“Please, the only reason you have a commander’s cloak and I don’t is because everyone knows the graduation tournament was rigged for you, just like it was rigged for Faustina. In order to make sure their sons married quickly, you don’t think the king or queen would pull some strings so their bride of choice would be eligible?”
It wasn’t true. Aimilia knew it wasn’t true. Still…
“How stupid do you have to be? Do you expect me to believe that? You think your little false rumors and gossip can win out over the years I’ve spent with the royal family? You think you know anything I don’t? The tournament wasn’t rigged. I didn’t become a commander because of Gavril. I was first in our class, Turpis. I earned it.”
“We all know you didn’t. Since the previous one came in last, they obviously overcorrected. Why do you think they don’t use you? They don’t send you out on missions. They know you’re not capable of them. Just like Faustina wasn’t. It’s clear why now. Nikias isn’t going to risk losing his she-wolf like he lost his wife. It’s a shame. Faustina didn’t have any skill to recommend her with, but at least she was beautiful. Faustina was a woman fit to be queen, but since perfect is dead, might as well settle for you.”
A crack echoed through the air. Turpis’ head hit the doorframe as Aimilia pulled her hand back. Her knuckles and the back of her hand stung where they’d hit him.
Aimilia’s voice came out in a low growl. “You get Faustina’s name out of your filthy mouth.”
Turpis gently touched his cheek as he looked at her and laughed. “Oh? Don’t like to be reminded that you’re not even a poor imitation; you’re not anywhere in her league.”
“Stop talking. It’s pathetic. I don’t care whether you believe any of what you’re saying or not. It only proves you’re as stupid as I always knew you were in school. You never stood a chance at becoming a commander—if it hadn’t been me, it would have been someone else taking your spot.” Aimilia laughed. “I didn’t take anything from you. You just weren’t as good as I was. But if it comforts you to pretend like it was rigged, sure, believe what you want. At the end of the day, I still have a red cloak, and you’re just a lieutenant. That’s all you’ll ever be. And here’s the real truth: you never had a chance at marrying me and taking over House Mitis. I knew all along what you were after, and I was just using you so I could secure my position. I was never going to marry you.”
Turpis rubbed his jaw and said, “You and Prince Nikias will make for a perfect match. You’re not going to win. He’s going to be your only option after this. That is, if he’s still willing to take you, despite the fact that we all know how he’s ruined you.”
And then he shut the door in her face. Aimilia stepped away from the door, breathing deeply and resisting the urge to kick at it until Turpis returned and she could show him just how qualified she was to be a commander.
Aimilia turned away and started walking down the hallway. What had he found out?
Why was he so certain Aimilia wasn’t going to win this next trial?
He knew something powerful enough that had caused him to give up his pursuit of her and helping her the second he’d seen her respond to Nikias’ kiss. Turpis, for all his flaws, had heard all of those rumors about her and Nikias, and they hadn’t deterred him until now.
Whatever it was that he knew, it was enough that he was convinced Aimilia wouldn’t win
And if Aimilia didn’t win, she was going to be Nikias’.
And now that Aimilia knew exactly who Nikias was, she didn’t care if everyone thought she was some she-wolf who had been passed between brothers like some plaything.
She was not going to end up trapped in marriage to that monster and let him win.
Chapter 60
NIKIAS
Nikias stayed on that tower, the hours ticking by. At some point he moved from gripping the railing to sitting beside it. All he could do was stare out into the darkness.
Nikias was no stranger to mistakes. He had made plenty the last few years.
This, however…
Maybe this was the one he didn’t come back from. There were only so many times Aimilia could forgive him, and he didn’t see any path forward where she did.
His crime this time had been too great. He’d let his jealousy and desperation get the better of him. She’d figured him out so quickly, and he had no defense. He couldn’t justify his actions.
He’d completely intended on Turpis seeing them and proving, in the end, she would be his. But all he’d done was ensure she never would be.
His selfishness had cost him everything. He’d let his dark and desperate parts take over again when he swore he never would.
He didn’t deserve Aimilia.
And yet… Nikias still wanted to fix it. However, he had no idea how.
She hadn’t said it back.
Finally, when dawn broke, Nikias left the balcony. He made his way down to the ground below, and in the early morning light, he got on his hands and knees and he dug through the dirt until he found his name. He pulled the necklace out of the ground and used his thumb to brush the dirt off of it.
