Surprisingly, Aimilia believed her. Especially since what Hypatia had Seen hadn’t been clear and only helped Aimilia by forewarning her to be careful. No. This had been about something else.
Hypatia had wanted a vision, and she wanted a witness to whatever she had hoped to See. Only, she hadn’t seen it.
Konstantin said, “Then care to tell me what this was about?”
Hypatia’s fingers released the silver band, slowly, as if not to draw any attention to it. Once it was on the ground without a sound, she pointed to the leather bracer where she had thrown it.
“You were—one way. I was trying another.” Then to Aimilia’s surprise, Hypatia leaned her head into Konstantin’s shoulder, slumping against him. “I saw—waste of time.”
Konstantin opened his mouth again but then he just stared at Hypatia as her eyes kept opening and closing, clearly struggling to stay awake. “We will continue this later.”
Hypatia hummed as she slipped into unconsciousness in his arms. Konstantin held Hypatia closer and then turned to Aimilia and switched to her language. “I’m sorry she dragged you into this. You shouldn’t have seen any of this.”
Aimilia took a deep breath, even though the smoke still stung her lungs. “Don’t apologize. She did not force me. I wanted toknow. I could not resist knowing even a little about my future. It is a tantalizing prospect.”
Konstantin said, “You don’t have to cover for her.”
Aimilia raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I would cover for Hypatia after everything she’s done?”
Konstantin looked her over and said, “I suppose not.”
“Will she be alright?”
Konstantin nodded, shifting her closer and reaching over to brush the curls out of her face. “She exhausted herself… The incense… Well, once it wears off, she will be fine.”
Strange. Did the smoke from the incense affect Hypatia differently from the rest of them?
With one hand, Konstantin held Hypatia, while the other began gathering up their things. Aimilia picked up her ring and slid it onto her finger. That was when Konstantin spotted the silver band on the ground.
He brushed his fingertips over it. His eyes widened and he looked at all the incense and then the bowl. Then he looked back at the band, and he picked it up.
“She didn’t see anything.”
Konstantin looked up, tightening his grip on the band. “What?”
Aimilia nodded toward the band. “There was no vision, no prophecy, or premonition. She didn’t see anything.”
Konstantin said, “Oh. Well, not even a mage like Hypatia can manage to see something every time.”
Aimilia opened her mouth, but before she could ask him, he nodded toward the exit. “You should go. I’m sure Nikias is wondering where you are. I think we agree it would be for the best if he didn’t know about this.”
Aimilia nodded, pushing herself to her feet. She took a few steps before she looked back over her shoulder. “Konstantin?”
He looked up.
“Moirai.What does that mean?”
Konstantin licked his lips. “It’s our word for fate or the future.”
Aimilia left Hypatia and Konstantin in the sanctuary. When she reached the exit, she looked over her shoulder one last time as Konstantin slid the band back up and onto his bicep.
Hypatia’s pleading echoed in Aimilia’s ears.
“Show me his fate.”
“Tell me he has a future.”
Chapter 42
