Page 4 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Is that Theron of Pyros?” someone asks, pointing a finger at him—or rather, his crotch.

People stop to look at him. Well, at his crotch. Some even say he must have been overly excited. I suppose that’s one way to empty one’s bladder while in public. Safe to say, the whispers abound. Mayhap I did not plan for such a thorough humiliation before. But now that it’s happened?

My, my. This is rather delicious. If Theron’s humiliation had a taste, it would be a cloyingly sweet one. Of course, for someone who lives off sweets, there is nothing better.

“Minerva,” he utters my name in a low, dangerous voice.

“Is that his betrothed? That’s why he was too excited…” another voice comments.

So many people have stopped to comment that I see this as my chance to make a run for it. Before he can put his hands on me and strangle me—I will not put it past him at this point seeing how angry he is—I slip away and rejoin my mother.

“What happened?” she asks, her voice the epitome of motherly concern. She eyes the commotion suspiciously.

“I think Theron had an accident,” I whisper. “Perhaps it’s time to leave.”

“Accident?” Olivia intones. “What accident?”

A crowd is gathered around Theron.

Mother frowns, but as she looks at me, it dawns on her that I must have had something to do with it. She releases a long sigh before she addresses Olivia.

“Perhaps we should cut this evening short. I see that my daughter is not looking too well.”

Olivia barely minds her as she tries to find her son in the crowd.

“We will be in touch, of course.”

“Of course,” Olivia replies absentmindedly.

Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, my mother and I slip out of the music room. We increase our pace as we go down the palace doors until we find our carriage.

“I cannot believe you, Minerva!” she bursts out when we’re in the back of the carriage and on the way home. “What did you do?”

“Me? Why do you think I did anything?” I pretend to be insulted by her accusations.

“I know you.” She narrows her eyes. “You did something. Otherwise, we would not have left in such a hurry.”

I shrug.

“As I said, Theron had an accident. I was just as surprised, you know. Someone of his age should be able to control his bodily functions better.”

My mother gapes at me.

“W-what? Bodily functions?”

“Perhaps it’s all that time in the military. It must have affected his…” I trail off. “Poor male.” I shake my head.

“Do not try to deceive me, Minerva. Iknowyou must have done something.” She pauses before a concerned look crosses her face. “How will I face Olivia now? How will we face Theron?”

“Maybe we…don’t?”

She gives me a harsh look.

“The marriage is on, whether you like it or not. But you have made a fool of your betrothed now, and if he treats you badly, then it is onyou.”

“So you will allow him to treat me badly?” I blink.

“I will not be able to do anything. You have brought this upon yourself.”

---