Page 69 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Fine, Mine. I’ll see you later,” I murmur.

As I leave the infirmary, I ponder on our conversation. His middle name is Mine—an odd name for a human, if you ask me. Still, it is much better sounding than Vitry. Or even Lucien.

But something niggles at my mind.

Mine.

Mine…

Mine!

My eyes widen in realization.

Is this why he had an issue with calling me Mina? Because our names are the same save for the last letter?

I nod to myself. That makes more sense.

Maybe he wasn’t trying to be rude. Instead, he didn’t want us to have the same names—ortoosimilar.

Yes, that must be it.

Somehow, that makes me feel better. That and the fact that he promised me I am the only one who can call him by his middle name. I do quite like to be special like that. And as a thank you, I’ll even let him use Minnie instead of Mina—just him, though.

I giggle to myself as I slide into bed.

Perhaps he’s notallthat bad.

Mine… His name even rolls easily off my tongue.

TEN

As I makemy way toward the infirmary for a new day at work, I’m surprised to see Mine waiting for me outside.

He’s dressed in his uniform, and even I have to admit he looks quite dashing in it. His dark brown hair curls onto his forehead, obscuring part of the scar on his face.

“Minnie,” he calls out, his lips curling up into a smile. “Just the person I wanted to see.”

I regard him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Here,” he says and hands me something wrapped in tissue paper.

I tentatively take it from him and slowly unwrap the tissue paper to reveal a donut. Aglazeddonut.

My gaze snaps to his, new light blooming in my eyes.

“For me?” I whisper.

He nods.

“Eat up.”

I lick my lips.

It’s been a couple of days since I last had something sweet and I’m already salivating at the prospect.

I was right. Mine isn’t so bad. How can anyone who gives me sweets be bad? That in itself is a fallacy.

But as I wait for him to leave so I can eat the donut in peace, I notice he’s not moving.

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