Page 225 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

If only Mine were here too…

I still, a thought suddenly crossing my mind.

My powers are back. I am not grounded. I should be able to sneak into Anthropa for a couple of hours and meet Mine, and then I’ll come back. No one has to know. At least I’ll be able to tell him face-to-face what happened and that I did not abandon him. It would break my heart if he assumed the worst.

I wait until everyone’s gone to sleep before I fashion a copy of myself from ice. It looks the same from a distance, and you would only realize it’s made of ice if you touched it.

Moving it to the bed, I slide the blanket over the body so it appears I’m sleeping. This copy should last for a full day before it starts melting, but I will be back by then.

Once more, instead of teleporting directly, I sneak out of the palace to evade the sensitive wards. After my first escape, my parents put even more in place as well as hired some additional guards to stand at every point of exit. What they don’t realize is that I know of a secret exit through the garden that is still a blind spot.

Outside the palace wards, I use my powers to locate the nearest portal and teleport myself there.

My heart is thudding in my chest with excitement. It’s only been a day, but I already miss Mine so much, I can’t wait to have his arms around me and his lips on mine.

Ahh! I redden from head to toe as I remember our bathroom interlude and the way he’d touched me. Perhaps we can do more of that. Or just more of anything as long as it involves his body against mine.

The portal is located a short distance from the palace inside a dense forest. There isn’t anyone around, so crossing to Anthropa shouldn’t be a problem.

The bluish tint of the portal shines bright as I approach it. I set the time and place in my mind and take a step forward.

“You are supposed to remain in Aperion until the end of Skya,” a voice calls out.

Eyes wide, I swivel. I didn’t sense any other energy signature around. But as the figure steps out of the shadows, I realize why. With his power, he can perfectly mask his energy signature.

“General Cerenios,” I mutter, half in annoyance and half in fear.

His amber eyes are trained in me, his expression blank.

“Where are you going, Minerva?”

“Erm…”

He takes a step closer. He’s dressed in his military uniform, a dark burgundy tunic fashioned with a brass plate on top of it that has his House insignia. His sword is sheathed at his side, the top of the handle encrusted with a large ruby.

“Were you following me?” I ask.

He shrugs.

“Did Commander Azerius put you up to it?”

Another shrug. I don’t believe any answer is forthcoming from him.

“I was just taking a stroll around the woods. It’s been a while since I’ve been here,” I lie.

“Is that so?” he asks casually as he plants himself in front of me.

I have to crane my neck back to look up at him due to our height differences. Yet the moment my eyes make contact with him, a sliver of fear goes down my back.

“I will be getting back now…” I add nervously and make to move past him.

With lightning speed, he blocks my way with the sheath of his sword.

“There is something about you,” he says, his eyes narrowed. “You haven’t been completely truthful, have you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”

He leans toward me until his nose is inches away from my neck. I keep myself still.

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