The Drynopian woman stood to her fullest height and inhaled deeply before responding. “Aspasia.”
“I’m Selene. And I?—”
“You can’t be here.” Aspasia turned her full attention to Roman. “Had I known she was here, I’d have come directly.”
Roman’s chin dipped. “She’s one of us. I only meant to make her feel welcome.”
“She chose her path a long time ago,” the woman said coldly.
Selene’s feet carried her forward, drawn toward the information locked inside this woman. “What path did I choose, and why? Help me understand, and I’ll go. You never have to see me again.”
Aspasia laughed from a deep well in her chest. “It’s far too late for that now. There’s another girl with you?”
Roman blinked. “How did you know?”
“Because, several days ago, a ship of pirates tore through Okos looking for them.”
Cold slunk through Selene.
Thorne.
“He was holding us captive,” Selene said.
“And you just happened to land here?”
Selene swallowed back the answer. Until Aspasia opened up in kind, Selene wouldn’t give her anything.
Aspasia scowled and began pacing back and forth, muttering under her breath.
“Mother—,” Roman began.
Aspasia held up a hand to stop him, and her words came louder, though she still spoke to herself. “He won’t be far behind then. The gods would have made sure of that. They never could keep their hands out of this.”
Roman’s chin dipped, and he fell back a step.
The movement caught Aspasia’s attention. “I’m right, aren’t I? You knew the risk, and you still—” The fires of Hadate lit her eyes. “Time hasn’t made you any less a fool, I see.”
“There was no mention until this very hour,” he explained, hands raised. “I had no reason to believe he was still around.”
“Of course he is!” she shouted. “Her very presence will bring him right to our doorstep!”
Selene waited for Roman to say something more, add to the mystery. She didn’t understand how or why, but this was about Augustus. Aspasia was…afraid.
“We need more time,” Aspasia said, resuming pacing, eyes darting.
“Michail won’t know she’s here,” Roman said, trying to reassure her.
The name struck something deep in her chest. A memory unfurled—brief, blinding.
Soldiers. Shouting. A struggle.
And dust…gods, it was like a choking cloud, sticking to her sweat-soaked skin. Sunlight reflected off strong arms and flushed faces.
Michail, blood on his mouth and fury in his eyes—the armored men dragged him backward. He fought like a storm.
Until he saw her, and everything in him stilled.
“You know me, Eva.” His voice cracked like thunder. “You’re the only one who does.”
