“Are—I understand the reasoning, but are you sure?” Aimilia pushed off the dresser, voice lowering. He took the opportunity to step closer under the pretense of hearing her better. “Considering how the last two times you two have interacted went, I fear what will happen at a third.”
If he’d wanted to spare himself, he wouldn’t have shown his face at all, but still he had not imagined how much her lack of faith in him would cut through him.
“You’re afraid of who I’ll be if I see her a third time.” He couldn’t stop the ice from seeping into his tone.
If nothing else, maybe he could finally prove his character to her this time.
“If you’re going to make me say it, yes. I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Gavril and Marcella can handle her much better than you. I can?—”
“If you think I would ever let you set foot in front of that demon without me at your side, you are sorely mistaken.”
He was right in front of her now, staring down at her as he tried to fight the memory crawling through his mind of blood and stone. His scar burned over his heart.
Aimilia swallowed, eyes darting across his face. She took a sharp breath.
“The matter is settled,” Nikias said. “We are leaving in two days.”
Aimilia huffed. “As you command, Your Highness.”
Her words cut through him worse than the glass smashing into his head. But he couldn’t let it show?—
Aimilia winced and shook her head. “Sorry, I meant, sure, Nikias. I will be ready to leave in two days.”
“Good. That’s not—” Nikias took a deep breath. “That’s not the only reason I came here.”
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. Nikias held up the box, opening it and pulling out the ring inside. He held it up in the fading light so she could see the runes etched on the interior.
“What—What is that for?” Aimilia whispered as he held it out, keeping the ring flat on his palm.
“Since we leave soon, I want you to have this. These runes—basically, this ring will boost the strength of any shield you cast. I hope you never need it. I wish I’d thought of this before I saw what could happen to you without it. But I can’t go back in time; all I can do is give it to you now.”
Her fingers trembled as she reached out and gently picked up the ring. She pulled it close and rolled the ring between her fingers, thumb brushing over the little gold leaves. “Nikias… I?—”
He held his hand up. “Please, don’t try to refuse it. However poorly you think of me, please, just take it. There’s no obligation on your end. No one ever has to know you got it from me.”
Aimilia swallowed and slipped the ring onto her finger. She curled her hand, flexing it as she stared at it. “I… I’ll wear it. Thank you, Nikias. This is…” She squeezed her eyes shut, turning her head and letting her braid shift over her shoulder. Her lips shifted, trembling, but nothing else came out.
Wait…
Nikias stepped even closer.
She reached up and wiped at her eye but pretending to be pushing a loose strand of hair back. Finally, she got out in a thick voice. “You really shouldn’t have.”
He stepped even closer, peering down at her red-rimmed eyes. Not only was she about to cry, but… “Have you been crying?”
Aimilia jerked back. “What? No—what—What would I have to cry about?” She smiled like it would hide the water shining in her eyes. “I’m a hero, at least until the gossip keeps moving and everyone forgets about me.”
Did she really think that would work?
“Aimilia…” Nikias stepped even closer, and she backed up, trapped between him and the dresser. “Did something happen before I arrived? Did my parents say—” The cuts stinging increased and the throbbing in his temple doubled. “Did theydoanything to you?”
“No. They—They didn’t say or do anything. T—To me.”
But could he trust she was telling him the truth?
She followed his gaze to her side. His fingers brushed her waist, coming to rest where the bruises had been. He’d been planning on confronting her about his suspicions, informed by the gossip of the girls in the bathhouse spotting bruises on Aimilia. He’d been waiting for the right time, but then the attack had happened.
“But my mother has, hasn’t she?”
