The skin around his jaw tightened, and he glanced away. “You told me something earlier. About your fate.”
I nodded. “That’s what this is about? It’s made you wary of me, I’m assuming. And you want to tell me that we can’t be…allies. You don’t have to look so worried about it. I knew you’d feel that way. It’s why I told you in the first place. It’s for the best.”
“No.” He ground out the word, lifting his eyes to meet mine. He looked so unexpectedlytortured. “I was also given a fate, Selene. From Atropos.”
“Oh. And yours…”
“Is connected to you,” he finished, glancing at his closed door. “Well, specifically, it’s about the daughter ofsomeone. And it’s someone whose name I doubt you want me to say out loud. I don’t think anyone is listening outside that door, but you can never be certain in a place like this. Especially after everything that’s happened these past few days.”
I swallowed, my heart pounding. We were dancing close to that line again, confirming the suspicions he’d only hinted at thus far. But despite feeling worried he knew the truth about my family, I was relieved. Atropos had told him who my father was, not someone else. That meant, hopefully, none of the other monarchs knew.
“You’re being very cryptic,” I said, after taking a few moments to gather my thoughts. “What did Atropos say about thisdaughter of someone?”
Ares smiled sadly. “She told me I was fated to kill her.”
I blinked and sat back. “Oh.”
I was surprised, though I really oughtn’t be. The Fates had told me I was fated to live or die by Ares’s hand, and they’d told him the same. The only difference was, they’d informed him of the outcome. It was just…secretly, I’d begun to hope I’d misinterpreted it somehow. That there was another explanation. That it was one of the others and not him.
But I’d been right all along. It was Ares.
Abruptly, I stood, holding back the tears that blurred the corners of my eyes. “Why haven’t you done it then, Ares? Why do I still live?”
He gazed at me across the table, unflinching. “Because I don’t want to kill you.” He stood. “When I’m with you, I’m so focused onyouthat everything else melts away. You’re beautiful and cunning and strong. And you would do anything to protect your people. I am truly mesmerized by you, Selene.”
I’m mesmerized by you, too.
Breathing became difficult. I stared at Ares, wondering if I was dreaming. He, of all people, couldn’t feel this way about me. He’d tried to kill me.
And then he’d saved me.
Again and again, he had been there, despite knowing our fate.
“I don’t understand,” I said, my hands fisting. “You can’t change what we are to one another. You said it yourself.”
“I know. And it’s a cruel twist of fate that you can never be mine.”
“You can’t mean that,” I said, more insistently. “Even without our fate, we’re nothing alike. You’re loyal to Erebus and allied with Zeus. And that means you believe in his ways. The marketplaces. The breeding. The cruel punishments for the mortals who try to escape. My mother told me about the Bull. You should realize by now that those things are against everything I stand for. The humans are my people, too, and I will protect them with my life.”
Something flashed in his eyes. “And you believe I’m just like Zeus? That’s what you think of me?”
I looked away. My chest ached with the warring emotions that were battling for dominance. Why did this have to be so hard? None of this was supposed to have happened.None of it.
“I don’t know,” I said hoarsely. “But I think you’re loyal to him, which isn’t any better. It means you stand aside and let him do all those horrible things. And in this world, if you don’t condemn the cruel, that just makes you one of them.”
“Says the newest High Queen of Troy, who fell in line the instant Zeus snapped his fingers. You willingly came to this island without complaint.”
I gave him a wry smile. “And I see now that was a mistake.”
Without another word, I downed the rest of my wine and made for the door. Ares watched me, speechless. I’d already opened the door and had one foot in the hallway when he called after me.
“I know you’re thinking about going up against Zeus, Selene. You’re clearly a trained fighter, but I’ve never met anyone who stood a chance against him. He has a strength and power none of us possess. Be careful.”
I smiled. “I don’t know why you’re so worried. You’re the one who’s going to kill me, remember?”
Despite what I’d said to Ares, I didn’t plan on making an attempt on Zeus’s life tonight.Mylife wasn’t what I was worried about. It was the lives of all the mortals back in Troy. My fate said nothing about captivity, and if I lost my fight against Zeus, he might very well throw me in his dungeons. That left no one to protect my people. He would invade and claim my crown. Everyone would end up in chains, cages, or worse.
When I dragged myself into my rooms, I found a coded note from Orpheus. He hadn’t been able to get to the sacrifices yet, but he would try again. Sighing, I climbed straight into bed. The past few days had left me drained, and I needed sleep to rejuvenate myself.
