Page 8 of Magic of Sins

“I can tell from the look on your face that you have a thousand questions. But all you need to know is that we’ve been able to confirm Caden Nox as a reliable source. His knowledge is invaluable to us. But he will not give it up for free.”

Of course not. A man like that gives nothing without expecting something in return.

I try to picture him: a middle-aged man who you can tell is dangerous just by looking at him and who now sits in the palace prison like a spider in its web. It’s probably foolish to give in to his demands, whatever they may be.

“What does he want?” I ask, watching the princess rub her hands together uncomfortably.

An ominous silence settles over the room. My own hands grow sweaty in my gloves, although I’m still not sure about my role in all of this. It’s unlikely that this Caden Nox is asking to borrow a book from our library and wants me to bring it to him. But beyond that, I don’t see what value I could have to him. I am an ordinary young woman, with no talents or connections to speak of. But the look on the princess’s face says otherwise. I detect some concern in her eyes, as well as fear of how I’ll react to her next words.

“You,” she finally blurts out. “He wants you, Kaya.”

Chapter Three

There’s a ringing in my ears.

“Me?” I ask, still quite dazed by Ophelia’s admission.

This is a misunderstanding. It has to be.

The princess hurries over and sits down on the chair next to me, reaching for my hands. Hers are so delicate that I want to take off my gloves and stroke them.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but you would be doing the kingdom a great service.”

She talks fast, as if she fears I might jump up and run away at any moment. But I’m far too perplexed. I’m still trying to comprehend what she’s saying.

“What do you mean he wants me?” I ask, shaking my head.

He doesn’t expect me to share a bed with him, does he? No, what a silly idea! He doesn’t even know me. And the crown would never allow such a thing, let alone suggest it. Right?

“He wants to feed on your sins,” Ophelia says softly.

“You want me tosin?”

Even though I’m the one who’s speaking the words, it takes me a moment to register their meaning. The princess wants me to break the law. She wants me to hand myself over to a sin mage and risk my spiritual well-being.

“He wants a dinner, that’s all. It would take place here at the palace. A guard would always be nearby, and of course we would make sure no lines were crossed.”

I almost laugh out loud. It’s not like I’m not already crossing a line by committing gluttony in front of a sin mage and allowing him to feed on me.

Ophelia squeezes my hands a little tighter as they begin to tremble. Her voice is insistent.

“That sounds scary, I know. But trust me, nothing can happen to you here in the palace. Think of it as a once in a lifetime feast.”

I remember the lemon. The tequila. The butterscotch Ava brought back for me from an underground party once. Here’s my opportunity; I could taste all those flavors again and not have to worry about being punished for it.

Ava would agree to it in a heartbeat. But I’m not Ava. I hesitate, thinking of this Caden Nox. The most dangerous sin mage of all time, as Ophelia called him. Do I really want to sit across from someone like that? Do I want to allow him to invade my mind and manipulate it?

A shiver runs down my spine.

“Why does he want to feed on me, of all people?” My voice is far too high. “Why would he ask for me specifically?”

The princess shrugs. “We don’t know. He just gave us your name. It was his only demand.”

Why, though?I can’t shake the question.

While I’m still thinking it over, a door behind Ophelia opens. Someone enters.

King Henry I.

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