Page 191 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

My eyes widen. That’s… That shouldn’t happen. My blood shouldhealhim completely, not merely make the wounds turn to scars.

“Mine… Your wounds.”

“They don’t hurt anymore,” he adds in a low voice. “Thank you, Minnie.”

“But they haven’t healed. They’re…”

They look like injuries that have been healing for a few weeks, but the scar tissue still remains.

He lifts a hand to his cheek, tracing the new bumpy scar tissue.

He closes his eyes and sighs in resignation.

“That does not matter. If you hadn’t…” He takes a deep breath. “If you hadn’t given me your blood, I would have likely suffered for days on end. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.” I shake my head. “I would do anything to take away your pain,” I say as I cover his hand with mine.

“Ah, Minnie mine, you’re too sweet.” There is a sad lilt to his voice as he regards me. “I must look like a fright. As if I weren’t already scarred enough,” he adds bitterly under his breath.

“It doesn’t matter to me. It only matters that you’re alive.”

His face lights up.

“Are you uncomfortable in any way? Is there anything else I can do to help?” I ask.

He shakes his head, a small smile still on his lips.

“I will be weak for a while, but I should be fine now. Thank you,” he repeats.

“Oh, Mine, you scared me so much,” I confess. I cup his face between my hands and get closer to him, then press my lips against the bumpy scar tissue and lay feather-like kisses against his flesh.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. Your entire body…” I trail off as I let my hands roam lower, down his neck and chest. The scar tissue is pronounced there, too, but at least it’s not bleeding anymore.

What type of illness could have caused something like this? Something so painful and insidious? Something with no cure in sight?

“I know. The scars will fade a little over time, but this happened before, too.” He scrubs a hand over his left side. “The first time it affected only my left side. But as you can see, with time, it’s not so bad,” he adds, almost self-consciously.

“I don’t care about your scars. I never did. I just want to make sure you won’t get ill again. Are you sure there is no cure? Nothing I can do? Perhaps get some information from Aperion?”

“No,” he states. “You cannot meddle with fate, can you?”

“But—”

“Curing my disease is akin to meddling with my fate, Minnie,” he advises darkly.

“The punishment would be worth it. So what if I get another few months without my powers?” I grumble.

“You forget something. That was your first infraction. I doubt they would be lenient the second time.”

“I don’t care. If I can help, I will.”

“No.” His tone is firm. “I don’t want you to put yourself in danger for me. Ever.”

“But, Mine. If I can do something?—”

“No,” he repeats. “This is enough for me.” He wraps his hands around my midriff and pulls me flush against his body. “Just being with you like this is more than enough.”

I gulp down.

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