And he didn’t yell at me for involving Io in it.
Progress.
But it also caused me to move away from him, putting some distance between us, because seeing him on his throne with his crown was doing something inexplicable to me. He exuded authority and a masculine energy that made me weak-kneed.
“You finally have everything you wanted,” I said.
“Not everything.”
I wanted his words to be about me, but I couldn’t be that self-centered. There were probably many other things that he was speaking about. I wouldn’t allow myself to ask him to clarify and instead found a more neutral topic to speak about.
“I think Pelias regrets voting for you. He wanted two thrones for his children and now he will get none,” I said.
Xander’s gaze followed me as I slowly walked around the room. “His vote wouldn’t have mattered either way. But it was politically smarter of him to throw his lot in with mine.”
I went around a column, tracing it with my hand. “It also backfired spectacularly for Erisa.”
“Yes, I don’t think that was what she thought would happen.”
“She tried to organize a secret council meeting to get them to vote for Kyros before you could return. I’m glad that you arrived as quickly as you did,” I said.
“I was already on my way back when Rokh found me. Then I sent him off to retrieve Thrax and the prisoner.”
“Speaking of ... now that you have proof, what are you going to do with Erisa?”
He watched me like a bird of prey, aware of my every movement. I found his attention intoxicating.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. Exile seems like the best option. But I’m not going to cast her out of the city with an army on the way.”
I went slowly around another column while looking at him over my shoulder. “Perhaps you should. Let her run into Artemisia. Maybe they would take each other out.”
He smiled, the first I’d seen since he’d dragged in those Carian soldiers. “That would be convenient.”
It seemed like he enjoyed watching me. Despite the fact that nothing could happen, I found myself wishing that I knew how to be beguiling.
“Where will your queen’s throne go?” I asked. There was only one throne in the room.
“When my father was alive, Erisa had a chair down on the bottom step.”
I glanced at where he pointed. That must have infuriated her. “And what will you do?”
“Depends on the queen.” His eyes darkened. “If you were my queen, I would have them build your throne next to mine. We would rule as equals. Make the changes that Ilion needs, together.”
“You would do that?” My heart beat so fast I worried it might give out.
“Yes.”
But I couldn’t be his queen. Even if I survived everything to come, him being made king put an end to any hope of a relationship between us. He was now their ruler. He would never be able to leave Ilion.
And I couldn’t stay. I had to return to Locris when this was all over.
“Are you going to send me away?” I asked. I wasn’t able to make eye contact and hoped he couldn’t hear the worry and fear that I was feeling.
“Why do you think I’d send you away?”
It aggravated me when he did that. Answered my question with a question. I looked at him as I said, “You’re the king. Our contract has ended.”
A smile played at the edges of his mouth. “Does this mean I’m going to have to assign a bodyguard to Thrax?”
