He could not mess this up.
He wouldn’t get another chance with her.
He’d been so close the night before to letting it all come out. He’d almost told her how much she meant to him and how horrifying it had been to see her almost get hurt.
But the scar on his chest she couldn’t see had sunk its claws in and silenced those words.
He just had to find a way to finally get her over whatever remaining hurdles were left and then, when she finally confessed her feelings, he could ask her again to marry him and tell her everything. He would no longer have to hold back any of his affection.
He knew the hurdle wasn’t physical attraction. Her kissing him back had certainly proven that objection completely unfounded. Plus, he doubted it was any personal objections from what she’d said when she found him after the healers. Nikias just didn’t know how much longer it would take, or rather how much longer he could wait.
She was a test of all his patience and self-control. He was certain if she knew just how much of his affection he was holding back, she’d probably be terrified.
Nikias heard movement about the camp. Aimilia stirred again, a soft, disgruntled sigh leaving her stunning lips. Nikias checked that his illusion was still in place. Nothing could be seen. He carefully slid out from under her and found a change of clothes and his cloak. Although his cloak was still filthy from the attack, it was better than not having one.
As soon as he was dressed, he looked back over his shoulder to see Aimilia had curled her hands into the blanket he’d been under, a soft smile on her lips.
Now that Nikias had had just this little taste of what could be, there was no power on this earth strong enough to ever make him give up on turning this into his reality.
Nikias slipped out of the tent.
They didn’t have time to waste if they were to get back on the road. As he stepped out into the sunlight, the guard outside the tent started to see him up and about, but Nikias ignored him to see what had been creating the noise.
Coming out from the forest were two riders at the front and a few guards behind them. Konstantin and the Desero demon. The Runai guards were murmuring amongst themselves about whether they should break the illusion or step out from it to greet them or wait.
Nikias cleared his throat and they all turned to him, bowing.
“Your Highness, you shouldn’t?—”
Nikias raised his hand and silenced the healer. He said, “Break the illusion.”
How on earth had Hypatia and Konstantin gotten here so quickly? Had they known about the ambush? Had they let Nikias and Aimilia walk into a trap?
If so, there would be hell to pay.
Two of the guards obeyed his command and shattered Aimilia’s illusion.
Hypatia was already dismounting, scanning the landscape where she didn’t see the camp. She turned to Konstantin and was saying something, gesturing.
Then the illusion fell and she straightened up with a smirk as soon as she could see the camp. She flashed a grin at her husband before taking the reins and heading toward the camp. Konstantin shook his head and dismounted, following her.
So much for Nikias’ pleasant morning.
Chapter 39
NIKIAS
Still, Nikias walked out to the front of the camp and waited for Hypatia, Konstantin, and their entourage to join them. Hypatia’s grin only got bigger the closer she got to Nikias.
He could see one of his men in the back of their guards, they must have intercepted him along the way.
Konstantin quickly stepped in front of his wife as they approached, but it did nothing to stop her from calling out, “It seems we were in a rush for nothing. You appear to have handled the attack well.”
Nikias clenched his hands into fists at his sides, “We’re more than capable of handling a couple stone mages. If you want to get any closer and live, you’re going to explain to me right now how you knew about this attack, and why you didn’t warn us.”
Konstantin held a hand out slightly, his wife rolling her eyes as he turned to Nikias. “I understand why you might think so. However, I must assure you, we did not know of the attack until after you’d left. As soon as we did, we rode out after you to try and catch you before or to be able to provide assistance during. It was not our desire to only find you afterwards.”
Nikias, despite having spent hours upon hours with him, day after day the last few weeks, still didn’t quite have a good read on Konstantin. By all appearances, he seemed genuine, but so would anyone when standing next to Hypatia.
