Page 34 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

Lucien is still sporting an amused expression.

“But what if Iwouldlike to duck you?”

“You, sir, are offensive.”

“Yes, that was rather offensive, wasn’t it? I should apologize.”

“You should.” I nod, pushing my chin in the air. “It is very rude to call someone an animal, or a bird, or whatnot. I don’t know what type of company you keep, but this is unacceptable.”

“You…” he trails off.

I give him another glare.

“I hope the next words that come out of your mouth are an apology.”

He nods solemnly. “I do apologize for ducking you.”

“Good,” I huff aloud.

“As long as you allow me the possibility of doing that in the future,” he continues. “Duck you, I mean.” He smiles.

I frown. “I do not understand you.”

He releases a deep sigh. “Never mind. It was a joke.”

“I do not like these jokes of yours. I do not call you names, now do I?”

“I thought I heard you saynasty creature.”

“That was a generalization. I did not sayyou, Lucien, are a nasty creature. Whereas you said that I, Minerva, am an odd duck. See the difference?”

He takes a moment to consider my words.

“Odd duck is an idiom, Minerva. It means you are an odd person. I did not call you a duck of the fowl variety.”

“Oh,” I mutter. “Couldn’t you have said so from the beginning?”

“I could have.” He nods.

I frown again. I do not think we’re speaking the same language.

“Then you are an odd duck, too, Lucien.”

“Nowyou’reducking me?”

“Why not? You did it first,” I state in a haughty voice.

“So we’re ducking each other now?”

“Precisely. Do not think for a moment that just because I am female, I cannot best you.”

“Ah, Minerva.” He lets out a laugh and shakes his head. “You’re a gem, aren’t you?”

“Good on you to notice. Perhaps you do have good sight, after all,” I mutter.

He smiles and shrugs.

Leaning back onto his forearms, he tips his head back. He grabs something from his pocket and slips a white stick between his lips—a cigarette. I cannot understand why humans find this practice so appealing. The smell alone is obnoxious and foul.

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