Page 217 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

He stares at me.

“You have five minutes. Not more. Be back here when you’re done.”

Knowing he will count the seconds down, I teleport myself to the cabin. There are very few things to take with me, but I needed this excuse so I can at least write a note to Mine.

I rummage through his desk for some pen and paper and then force myself to come up with the right words so he won’t be mad at me for leaving without saying goodbye.

He won’t be upset with me, right…?

“Damn it!”

He will be. I’m sure of it. He will be disappointed in me too, and the thought of seeing his expression change from one of love to one of disappointment cuts through me.

I never told him I loved him, too.

I stare at the paper. This isn’t the moment to say it, though. It needs to be uttered face-to-face.

Think, Minnie, think!

Words will be meaningless when he sees I am gone. But there is something I can offer him that might lessen the impact.

Grabbing the pen tighter, I scribble a short message, followed by a drawing.

My brother came to get me back. I am returning to Aperion. If you need me, call and I will come.

Leaving my sigil out here in the open is dangerous. Giving my sigil to a human is even more so. But I need Mine to know that he matters to me and that I did not abandon him.

I tuck the folded paper under his pillow and take a moment to gaze at the cabin one last time. Mine’s shirt catches my gaze in the laundry basket and before I can think it through, I grab it and hide it among my own clothes. At least I’ll have his scent to keep me going until I see him again.

My time is running out, so with one last glance, I teleport myself back to Kai’s side.

He takes one look at me and my meager bag of belongings and nods to follow him. He leads me to a portal nearby that takes us to Aperion. When we arrive, we teleport to the military base in Cryos where Commander Azerius is apparently waiting for me.

We walk down a long corridor before entering the War Room.

Commander Azerius is with his back to us, staring out his window. On standby near him are his two generals, Aethon and Cerenios.

“Commander Azerius,” Molokai and I greet him.

He turns, his face expressionless.

“Minerva and Molokai. Welcome.”

“I was told you wanted to see me, Commander?”

“Congratulations are in order for your deeds in Anthropa. I have heard of your bravery even when your powers were bound.”

“T-thank you,” I mumble.

“However, it is odd that the Sin Squad did not act when the greed demon started to get stronger, is it not?”

“I tried to communicate, but?—”

“The Sin Squad does not need any communication to sense if a sin demon makes its appearance anywhere in the universe. It is why they deal exclusively with sin demons.”

“Perhaps they were busy,” I add with a tight smile.

He doesn’t return the smile, merely staring at me with those dark eyes of his as if he could see through my very soul and unravel all my secrets.

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