He made sure he reached it first, bracing one hand against the frame as Aimilia reached for the doorknob. She startled backa step before looking up at him. He leaned in, not touching her but close enough any slight shift would brush them together.
“One last thing. Call me Nikias. Don’t make me keep asking.”
“If you insist, Nikias. Now can I go?”
He pulled his hand back and opened the door for her. She passed through, throwing one last look at him before disappearing down the hallway, cloak fluttering in the air before she was gone completely.
Nikias leaned against the frame and stared at the empty white marble.
He wasn’t giving up yet.
He curled his fingers into his cloak and ignored the burning ache of the scar on his chest, each warring with the other.
She’d knelt by his bedside, sobbing over what had been done to him in the name of peace. She could pretend she hated him and would never care for him with her words as much as she wanted, but her actions already proved on some level she did.
And if she cared for him even a little, it meant she could fall in love with him.
It had to.
Nikias would not break his vow.
Chapter 10
AIMILIA
Aimilia didn’t stay away from the gossip for long. As annoying as it was to be the topic, she preferred that it be because of her rejection of Nikias. She needed to stay abreast of any news regarding the queen’s suspicions on foul play in the king’s condition.
Since apparently Aimilia had not been who the queen had been speaking of, that meant someone else was in danger of taking the blame for Aimilia’s crime.
It would be far worse if Aimilia’s name came up there.
At least she knew Nikias clearly didn’t suspect her, otherwise, he would never have proposed.
But why he was determined to keep her in Areator, she still didn’t fully understand. Why didn’t hewantto ship her off to the far edges of the kingdom?
The current rumor was that the queen seemed to be more focused on King Nero’s condition itself than investigating with the entrance exams for the Academy approaching. Apparently, King Nero was supposed to make his first public appearance since the treaty was signed by coming to watch the exams.
Other than information gathering, Aimilia kept her head low, focusing on reading up and refreshing her memory on the entrance exams rules. With only a week before they started, she didn’t have long to ensure she was prepared.
She’d reluctantly seen her mother off when she left to return to the estate, a few last attempts to convince Aimilia to start groveling thrown in with threats that Aimilia’s grandfather would be hearing about this. Uncle Cyprian had left her alone, thankfully.
She took a break from her preparations for judging the exams halfway through the week when it was time for Turpis to leave. For Aimilia’s post. Fine. Notherpost, never her post, but itshouldhave been her post.
Still, he’d helped her sneak out, and he’d been decent to her, so she supposed seeing him off was the decent thing to do in return.
She reached the courtyard to see Turpis checking his saddlebags as Commander Prisca was engrossed in conversation with?—
Nikias.
If she’d known he would be here, she would have thought twice.
Still, she could probably exchange pleasantries with Turpis, and ask him to send word to her if anything happened at House Mitis—she didn’t trust her mother to write a letter to her that wouldn’t contain Nikias’ name anymore—and then be back inside before Nikias was finished.
She headed straight for the lieutenant, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nikias’ gaze land on her without breaking his conversation with the commander.
“Aimilia! There you are I was getting worried I’d have to leave without getting one last look at you before I go.” Turpis abandoned his saddlebags as Aimilia reached him.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of tall, freckled red-headed mages where you’re going. You might not even realize I’m not among them.”
