“Don’t.”Gavril took a deep breath when Aimilia winced. Marcella stirred but didn’t wake. He lowered his voice. “Don’t try to defend him.”
“I’m not.”
“Good. If I see him—” Gavril’s jaw flexed. “This ishisfault.”
“It is.”
Gavril nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. He leaned back against the headboard, pulling Marcella up closer. “I’m sure this goes without saying, but since I know Nikias has been hovering around you as of late, he’s not to know about this. Just…” Gavril shook his head. “Stay away from him. Stay as far away from him as you can.”
“I will.”
Nikias might have paid for what he’d had done to Marcella, but Marcella was going to live with the consequences for the rest of her life, which begged the question.
Could he really be forgiven for it? Or should he suffer for the rest of his life because Marcella would be too?
Aimilia didn’t know.
But she was sick with what she’d done.
Could she forgive herself for letting Nikias anywhere near her?
Chapter 33
NIKIAS
Nikias had known his actions would have consequences, but he never would have thought Aimilia would go to such lengths to avoid seeing him after their kiss.
The first day, he’d expected she’d try to avoid him, and wasn’t surprised when Commander Calix was the one to join him in his meeting with Konstantin and Hypatia. Hypatia had been behaving, but even if she’d tried to get under his skin, she wouldn’t succeed.
Aimilia had kissed him back.
So much for the demon’s cursed Sight.
Konstantin, on the other hand, had bags under his eyes and looked dead tired the whole time.
Nikias didn’t go searching for Aimilia the first day.
He wasn’t worried. He wasn’t.
She’d kissed him back.
Soon enough she wouldn’t be able to deny she cared for him and shortly after that she’d be confessing she loved him, and he’d be able to tell her of his affections and finally, she’d accept his proposal.
He’d had a few bumps on the road, but things were finally back on track and going his way. He could be patient.
His parents, on the other hand… If Nikias came back unengaged…
He could take it.
So Nikias wasn’t worried when he didn’t see Aimilia the second day after their kiss.
Aimilia was stubborn. She was having to confront the fact that what she claimed to feel toward him clearly wasn’t what she actually felt for him.
It was good to know she wasn’t repulsed or immune to his charms. He certainly wasn’t immune to hers.
On the third day he didn’t see her… he was a little nervous.
What was she doing?
