Page 241 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“I’m well traveled, you know.” She huffs and raises her chin.

“Who, when, and where?”

“I am not the one doing it! You are.”

“And I have told you, nothing untoward is happening here. You are jumping to conclusions.”

“If it is nothing, let us leave.”

“No. I must continue my work.” He pauses, glancing at me as if just remembering I am still present. “You are making a fuss about nothing, Thea.”

“Nothing?” She raises her voice. “If anyone else were to have seen you go into a closed room with her, you would have a scandal on your hands.”

“My reputation is spotless. No one would doubt I was conducting an investigation.Work, Thea.”

“You will notworkhere. Now I will take her back to the party and you better not do this again.”

“Thea,” he adds with a low growl.

“Open the door, Cer.”

“No.”

“Open the door this instant, Cerenios. Do not make me repeat myself.”

He swallows. Is he…afraid of her?

“Thea, you are?—”

“Thea this, Thea that.” She rolls her eyes as she cuts him off. “You are in so much trouble, Cer. Let us not forget about the fact that you called me hysterical. I assure you I will not be forgetting about that soon. Now open the door.”

“No.”

I stare between the two of them in confusion.

Thea lets go of my hand and strides to his side.

“You are being outrageous. If you don’t let us go?—”

“What? If I don’t let you go, then what?”

“I will… I will…” She presses her lips together. “I will be forced to hurt you again.” She raises her hand to his face, her nails elongating into claws.

His lips quirk up and he tsks at her.

Grabbing her hand, he pulls her close, his mouth moving up her inner arm.

“What are you doing?” she stammers.

“Making sure youcannothurt me,” he murmurs before he parts his lips. His canines elongate and he lodges them in her flesh, biting her.

He’s…

My eyes widen in shock.

Thea’s body goes still as he feeds from her.

He. Feeds. From. Her.

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