Had Faustina revealed to anyone else the truth? He knew the Head of House Gelu had known, but had she told the rest of her family?
“I only mean that she described you as a strange combination of pragmatic and romantic. She’d never seen anything quite like it before.”
Nikias pushed away the dark feeling scraping at his heart. Questions kept trying to rise up, but Faustina was going back to her grave.
He didn’t care what she thought about him. It didn’t matter now. Whatever she told her family didn’t matter. She’d made herself clear in life what she thought of him.
But he still couldn’t shake one that was trying to lodge itself in his chest. Had there ever been a moment where Faustina had loved him?
Still, her cousin said, “She was a special one, Faustina. She and Eleni got along well, and no one was happier for us than Faustina.”
Nikias simply said, “She was special. There will never be a woman like her again in my life.”
“Do you…” The glass in his hands trembled. “Do you still remember her?”
Nikias wished he didn’t. “Of course I do.”
“I mean…” His voice cracked. “Is it as clear, I mean. You still remember her face? Her voice? All the little moments. That’s what I fear most now. Not only is she out of my reach, but soon even the Eleni I remember will start to fade until I have nothing left.”
“I remember,” Nikias whispered. “I remembereverything.Faustina is clearer to me now than I think even when she was alive.”
That much was true.
But what this man really needed was a lie.
Nikias continued, “Nothing has faded. Not a single memory. Not a single feeling. Faustina might be gone, but she remains in my heart. Eleni will too.”
The healer shook his head. “I’m going to love Eleni forever, the way you love Faustina.”
Nikias just wanted to give this grieving man something to hold onto. If he didn’t have any hope… “Yes. But my life didn’t end that day. Even though I’ll never stop loving her, life still goes on, and we have to find a way to live it.”
He nodded, staring down at his glass again, but it was clear in his gaze he couldn’t see it.
So when one of the Solitus servants passed by, Nikias took the opportunity to leave before they kept talking about Faustina and he would have to keep lying about some undying love for her that he’d buried a long time ago. Nikias really didn’t wantto spare her another moment when Aimilia was the one who consumed his thoughts. He circled the room again, and when he did, he finally spotted her on the other side. She was completely absorbed in a conversation with Turpis.
His blood boiled again. What were they talking about? Why was she letting him stand so close to her? Why was she letting him touch her shoulder like that?
Then Aimilia pulled away, finally, but she was smiling at the cretin. Turpis went in the other direction, and Nikias chose his target.
It was one thing to stand to the side, holding his love for her tightly to his chest, when he knew the one he would lose her to was his own brother. Loving her and drowning in his jealousy had been doable when it had been Gavril because at least Nikias understood it. Gavril was Nikias’ better in every way, but Turpis?
It could not be borne. Nikias wouldn’t stand for this.
Nikias slipped out into the hallway after him. As soon as he had, Turpis turned on his heel and said, “Your Highness.”
Nikias was going to relish knocking that smug grin off his face. All Nikias could see was red. He snapped, “I know you’re not all that intelligent, but this is a new low for you.”
Turpis’ grin didn’t fade. “I’m afraid you’ll have to be a little more specific, Your Highness. I don’t think I’m smart enough to know what you’re talking about.”
Nikias said, “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Commander Aimilia. To what ends of the earth do I need to send you so you get the picture? You’re to leave her alone.”
“Oh, am I? Says who? How about you let Aimilia decide whose company she prefers?” Turpis laughed. “Wait… I think she already has.”
Nikias took another step forward. “Do you think it’s smart to make an enemy of me? Do you really want to go up against your next king?”
Turpis shrugged. “Commander Aimilia does it all the time. I’ve lost track of how many times she’s defied you. You don’t have the guts to do anything about it.”
“I don’t like you nearly as much as I like her. Don’t test me.”
