Nikias closed his eyes. Had that been the very beginning for him? The first time he’d seen Aimilia as more than just the brat attached to his brother? Or rather, the following morning whenhe discovered Gavril hadn’t actually strongarmed her into being nice to him?
“You called me a bad liar and said something about the bags under my eyes being like the Abyss.” Nikias held his tongue about the fact that she’d also confidently asserted that he needed her and would one day admit it. He wanted her. There was a difference. But, on the other hand, Nikias had no idea what he would do without her.
Instead, he just shrugged and let out a soft laugh. “You were right.”
Aimilia stared at him for a long moment before her lips twitched into a smile that was certain to haunt him as she whispered, “Who are you and what have you done with Nikias?”
“It’s been a long few years.”
“This past one has been the longest year of my life.” Aimilia nodded, letting go of her legs and shifting so she was leaning toward him, one hand braced on the ground. “So, what’s the verdict?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, am I getting a fair shot at this thing?” Aimilia blew out a long breath as she looked up at the stars. “Or should I accept my fate because you and your mother will be among the judges?”
Aimilia’s tongue punctured the wordfateas she twisted the ring on her finger that gave him hope that soon his name might join it in adorning her even as something heavy hit the air with that one word.
The same question Nikias had been turning over in his head ever since Aimilia revealed she intended to compete.
“My mother certainly doesn’t want you to win.” As little as Nikias had been paying attention, that much was clear. Not that he needed to hear her say it. “She made that clear last night.”
Aimilia closed her eyes and nodded, the tension in her shoulders betraying what she believed his answer would be.
“So that’s why I’m having our papers swapped out so whatever is written on them will match Commander Prisca’s and Commander Salus’. Whether you win or lose, it will all be on your own merit.”
Aimilia’s eyes flew open and she breathed out, “Really?”
He nodded and her fingers dug into the dirt. Her eyes filled with water and it took everything in Nikias not to pull her into his arms. He was going to follow her lead. Whatever she wanted or needed from him was hers, not what he thought would bring her closer.
Her voice came out shaky as she said, “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. You deserve a fair shot.” Nikias held her gaze. “I’m sorry that I’m the one who put that in jeopardy.”
Aimilia’s gaze softened, that tender look returning and burning onto Nikias’ heart. “You…”
Then she quickly pulled it away and looked back at the grave, but her cheeks had a faint tinge of pink to them. She reached up and wiped at her eyes before looking back at him. “Have I ever told you how much of a pest I was when I was little?”
“You never had to tell me. I knew you were from the first day I met you.”
Aimilia laughed again. “No. I mean, specifically for my grandfather. I knew I wanted to be a commander because he was and my father was, and when I was little, especially after my father died, I was always escaping the nanny and my tutors and trying to follow him around so I could learn the job. Of course, after the first few times it quickly ended, I got cleverer about it, and I was hiding in wardrobes and under tables and trying to cast illusions all so I could learn how to be the best commander possible.”
“I am not in the least surprised by any of that.”
Aimilia smiled. “Neither was my grandfather. He thought it was funny. I think he knew I was there more often than he didn’t, but he let me stay hidden to reward my creativity. I wasn’t in the way at least.”
Nikias couldn’t stop the image from coming to his mind of Aimilia as an even more annoying and precocious child trailing after her grandfather. He could almost see it in his mind, her grandfather looking at the wardrobe knowingly, but only smiling and keeping his silence.
Nikias whispered, “He must have really loved you.”
Aimilia tilted her head, blinked, then tears welled up in her eyes. She reached up and tried to wipe at them, her voice watery, “He did. I can’t tell you why, but he did.”
Nikias could.
It baffled him that for so long he hadn’t, but now he couldn’t imagine ever not loving her.
Aimilia closed her eyes but the tears kept coming out and a soft sob came out. “I—I’m never—going to see him again.”
He leaned forward, brushing his hand against her knee. She opened her eyes, tears still rolling down her cheeks. He froze.
