“A more thorough apology,” she demanded.
“I am sorry for raising my voice and being disrespectful, ma’am.” I tried.
She raised one dissatisfied eyebrow.
“I promise to not do it again.”
I paused and looked away because the words felt like a lie. I would probably do something she deemed disrespectful again—it was basically a given. She’d probably make something up if I didn’t.
“I’ll try not to anyway,” I added.
“Good girl. You are forgiven,” she said, bringing her hand to my cheek and turning my face to her, brushing her thumb over my damp cheek.
“You think the guy, from the maze—” I didn’t want to saydead man, it felt wrong to talk about him without a name— “was obsessed with me or something?” I asked. “And why would he be? You said I had a following?”
When I stopped to think about that, not being distracted be Selene’s meddling, it was actually quite concerning. Why would any stranger be interested in me? I wasn’t interesting. Selene was the most interesting thing about me.
And what was there even to write about concerning me in the tabloids?
“Perhaps,” she answered. “Do not worry yourself, pet. I will always stand between you and any that may pose a threat to your safety,” she promised easily.
“I don’t like that people know who I am when I don’t know them,” I admitted. “No one knew me without first being introduced to me before spring. It feels wrong—scary,” I explained.
“They do not know you. They knowofyou. They know your name and face and little else, other than whatever fantasy they have conjured. Yet fantasy, to some is as real as anything else. It can make them behave in dangerous ways. Stupidly entering an enchanted maze for example. One thing is for sure: the fool was not of Ardens or any neighbouring House, as none who know what the maze truly is—except for those seeking death—would enter,” she explained.
“I hope he wasn’t here for me,” I said sadly.
I couldn’t stand the thought that someone had died trying to find me. It would be such a pointless death, and I wondered if it was another death caused by me.
Evie, Remy, the delivery driver, the academy guard, and now this shifter boy who carried my photo with him.
A sickening feeling swallowed me, along with the idea that perhaps one day the list of deaths that could be traced back to me would be too long for me to count.
“I hope not too,” Selene agreed.
“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you two,” Adamantia said.
“Tell me, have we identified the boy?” she asked.
“No,” Selene replied. “The coroner will bring the results of the blood testing directly to me,” she said.
“Worried that I would keep information from you?” Adamantia asked.
“Is that not what you attempted at breakfast?” Selene replied.
Adamantia, stared sternly at Selene, and I was reminded that my first impression of her had been that of a schoolteacher. She pursed her lips, her high cheekbones hollow.
“I was merely trying to save your girl from worry,” Adamantia said. “I sense a lack of trust between us. We are family.”
Selene laughed and stood from the bench.
“Vasilios and his traitor son were also family, and it didn’t stop them conspiring to take my throne, or killing Mother,” Selene hissed.
Adamantia looked away with a painful expression.
“We are different,” she said, looking back and locking eyes with Selene. “We have never been at each other’s throats. I have never desired your titles. What new paranoia makes you distrust me now?”
Selene clenched her teeth and exhaled loudly, her eyes darted to me as if subconsciously checking I was there.
