit back down. I tell him about how I came across the relics during the kidnapping. How I had them with me when I was kidnapped by Councilor Blaise. How I could use one to heal myself and stay alive.

Professor Gabriel listens without interrupting once. By the time I finish, his expression has gone unnervingly blank.

“How were you able to activate one? That’s… impossible,” he says.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “That seems to be a recurring theme in my life.”

He ignores the joke. Leaning forward, he studies me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle.

“Do you still have them?”

I freeze. “…I do.”