Page 237 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

THIRTY-FOUR

He dragsme into a small room at the end of the hall and closes the door behind him.

“I will ask one more time. What were you doing with Arwyn?”

“You mean Wyn? I just met her.”

“You will not go near her again, Minerva.”

“Or what?” I raise a defiant brow.

His lip twitches and he takes a step toward me.

“I know you are hiding something,” he starts in a low voice. “Something that would get you punished.”

My eyes flare open. “Why? Because I talked for five minutes with Wyn?” I ask, confused at his sudden outburst. The Cerenios I know is usually more composed than this.

“Five minutes too long. She cannot be near those of your ilk.”

“My ilk? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Someone who has no regard for rules,” he states tensely.

“What is she to you?”

“It does not matter what she is to me. All that matters is that you keep your distance. Or the next time we will see each other will be on the execution block.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I do not make threats, Minerva. I act.”

I bite my lip as I eye the door, but to get to it I must get past him.

“I am not hiding anything. You know all there is to me and what happened with that sin demon.”

He moves closer, once more leaning in to sniff me. “Tainted blood. You smell of tainted blood.”

A shiver goes down my back. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but it cannot be good.

“You are mistaken. I am a princess of the House of Cryos. You’d best respect me,” I say in a forced voice.

He smirks, though his eyes remain cold and unfeeling. “I do not give a damn about your rank or your family, Minerva. Respect is earned in my world.”

“You…” I take a step back. He follows.

“Azerius tasked me with finding out what you are hiding about the demon attack.” He pauses. “One word, and you will be executed.”

“You would fabricate something on me?”

He shrugs. “There is no need to fabricate anything. I just need to find out what you are hiding.”

“Well, good luck with that. Now I will be taking my leave.”

I move to the side to avoid him as I head toward the door.

“Stop!” he commands, his voice infused with pure energy that makes me freeze in my tracks. W-what?

My body refuses to obey me as I attempt to move.

---