Page 123 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

Mine sighs and joins me on the bed.

“Then how do you propose we get to Aperion?”

“I can—” I stop and turn toward him. “We?We?”

“We’re a team. Of course I won’t let you go alone. Especially since you’re vulnerable now.”

“W-what?” I sputter. “Vulnerable?”

“Don’t take this personally, Minnie. I know you’re a force to be reckoned with—when you have your powers. But without them, you’re just…human.”

I curse under my breath. He has a point.

“Mortals can’t justgoto Aperion,” I tell him. “Not only that, but you wouldn’tlastthere.”

“What do you mean?”

“If a mortal travels to a world that is not his native one, he will get sicker and sicker until he will die in approximately a fortnight. The only way to prevent that is to get a special tincture that would allow you to withstand the atmosphere of other worlds, but I wouldn’t have the first clue on how to procure that.”

He nods pensively.

“I suppose we’ll just have to notify that special division inlessthan a fortnight.” He gives me a wide smile.

I roll my eyes at him.

“And you think the special division will take it kindly that ahumanis in Aperion?”

Mine shrugs.

“We won’t tell them. I’ll accompany you there and wait until you notify them. Then I’ll take you back here. You promised me two months, Minnie. I’m not about to wasteanyday.”

“You…” I grit out in annoyance.

“Now, now, Minnie. Will you renege on your vow?”

“I don’t remembervowinganything,” I mutter drily.

“You gave me your word.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Persistent,” he corrects.

“But why?” I suddenly ask. “I don’t understand why this sudden interest in me.”

“It is far from sudden, trust me.” He smiles.

“May I remind you we’ve only known each other for a few weeks?”

“So? A few weeks might be nothing for your immortal self, but for a puny human like me, it is quite a long time. Long enough to decide you’ll do, anyway,” he adds happily, scooting closer to me and draping one arm across my shoulders.

I should remind him of theno touchingrule, but I am momentarily too confused by his words to do so.

“I’ll…do? What does that mean?”

“That you are mine,” he answers blithely.

I blink. But as I open my mouth to speak, he continues.

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