Page 230 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“He’s terrified of you,” he adds quietly.

“Who?”

“Who do you think?” He laughs. “Theron.”

“But I didn’t do anything.”

“You don’t need to lie to me, Minerva. Others may not see it, but I would recognize the effects of theeternal iceanywhere.”

Oops.

“He started it.”

“And you finished it.”

“Of course. I defended myself.”

He nods silently at me.

“You are stronger than I thought.”

“Have youevergiven any thought to me at all?”

“I don’t understand what you’re asking of me.”

“It’s simple. You’ve never concerned yourself with me. You’ve allowed Mother to make all the decisions. I still cannot believe you allowed her to betroth me to Theron.”

He scratches his chin. “I suppose he might not have been the best choice.”

“He is supposed to be a level eight, Father.”

“And you defeated him.”

“Quite badly.”

“I see.”

“What do you see? That not only is he weak but he’s also a liar? That’snotan honorable male.”

He purses his lips. “You are correct.”

“So? Are you going to do anything about it?”

“What can I do? The betrothal has been approved by the House of Moirai.”

“It can be petitioned to be broken.”

“No. It cannot.”

“There has to be a morality clause in there, isn’t it? We can just unmask Theron as a liar.”

“We would make the House of Pyros our enemy and that is not the goal,” he replies drily.

“There has to be a way. Surely you see how badly matched we are. Think of your future grandchildren. I should at least be matched with someone stronger than me.”

He hums in approval.

“I will see if there is anything to be done.”

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