Page 49 of Sinful

I had a feeling I already knew what was on his mind. He was probably still disappointed that he wasn’t allowed to watch the third Tetrad ritual at the Red Rocks last night.

Unfortunately, that was just how it worked here. Outsiders weren’t equipped with enough knowledge and training to handle the magic of certain rituals. That was why we couldn’t discuss the details with them; could only give them the vaguest outline of the events. We all knew what would happen if they knew the whole story and witnessed it in person.

They would see the sacrifice and believe it to be a true death. A cruel, heartless murder. I couldn’t blame them for jumping to that conclusion, because they weren’t raised to understand the truth behind it, so it was my responsibility—along with the rest of the Covenant—to shield them from it.

Sebastian rose to his feet, steely eyes fixed on me. “Is there somewhere we can talk?” he asked in a low voice. “In private?”

“Um…” Feeling the eyes of the other early risers upon the two of us, I cleared my throat and raised my voice an octave. “Really, Mr. Thorne? No one’s showed you the library yet?”

Sebastian instantly caught on and shook his head. “No. Your father told me about it, but I haven’t had the chance to visit yet.”

“Well, I must rectify this issue. We still have an hour before Rite of Communion starts. That should be enough time.”

I turned on my heel and marched back down the street. Sebastian followed. When we reached the library, I pushed the creaking old door open and led him to the back, where dusty bookshelves displayed ancient tomes and manuscripts.

“We can talk in private here,” I said, looking up at him. “Is it about last night?”

He’d met me at the hot springs at two o’clock in the morning, just like every other night since his arrival, but something was different this time. He seemed distant, like his body was in the cave but his mind was in another place entirely.

At first, I assumed I was just imagining things because of the mind-altering communion wine I’d enjoyed at the Tetrad ritual. But now, after seeing him still looking so troubled all these hours later, I wasn’t so sure.

He shook his head. “No. Last night was amazing.”

“What’s on your mind, then?”

“I wanted to ask you something,” he said, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “That tunnel you told me about a while ago. The one the boys dug. Is it still there?”

I frowned. “I presume it is. It would’ve been filled in if the elders ever heard of it, but none of us ever turned the boys in.”

“Do you know where it is?”

“Vaguely. I never went to see it, but I remember them talking about where they were digging,” I said. I tipped my head. “Why are you asking about that?”

“Well, I know your ritual is coming up very soon, and after that you’ll be… busy. Meeting with the Entity, and so on.”

“Yes.” I gave him a tight smile, blinking rapidly. “Very busy.”

“You told me that the Entity sent me to you as a reward for all your years of service. A special treat before you submit.”

I nodded. “I believe so, yes.”

“I think you deserve one more reward,” Sebastian said, green eyes fixed on mine. “So… would you like to sneak out tonight?”

I swallowed hard and took a step back. “What?”

“I know how much you’ve always craved the outside world, Rose. It shows through in your art.”

“We’ve discussed this before,” I said stiffly, turning to run a fingertip over a dusty book spine. “I am curious about it, but I cannot go out there.”

“Because you’re a woman. It’s too dangerous for you. But it’s okay for men to be out there, right?”

“Yes.”

“So if you’re with a man, you should be fine.”

I turned back to face him. “I suppose that’s true.”

“And you’ve done it before,” he added. “When you were young.”

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