Page 88 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

Considering how rare and dangerous sin demons are, I should be gettingsomerecognition for finding one and helping defeat it.

“Go hide behind the barn,” I tell Mine as I point to the dilapidated structure a few paces away. He doesn’t protest,marching toward it and finding an angle from which he’s not visible from my position.

It’s better if my brother doesn’t see himwithme. Perhaps he canaccidentallybe in the vicinity, but it’s not because I asked him to come—of course not. I would never reveal myself to a human.

I roll my eyes at my own thoughts as I take out a small knife I borrowed from Mine and proceed to cut my brother’s summoning symbol in my arm—again.

Ugh.

I am not looking forward to the pain and the slow healing. Alas, it must be done.

When the last line of the symbol is carved in my flesh, a low hum of energy erupts around me. In the next second, my brother appears before me.

I blink, my mouth hanging open in shock.

He’s… He’s… Naked!

Well, there’s only a sheet covering his body, but damn it! I’ve never wanted to see that much of my brother’s naked skin.

“By the Source, Minerva! I am one step away from strangling you,” he thunders, clutching the sheet around his waist.

“Kai… I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize that?—”

“That I sleep? That I’m not always at your beck and call? What a novel concept,” he adds drily.

“There’s no need to get testy with me. I wouldn’t have called you if it wasn’t urgent.”

“Like last time?” He raises his eyebrow.

“It was urgent! It’s just that you did not believe me.”

Kai shakes his head at me.

“You, Minerva, are hopeless. Do not use my summoning sigil again or you will not like the consequences,” he grits out.

“But, Kai, wait until I tell you what happened. You won’t believe it?—”

Before I can get the words out, he’s gone.

Poof.

He just…disappeared.

Again.

“Kaiiiiii!” I yell, though it’s in vain. He can’t hear me. He probably returned to bed. Because sleep is more precious than my discovery.

I’m so mad, I want to kick something.

“Your brother is so charming,” Mine says as he comes up behind me. “Although I don’t think I needed to see his bare ass.”

I give him a pointed look. Then I frown.

“How did you know?—”

“Let me guess. He will not help, will he?”

I release a defeated sigh. “No. He didn’t even wait for me to speak. And if I summon him again, I fear he will find another punishment for me.”

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