Page 105 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“I’m sure Min—er, Major Vitry will help with that.”

“He’s a kind man, Major Vitry.” Tommy smiles wistfully. “Don’t be too harsh on him. I’m sure he didn’t mean to deceive you.”

“Right,” I mutter. The fact that even Tommy thinks he deceived me is telling enough. But is it true? Did M—Vitry deceive me? Did he actually lie about his name? Or could it be that it’s something Tommy wouldn’t know? I am not sure what to believe. On the one hand, I am very flattered he would share such a secret name with me. But on the other, if he did lie to me to make me call himmine, I would be very upset.

I purse my lips. Was Vitry mocking me? Laughing at me behind my back for falling for such a silly thing? I may not be good at this English language, but I would be insulted if he used that against me. And for what end? Is it like Tommy said, an endearment? I must confess I did find it a little odd that his name would be a possessive pronoun, but since I’m not familiar with the rules in this world, I couldn’t contest it.

“He must be very taken with you since he’s allowing you to sleep in his tent. He never does that.”

“Never does what?” I narrow my eyes.

“He never mingles with the chicks. It’s a running joke.” He sobers up. “Of course not to his face.”

“And why is it a joke?”

“Ah, I’m not sure this is fit for the ears of a miss,” he adds in a shy voice. If he weren’t a ghost, I’m sure he would have blushed.

“Tell me,” I command him in a haughty voice.

How dare he pique my curiosity and then not satisfy it?

“Well”—he clears his throat—“we have parties. After every mission, we hit the town—the ones who make it back.” His features twist in sadness. He probably realizes he’s now one of the ones who did not make it back.

“And?”

“The Major would come with us but would only stay for a drink and then leave when everyone started chasing skirts.”

“Chasing skirts?” I ask, not familiar with the term.

“Ladies. Chasing ladies.”

“Oh, I see. Continue.”

“That’s it.” He shrugs. “He always left, saying he already had a missus waiting for him.”

“Who?” The question is out before I can think about it. Tommy’s eyes widen at the vitriol in my voice. Then he smiles.

“He never said. He wouldn’t be the first to have a sweetheart back home. But others decide to forget about that. An ocean apart and all that. Not me, though. My sweetheart is the only one for me.” His face falls again.

Mi—Vitry has a sweetheart back home? He never mentioned anything of the sort to me. Not that heshouldhave—we’re only acquaintances, right? But then why do I feel an uncomfortable heat in my chest at the thought of him with another female? Andwhy would he behave so carelessly with me if he had someone else?

He might not have been trying tochase skirtsbefore, but the more I think about it, the more I realize he was most definitely trying to chase me.

What was his goal? Make me call himmine, invade my personal space, and follow me around until I gave in? Until he invaded my mind and all I could do was think about him, day and night?

My heart stops for a beat.

Oh, no. That’s what I havebeendoing. He has scarcely left my mind since that cursed moment when we met. It’s become even worse after we saw each other again.

Was this his purpose from the beginning? Make me lose my damn mind? Because I’m almost certain it worked. And if that wasn’t enough, he clearly sought to do more. He even convinced me to sleep in the same bed as him! If anyone were to find out about that…

A shudder goes down my back.

He’s been lying to me all along. And like a fool, I’ve been ignoring all my instincts about him. I should have known someone as good-looking and charming as him would be a shovel. To think I slept in the same bed as him… Oh, the horror. My virtue was one step away from being compromised. No, my entirefuturewas one step away from being taken away from me.

Thank all the Primordials for giving me this chance to come to my senses and realize what Vitry has been doing. A little more time in his presence and I fear I would have made a terrible, terrible mistake.

“You really mean it?” Tommy asks after a moment “I can meet my missus again in another life?”

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