Page 243 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“No, no. I didn’t do anything.”

“Really?” He raises a brow. “Let me break it down for you since it seems your small brain cannot comprehend the situation you are in. You somehow acquired books from General Leotar’s personal library. The same general who was murdered in cold blood by a demonic entity, likely a Son of Tenebreis. A murder that occurred in Aperion, at a military base that is supposed to have the highest degree of security.” He pauses as he sees my face fall. “A murder that even the most eminent truth diviners cannot see.”

I shake my head.

“You’re insinuating that I?—”

“That you worked together with a demon. Yes.”

“I would never!” I protest, this time fully confident in my answer. “I wouldnevercollude with a demon.”

He seems taken aback by my outburst.

“Then how do you explain all the above?”

“I can’t explain it. That is true. But I vow to the Source that I wouldneverwillingly engage with a demon or aid one in any way. I am a soldier, Cerenios. I’ve dedicated my entire life to fighting them. I wouldneverbetray our cause.”

He doesn’t reply, merely staring at me. A vow to the Source is unbreakable. Even he knows that.

“That’s it, Cer. You got your answer. She vowed she is not involved with a demon,” Thea intervenes.

Cerenios’ nostrils flare. He doesn’t seem impressed by my vow, but even he cannot refute that if I lied in my vow, I would be writhing in pain now.

Thea strides to the door and places her hand on the knob. “Open the door.”

He still doesn’t react.

“I am not done with you, Minerva. There is something off about you. I know it. And I will not stop until I find out what that is,” Cerenios states ominously as the door clicks open.

I don’t bother replying. The moment Thea opens the door, I dash out, not looking back.

When I get back to the ballroom, I find my parents and stick by their side until the event is over and we get back home. I don’t see Cerenios anymore, nor his sister, but I know he willnotgive up.

I am in more danger than ever, and it’s not even for something I’ve done! I was a bystander at the demon attack. But admitting that will only get me in more trouble. They will likely not believe me, even if I vowed it. And then they will askwhyI did not come forward with information after it happened.

Every situation ends with me endangering Mine since he was with me in Aperion at that time, and I cannot allow that to happen.

Back in my room, I pace around like a madwoman as I try to make sense of what my next steps should be.

As we returned home, my father made some comments about Cerenios that still bother me.

“He is the most eligible mate in all of Aperion. It’s not a coincidence that Commander Azerius took him under his wing. He is relentless in furthering Aperion’s interests and wiping all traces of corruption from our institutions of power. You would be lucky if the duchess considers you,” he’d mentioned.

All I could hear wasrelentless.

He is several thousand years older than me, which means there must be some records about him in the library, especially if his deeds are celebrated. Although I hold disdain for the male, I am smart enough to realize I must know my enemy.

Late that night, I barricade myself in the royal library and scour any mentions of Cerenios.

Yet what I find only exacerbates the dread forming inside of me.

Cerenios finds. Azerius kills.

Azerius might have the reputation of a God Killer because he is the executioner of deities, but Cerenios is just as dangerous. He is the one who does all the dirty work so that Azerius has the necessary proof to execute someone.

The deadly duo, some chronicles call them.

Cerenios exhibited extraordinary abilities since his first years. The Duke and Duchess of Sigmore beseeched Azerius, then still a general, to take young Cerenios under his tutelage and train him. Cerenios went to live with Azerius when he was only a few hundred years old, spending over two thousand years in close proximity to the God Killer. It is not surprising that he would be as deadly and precise as his mentor.

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