Nikias’ eyes widened. But she wasn’t going to give him the chance to lie his way out of this one. “If you insist on talking so much, how about you try talking about the truth now. This wasn’t a lucky guess for you, was it? You knew I would be here.”
Nikias shook his head. “Why is it so hard for you to believe I know you well enough to find you?”
Fine.
“Only one person knew I was going to be up here. Why exactly would he tell you that?”
Nikias said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What are you doing up here meeting someone else?”
He just couldn’t stop lying, could he?
Aimilia took a step toward him, narrowing her eyes. “Stop playing dumb, Nikias. Turpis told you I was going to be here, and that’s why you’re here, but why? I know he wouldn’t just tell you of his own accord. What did youdo?”
Nikias’ expression shifted, the softness fading back into his usual harsh edges. “You would be wrong. He volunteered this information.”
Aimilia laughed. “So you do admit it. Nikias, don’t think I won’t find out the truth eventually. Save yourself the trouble and tell me now exactly what you did and said to him.”
“How about you go first? Why exactly are you up here having a clandestine meeting with him?”
The weight of Nikias’ name in her pocket doubled. “I don’t owe you an explanation. The reason why I’m meeting Turpis here is between me and him. The reason you didn’t know about it until you went and threatened him or beat it out of him—whichever is most convenient to you—is because it has nothing to do with you.”
Nikias’ eyes burned, and the mask was slipping. “It involves you. Anything that involves you involves me.”
Aimilia couldn’t stop her sharp, delirious laugh bubbling out of her throat. “No, it doesn’t! I am not yours. Despite whatever you’ve convinced yourself in your mind otherwise, you do not own me.”
Nikias scoffed. “I should have expected that’s how you would twist this. You’re always so desperate to place the blame on me.”
“Don’t confuse eagerness with the truth. I blame you because you deserve it. You are sodeterminedto have me. Do you think the only way you will is if you are the only one I rely upon, is that it? You think because I now have a classmate of mine I can turnto, he must be eliminated? You always come out the winner if there’s no competition.”
Nikias gestured to the door. “You want to get to the truth of the matter, then be my guest. The truth is that boy is using you. As futile an effort as this might be, since you don’t believe anything that leaves my lips, it is still my duty to tell you. I’ve heard it from him myself. All he cares about is your potential position if you win, and if you do, he has a chance to elevate himself. If he can’t be a commander, he can still secure power and prestige for himself by taking yours. The only reason he started paying attention to you and helping you was because he knew this day would come, and he wanted to position himself in the best place to marry you. He’s a social climber. All he wants is power.”
How stupid did Nikias think she was? Of course Turpis was trying to use her. What Runai didn’t want more power and a better position?
And what moral high ground did Nikias have to stand on to condemn it?
“So?”
Nikias sputtered, “So?Aimilia, did you not hear me? He isusingyou. He does not care about you. All he cares about is power. He’s only helping you because he thinks it will benefit him. He wants to marry you so he can use you to further his own ambition.”
“Oh, no, I heard you the first time. Have you looked in a mirror lately?”
“What?”
Aimilia gestured at him. “You’re acting like Turpis is committing some great crime against me. Like the fact that he’s trying to use me makes him worth less than the dirt on my sandals. But you’ve been doing the exact same thing. It might not be for power—you have plenty of it—but the only reasonwe’re talking right now is because you have been trying to get close to me so you can use me for your own ends. Turpis wants to help me win so he can marry me and get power. You’re hoping I don’t win so I marry you and you recover your wounded pride and get a suitable queen to bear you heirs.”
“You think he and I are the same?” Nikias’ low tone carried a warning that Aimilia was all too happy to ignore.
“Do I have any reason not to? You were perfectly clear when you proposed all your reasons why. And ever since then, all you wanted was to convince me to accept you. So you don’t get to stand here and act like he is the villain. I’m well aware he’s just trying to use me, just like you’re trying to use me.”
“I’m not trying to use you!”
Aimilia laughed. “If that were the case, why are you out here lying to my face about how you knew I was here and trying to get me to leave before the person I was supposed to meet gets here? You’re not the hero here, Nikias. You’re just trying to be the one who wins first.”
“You think this is just about winning to me? You think I almost died trying to save you, just so I could win?” Nikias stepped back, hands in the air as he looked absolutely disgusted. “Frankly, I don’t know how I ended up here. There should be no world in which that pathetic, repulsive cretin is in any way, shape, or form my competition for you.”
“So you admit that the only reason you’re here is because you wanted me to stand him up? If he’s just trying to take advantage of me for my future position, do you really think that would scare him off?”
Nikias stepped forward. “Aimilia, I cannot even fathom the fact that you seem to be considering this. This is insane. He doesn’t love you.”
