Aimilia could at least be grateful she’d been smart enough to keep her distance over the last few weeks. It had saved her from doing something foolish like kissing him or revealing her changing feelings for him.
Whoever it was that she had feelings for.
Aimilia leaned against the wall next to the door that led back inside, staring out at the horizon, the sun inching toward it getting ready to set.
It had been weeks since Hypatia’s warning began tormenting her and she was no closer to figuring out who Nikias truly was than when she’d started.
Was he still the grand manipulator who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted?
Or was he truly the man she’d seen find that little girl and gently care for her injuries, believing no one would ever know?
Aimilia wrapped her arms around her as a breeze cut through the air. She curled her fingers into her chiton over her heart. The organ beat against her hand in response. The ring was cold against her skin.
Was she just falling for it again?
At night when she was tossing and turning, trying not to think about whatever trap Clelia attempted next to kill her, she was tormented by her memories of Nikias. But it wasn’t of memories like in the hallway as he took Marcella away, or when he arrested her after she helped Gavril save Marcella.
That Nikias was easy to fear. He wasn’t trying to hide his darkness.
No.
What haunted her now had been the Nikias before. He’d been so perfect. He’d been just enough of the Nikias she knew that she wasn’t suspicious, while also saying all the right things to get her to follow his plan and do as he wished. She’d gone to see Gavril at his command every time he told her to. They’d met together constantly, discussing Gavril’s progress and their next moves and how she would get Gavril back.
And that was what scared her the most. She’d been completely blind to the fact that he was just using her to get Marcella back on the table.
Since Faustina’s death, Nikias had wanted one thing and one thing alone. Revenge.
“Nothing has faded. Not a single memory. Not a single feeling. Faustina might be gone, but she remains in my heart.”
Aimilia had managed to evade his search by hiding behind a couple behind him and Ovidius. She’d heard every word, and while it tore her in two, none of it surprised her. He still loved Faustina just as much as the day he buried her. Aimilia was a fool to think she could ever compete with that.
Nothing was sacred to him, save Faustina.
Not even his brother’s own marriage vows. Aimilia had foolishly believed Nikias that they could somehow be broken. She’d had no idea he’d meant with Marcella’s death.
Aimilia knew what Nikias was capable of when he had a goal in mind. He was ruthless in his pursuit. And if she was the goal now…
Nothing terrified Aimilia more than the fact that she very well could be falling for his tricks again. This time, however, it would end with her being bound to him forever.
Could she take that risk? Could Aimilia ever truly trust him again after what he’d done?
Did it matter?
He’d never claimed to love her.
Maybe his manipulation would only go so far, and not even that was a line he could cross. Aimilia was certain if she gave Nikias even a hint of her love for him, whether he was genuine or not, he would hold onto it, and he would not rest until his name was on her for forever.
Aimilia kept staring at the horizon, the sky starting to turn a golden hue as the sun began to set. Aimilia had been turning over every interaction and every memory again and again, dissecting Nikias’ looks, inflections, and mannerisms. Shecompared the way he was when he’d been manipulating her to the way he was now, and finding very few differences.
He looked at her the same way he had then.
That was when the door opened.
Aimilia pushed off the wall, ready for Turpis to at least distract her from one problem with another, but the dark brown hair and height gave him away immediately.
Nikias.
He flew through the door, a whirlwind of black and red. He turned on his heel, eyes frantically darting about the balcony until they landed on her.
