Page 220 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

That is so much time, though… What will Mine think? He will assume I abandoned him.

I open my mouth to argue, but one look at Azerius’ unyielding expression and I know it would be in vain. His word is law, and if I want to be smart at this so I can eventually see Mine again, I cannot argue with Azerius.

“Thank you, Commander. I will do as you say.”

He nods and turns with his back to us, thereby dismissing us.

“Come. I will take you home,” Molokai says as he grabs my arm.

“Molokai,” Commander Azerius’ voice rings out. “I have need of you. Minerva can find her way back by herself.”

“Yes, Commander,” he immediately agrees.

With a nod, Molokai leads me to the door.

“Mother is furious with you. Take care.” With those words, he leaves me to the wolves.

Although the last thing I want to do is go home, if this is the price I have to pay to return to Mine, then so be it.

I teleport myself to my room in the palace.

My energy signature will have triggered the defense mechanisms of the palace, thus alerting my parents of my presence.

I quickly shower and put on a new dress befitting of my status before heading out to greet them—and I brace myself for the battle ahead.

Servants hurry up and down the hallway, barely sparing me a glance. The opulence around is almost blinding after months of living with the bare minimum, and I find that I would rather be destitute and barely surviving than endure a lifetime of pain and regret.

Oh, Mine. You’ve probably seen my note already. Are you mad at me? Disappointed? Will you call on me?

If he uses my sigil, I will be bound to go to him in an instant. I will not need a portal or even conscious teleportation. I will simply be carried away to where he calls.

I hope he won’t hold a grudge for too long and he will call on me. If I see him even for a few brief minutes, I will be able to withstand anything that comes my way.

Lost in my thoughts, it takes me a moment to recognize a foreign energy signature in my proximity. I stop and look around.

“Theron,” I spit out the name of the last person I wanted to see right now.

THIRTY-ONE

“Minerva. Fancy seeing you here,”he grinds out, his distaste for me evident in the way his nostrils flare.

“Why are you here?”

He sneers at me. “I am a guest of your parents, of course. Commander Azerius informed them you would be coming home and they wanted me to be present.”

I narrow my eyes at him.

“As you can see, I am home. Now get lost.” I move past him, heading toward the throne room.

“Your parents are not at home currently.”

That makes me falter. I half turn.

“What are you talking about.”

He shrugs. “The Duke of Hirsham is having a banquet. They should be back shortly.”

I sigh in relief. I’ll have a little more time to get ready to face my mother’s wrath.

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