Page 139 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

I nod.

“No amount of money would make me marry that clown-faced Theron, which is why I need this to work. If I’m successful and earn myself a commendation from Commander Azerius, my parents will not be able to force me to marry him.”

“Or you could run away,” Mine suggests with a wicked glint in his eyes.

“You think I never thought of that?” I roll my eyes at him. “I would, of course, get away. But then I would be branded a traitor. Anyone willing to betray their family is ruled a traitor in my world. I’d be a pariah in theentireuniverse.”

“Wouldn’t that be better than marrying someone you don’t like?”

“Of course it would. But you’re missing the point. I wouldn’tjustbe a pariah. I’d also be hunted wherever I go. Aperion has very strict rules, and anyone breaking those rules must be made an example of. What do you think me running away from an unwanted marriage would signal to the rest of the noble families?”

“That you’re a brave and independent female?”

My lips quirk into a smile.

“That too.” I chuckle. “But it would set a precedent that it is permissible for a female to saynoto a match decided by her family. The entirety of Aperion derives its strength from strategic marriages that have the potential to yield the next Supreme.”

“I’m not sure you explained what a Supreme is,” he mentions slowly.

“I haven’t?” I blink. “Oh, my bad. The Supremes are the most powerful deities. Each one of the fifteen Houses of Aperion has a Supreme that oversees everything to do with the Houses and the order of the universe. You could say they are the original gods of your mythology, except there is never one fixed god. You have the mythological god of water, Pose something, but in reality, there is only the House of Hydros that controls all matters related to water and its Supreme is the ultimate authority,” I explain.

“So these Supremes are changeable?”

“Yes. Deities might be immortal, but they are not invincible. Thousands of years ago, when Aperion was at war with Tartareia, the life expectancy for a Supreme was only a few hundred years while holding the position. As the most powerful entities, they were usually at the front lines, leading the war. But since we live in times of relative peace, the Supremes have been faring much better, so there haven’t been many changes in the last few thousand years.”

“I see.” He nods pensively. “So how does one become a Supreme? Couldyoubecome one?”

Laughter bubbles inside of me.

“Me? A Supreme?” I throw my head back and laugh at the absurd notion.

“Why not?” He challenges.

“When a Supreme dies, there is a selection for the next one within that specific House. The ruling monarchs of the House will nominate a few candidates who will compete for the title. But it’s a much more complicated process. To qualify, I’d need to have opened my ninth gate. That is a minimum. I’ve only opened my fifth one.” I pause, gritting my teeth at that thought. It’s not for the lack of trying, though, just for lack of opportunity. “I’d also need to have a series of accomplishments in the service of Aperion that would recommend me.”

“Well, considering what we are about to do, I would say you are doing something in the service of Aperion, no? And you can always train to open your ninth gate. It’s not impossible.”

I blink.

Now that he puts it like that, he’s not wrong. It wouldn’t beentirelyimpossible.

“But even if I passed all the necessary tests and reached the top, I’d still need the approval of the other Supremes. It’s a very difficult process that can last hundreds of years.”

“Butnotimpossible,” he counters.

“Yes.” I smile. “Not impossible.”

Although seeing how Commander Azerius has been a contender for the title of Supreme for the last few hundred years with no avail, I fear it would be pretty impossible for someone like me to become one. He’s the most powerful deity I’ve ever met, and yet, the other Supremes will not appoint him for whatever reason.

“I have full confidence that you can achieve whatever you set out to do,” he murmurs, pulling me closer. “If anyonecando the impossible, it’s you.”

My lashes flutter in surprise and my face heats.

“Thank you. That’s nice of you to say,” I whisper. I don’t quite know how to respond to that, especially as he regards me with such intensity. Perhaps this is just part of the courtship and he doesn’t mean it. But the truth remains that no one’s ever spoken to me like this—no one’s ever hadfull confidencein me. If anything, my entire life, the opposite has been true. People have been doubting me at every turn.

I gaze up at him. He’s smiling at me, a full-bodied smile that makes the corners of his eyes crinkle.

Agenuinesmile.

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