That’s where I came in.
The Sorcerer wanted to seduce the Patron’s Daughter, but I would have to give up my heart and deliver his conquest.
I laughed in his face.
“That’s ridiculous! I hate her.”
“I know you do.”
“I’m pretty sure she hates me too.”
“No,” the Sorcerer replied. “You don’t matter enough for hatred, Addie. Not in her eyes.”
A surge of ire burst in my breast, and that must have shown on my face because the Sorcerer smiled.
“And that’s what makes you perfect for this, Addie.”
Suddenly, it sunk in that my heart would be the payment.
I had never been one for sentiment, but I resisted.
I declared my heart shouldn’t be necessary since the Patron’s Daughter was the Sorcerer’s choice, and I risked death if anything went awry. I argued the best I could, but I lost.
The Sorcerer did not gain his immortality on his conquests, but lived for centuries feeding on virgin hearts.
Because he needed deception to seduce the Patron’s Daughter, he could never claim her heart after her virginity. Since the Sorcerer could never have the heart of the Patron’s Daughter, he had to take mine instead.
And I was definitely a virgin.