Page 142 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“There’s an open door over there,”Tommy signals us as he walks out of the castle wall.

“Thanks, lad,” Mine mentions as he goes to the door. The rusty hinges rattle and it takes him a few tries to open it.

I follow after him, taking in the dusty surroundings. There are cobwebs everywhere, and goose bumps cover my skin as I see a few insects scurry out of our path. Tommy wrinkles his nose in disgust too, even though the insects cannot crawl on his ghostly body. He hurries ahead, disappearing from sight.

“I don’t think anyone’s been in this side of the castle in a long time,” I mutter.

“At least since the war started,” Mine agrees. “With a castle this size, I doubt they had the staff to maintain it after the museum closed.”

“You said you read about it. So you know where we’re going?”

“The Early Modern wing. The artifacts should be there.”

I nod. “I hope this works. Otherwise?—”

“It will work,” Mine corrects. “You trust me, no?”

My brows knit together.

“No?”

He blinks. “What? You don’t trust me?”

“Why would I trust you? I barely know you,” I add drily.

“Because I’m courting you? Because you’re alone with me without your powers? Because…”

“I get it.” I put my hand up and roll my eyes. “I suppose, from that point of view, I trust you. Although”—I narrow my eyes at him—“we’ve already ascertained that I would beat you in a physical fight, so that is moot.”

“Of course. You are so much stronger than me, Minnie. It is me who should be worried about being alone with you. God knows, you might even take advantage of me and steal my virtue,” he adds dramatically.

I lower my head to avoid a cobweb and turn to stare at him in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“It was a joke.” He shakes his head as he walks ahead.

“No, really, what do you mean by stealing your virtue? That’s impossible.”

He half-turns to raise a brow at me.

“Minnie darling, you wound me. You wouldn’t want to steal my virtue?” He crosses his hands over his chest.

I purse my lips. “I never thought about it like that.”

“Like what?”

“That I could be a virtue thief, too. But that seems fair. Why should males get to have all the fun? I can be the one to steal your virtue too,” I add pensively.

“You can be my virtue thief all you want,” he murmurs as he comes closer to me.

I do my best to fight a smile, though my lips have a mind of their own as they curl up in pleasure. I slap his shoulder playfully, then lean in to whisper in his ear, “You’re lucky you’re still in possession of said virtue. Otherwise, I would have had blood on my hands.”

“My blood?” he asks slowly.

I smirk. “First, that of the person who would have taken your virtue.” I pause. “Then yours.”

“Ah, Minnie, you’re so bloodthirsty,” he murmurs appreciatively. “Don’t stop. I like it.”

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