On one side of the courtyard were a few trees with a bench between them, and Aimilia took a few steps toward it. He followed her lead and headed for it as well. He asked, “What are you doing out here at this hour?”
“That’s what I came out here to ask you about.”
She gestured toward the main building at one of the windows on the third story facing the courtyard. “My room is over there. I spotted you from the window.”
That pesky hope reared its head again.
How could she keep saying she didn’t hold any affection for him?
How could she one day tell him no one could ever love him?
“And instead of going back to sleep, you came all the way down here just to ask me, as opposed to asking me in the morning?”
Aimilia reached the bench first, taking a seat. “Well… you didn’t hear from me and I didn’t hear from Marcella, who didn’t hear it from a servant that Konstantin was overheard getting onto Hypatia for cornering you in the halls when she’d promised not to.”
And like that, all the hope was ripped out of him in one breath. Maybe Aimilia was right. It wasn’t about any fondness for him. It was concern for their peace. It was her fondness for Faustina. It was her love for Gavril that all spurred on anysemblance of care for him in the wake of an encounter with Hypatia.
“I see.” Nikias’ voice went cold, and he refused to sit beside her.
Aimilia rolled her eyes. “Don’t be mad. They’re not trying to gossip—well, Marcella and I aren’t. I can’t say the same for the servant—but I know this trip isn’t easy for you. I’d rather stay on top of what Hypatia’s doing than stay in the dark.”
“What Hypatia says to me is none of your business, Commander.”
For all that Nikias had wanted to see Aimilia after the encounter, now that she was there only because of a mixture of concern and care for everyone but him, and pity for him, something dark and ugly reared his head and choked out any relief her presence might have brought.
Especially given Hypatia’s latest weapon against him was Aimilia.
The last thing Nikias needed was for her to discover that too.
The scar on his chest ached.
Aimilia sighed. “Here I thought we were even. Don’t tell me you’re still pretending like you’re some marble statue.”
Nikias froze.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to, however, I assure you that I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t more than capable of handling this. Hypatia has already done her worst to me twice over. I’m not some weak little child that she can harm me with a few worthless words.”
Aimilia raised an eyebrow. “Then what are you doing out here in the middle of the night working yourself up into a sweat?”
She’d caught him red-handed.
Still his pride demanded he deny the accusations.
“And if you hate me the way you keep saying you do, why are you out here ruining your good night’s sleep over me?”
Aimilia’s cheeks tinged pink.
What did it mean?
“Are you complaining?”
Nikias hadn’t decided yet.
He said, “You can save the pity for someone who actually needs it. Despite what you think, I am perfectly capable of handling myself against Hypatia.”
“Is that why you think I’m here?”
Now she was going to lie to his face and pretend she didn’t pity him when it was clearly the driving force behind all of her actions.
