Page 185 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Yes, but?—”

“An engaged female is not supposed to be gallivanting around, and she is especiallynotsupposed to be around other males. What does your betrothed say about this?”

“We are not married yet, and I am a soldier. My duty is foremost to Aperion.”

“Huh.” He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “Was your duty foremost to Aperion when you interfered with the Moirai?”

I blink. “What?”

He lets out a dry chuckle. “The rumors have been going around, Miss An’yan. You’ve certainly been doing everything in your power to brand yourself unmarriagable.”

“No, that’s…” I mean yes, technically, he is right. But the way he’s saying it doesn’t sit right with me.

“Is that why you’re here?” he asks as he takes a step closer.

“No. I have a legitimate concern. I came across a greed demon in Anthropa and?—”

“You think I would not know if there was a greed demon in Anthropa?” He raises a brow. “Now tell me why you’re really here.”

I frown.

“Blissa, leave us,” he commands.

The female scrambles off the sofa, tying the sheet around her body before scurrying out of the room.

My eyes widen.

“What is going on? I only came here to let you know about the greed demon and ask you act swiftly. I don’t like any of your implications.”

“Miss An’yan… Minerva.” He smiles, a seedy smile that makes my insides recoil. “Let us do away with the pretense. Everyone in Aperion knows you’re not keen on marrying Theron, especially after you humiliated him publicly.”

I take a step back as he advances toward me.

“I think I was mistaken in coming here,” I murmur as I slowly retreat.

“Stop!” he bellows. His energy seeps out and I find my body unable to move. He comes closer, his smile widening. “I also happen to know what your punishment was for messing with fate. You’re powerless, aren’t you?”

“General Leotar, please release me and I will be on my way,” I say through clenched teeth. Ihatethe way I’m so powerless against him now, even more so as I see how happy he is to see me so helpless.

“I have a proposition for you. Why don’t you become my female?”

“W-what?”

“Of course I am not any more thrilled about your disobedience than Theron would be, and I find that you’re not exactly”—he pauses as he rakes his gaze over my body—“my type. But I suppose you will do. An alliance with your family will serve me just fine.”

“Uhm, no, thank you,” I say, staring at him in shock.

He tilts his head to the side. “You don’t have to agree. If I take your maidenhead, you willhaveto marry me.”

A sliver of fear goes through me at his pronouncement. By the Source, how did I end up in this situation when I just wanted to do the right thing? And how is such a debauched person a general? The mere fact that he’s threatening to violate me goesagainst the rule of conduct, and I will gladly inform Commander Azerius of the fact.

After I get away from Leotar first.

I force my limbs to move, at least so I can grab onto the pin and syphon some energy. But he’s far too strong.

“I said no,” I grind out. “Release me, now, or next it will beyourhead that falls for even insinuating that.”

He looks me in the eye for a moment before he throws his head back and laughs.

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