Page 205 of A Tribute of Fire

That just made everything a thousand times worse. As soon as I could find Io, I was going to force her to tell me what her older brother had done that would make even the tranquil Maia worried.

But as it turned out, I didn’t need to ask Io.

Because the prince decided to grace us with his presence.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

The brass horns blowing were our first clue that today would be different. I was struck with the memory of them being used to begin the race through Troas, and I had to push that thought aside.

Then we heard the criers calling out, “Make way for Prince Alexandros! Make way!”

Instead of their words clearing people off the street, they had the opposite effect. Members of the neighborhood hung out of their windows and crowded the sidewalks to catch sight of the prince.

“No one has seen him in over a year,” Ahyana told me. “He won’t attend state functions and doesn’t leave the palace. They say he’s hideous.”

Io was far enough away that she probably didn’t hear what Ahyana was telling me. I wanted to shush her but couldn’t risk her asking why. I didn’t want Io’s feelings to be hurt.

I walked over to Io and put an arm around her shoulders. “Are you doing all right?”

She nodded, her eyes bright. “I haven’t seen him in so long. I’m sorry, I know this is hard for you, but I’ve missed him.”

“Then I’m glad that you’ll be able to see him again.” I was personally hoping that he would be a reasonable, rational man and that I coulddo what Theano had ordered me to do—find a way to end this siege so that life could return to normal.

His chariot was being pulled by white horses draped in purple, the color of the royal family. People cheered for him as he went by, the horns getting louder as they came closer. There was a long processional behind him.

Prince Alexandros was certainly putting on a show.

Was this for my benefit? I almost smiled. It was a waste. He wasn’t going to intimidate me into leaving the temple. Or impress me with his wealth. I wasn’t that shallow.

The chariot reached the archway and the horns came to a sudden halt. I couldn’t see him because of all the women crowding the courtyard.

“Princess Thalia, come forth!” That was Thrax’s voice. I’d heard it enough over the last few days to recognize it, that accent of his that made him roll hisRs.

“Do you want to come with me?” I asked Io. I wanted her to have the chance to reunite with her brother.

“I can’t. If I do, everyone will know who I am.”

I hadn’t considered that. I was the only one who knew Io’s true identity. “I understand.”

“I’m going to our room.” She took a few steps backward and then said, “Lia, I’m so, so sorry.”

I frowned at her strange response and then began to push my way through the crowd. They didn’t part easily and I had to ask people to move more than once.

But then I broke through the final line, only to see ...

Jason.

Jason was standing there with Thrax.

What was he doing?

I actually pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, that this was really happening.

It was then that I noticed the cut of his dark purple tunic. The quality, the expensive and detailed embroidery along the edges. The confident way that he stood.

The anger on his face.

But not surprise at seeing me. There was only fury.

---