“I’ve learned not to do that.” He chuckled. “You look beautiful, Lady Aethra.”
I smiled. Complicated feelings twisted in my gut. I didn’t entirely understand the love we shared, but I was glad for it.
“There she is,” Eleos breathed.
Following his gaze, I found Eris at the center of the ballroom. An extravagant black gown draped her figure, cut low to reveal her generous bosom. A tiara of feathers rested on her brow. Seth wouldn’t take kindly to that.
Another woman joined her side, young, blonde, wearing a far simpler toga with a scarlet sash. I recognized her—this was the woman who had departed the city at Haimyx’s side.
Why was she back?
Was Haimyx here, too?
My hands grew numb and slipped from Eleos’ arm. Eris was looking in our direction, a wicked smile curling her lips.
Eleos took my hand. “Let Set handle her,” he whispered. “Shall we dance?”
“I don’t know how to dance,” I said, peeking around him.
“I don’t either.” Leading me through the ballroom, he placed a hand on my back and guided me into a simple waltz.
Seraphim had taught me these steps. Chuckling, I followed his lead. “Did Seraphim teach you, too?”
“Priests don’t learn to dance,” Eleos said. “We’re not supposed to mingle with nobility, remember?”
“I almost forgot about that.” I twisted my head to see most of the crowd watching us—even the noble pairs who danced beside us openly stared. “Do you think we’ll ever see home again?”
“I . . .” Eleos hesitated. “No. I don’t.”
Hearing the words from Eleos’ mouth made them seem heavier. Real. A stone sank down my throat and weighed me down.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered. “That we found you again, after we lost you on the beach.”
“Me too.” I chuckled. “I wouldn’t have wanted to destroy the world.”
Eleos’ mouth twitched. He glanced away and turned back to me with a smile. “You’re supposed to only have eyes for me tonight, remember?”
“I can’t believe Seth agreed to that.”
“He asked for it.”
“I guess he knows you aren’t going to make a move on me.”
“I don’t need to. Your heart already belongs to me.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Where do you get your confidence from?”
Chuckling, he pulled me closer, and I laid my head beneath his chin. His heart thumped against his rib cage, as though trying to rip itself free. Concerned, I reached for his emotions, but dark walls fell into place around his mind, shutting me out.
“El?” I asked, looking up.
“How cute.” A woman spoke behind me. “To see mortals, here.”
I dropped Eleos’ hand and whirledaround. Haimyx’s concubine stood behind us, peering at us with hard blue eyes.
She raised her head, looking down her nose at me. “You don’t look like much. How did the Oracle get her prophecy so wrong?”
Eleos cleared his throat. “We haven’t had the pleasure, lady . . .?”
