Page 136 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“What is that question, Minnie?”

“Answer me! Have you felt the urge to kill other males for even looking at another female?” My voice drops a notch just as my eyes narrow at him so he knows how much hinges on his answer.

“Are you asking me if I’ve been jealous before, little darling?” He smirks at me.

“That is exactly what I am asking. Have you, or have you not?” I lean closer to him, doing my best to intimidate him—which, of course, fails abysmally, seeing as how he’s only regarding me with amusement.

“I have.”

My hand finds his arm and my fingers dig into his flesh. Seconds pass as he doesn’t elaborate, seconds in which I’m pretty sure I draw blood.

He doesn’t mind the pain. He barely registers it as he suddenly stops the car.

His gaze is on mine. He doesn’t break eye contact even for a moment.

“Only for you, little darling.” His eyes twinkle with mischief. “If I could, I would hide you away from the world so that no one else can see you. No other male, nor female. No one but me.”

I wet my lips.

“Only you?” I whisper. The idea doesn’t seem as unappealing as I would have thought. In fact… I find myself imagining it quite easily. Me and him, far from the world, away from the world…in spite of the world.

“But I know that is not possible. I cannot hide you from everyone because you shine far too bright, Minnie. Alas, I will settle for killing everyone who looks at you the wrong way.”

Butterflies dance in my stomach.

“And what is the wrong way?”

His lips slowly curve into a smile.

“Like they forget you are mine and you willalwaysbe mine.”

The conversation comes to a sudden halt when someone knocks on the window of our car.

Mine lowers the window.

“How may I help you?” the elderly man asks. He’s dressed in a dark uniform that signals him as the guard to the entrance of the museum.

“We’re looking for the entrance to the castle,” Mine answers with an affable smile.

The man frowns.

“The castle is closed to the public. I am sorry, but you will have to go back.”

Mine’s smile doesn’t falter.

Rummaging through the inside of his coat, Mine removes a couple of crisp banknotes and extends them toward the man.

His eyes widen and he stares at the money a few seconds too long before he shakes his head.

“I cannot let you in. I’m sorry,” he adds with a nervous gulp.

That’s a lot of money. Anyone would say yes to that type of money considering the scarcities of the war.

“Perhaps you can reconsider,” Mine continues, getting another stack of banknotes and adding them to the bunch.

The man’s Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he eyes the money warily. He wants to accept the bribe. I mentally will him to do so.

But in the end, he shakes his head again.

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