Page 208 of A Tribute of Fire

“You are being unreasonable,” he said. “Honor the contract that you and your father made.”

He wanted to speak to me of honor?

“I am giving you one last chance,” he said. “Or you will not like the consequences.”

“Do your worst,” I hissed at him.

He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Remember this tomorrow when I show you my worst—you told me to do it.”

Then he reached out and grabbed my hand so quickly that I didn’t have time to react. For a second I was worried that he might do what I’d imagined and attempt to pull me over the dividing line.

But he wouldn’t dare risk that.

“Let go of me!” I told him.

He stared intently at me and, keeping his gaze on mine, brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed it.

My throat closed in on itself.

Then Alexandros whirled about and climbed into his chariot, turning his white stallions back into the street and driving away much quicker than he had when he’d arrived.

I put a hand over my stomach and walked back into the courtyard, in complete shock.

He had let me know just how deep the deception had gone. How was it even possible? I had a very limited understanding of the power of life mages. Could they connect dreams?

Had he used their power to set out to seduce me even when I was sleeping?

There weren’t any answers to be had from Alexandros or his entourage, but there was someone at the temple who could give them to me.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

When I got into my room, I slammed the door shut and locked it. This wasn’t a moment for my other sisters and I knew they would follow.

This was going to be between Io and me.

She was sitting on her bed crying. She looked at me, her eyes full of guilt. “I’m so, so sorry,” she said. “He came because I told him about you.”

It was like she had punched me in the gut. I had considered the possibility that Io had told him who I was and immediately dismissed it as impossible. But she had betrayed me. “You promised me you wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“I promised not to tell our adelphia and I didn’t. I had to tell Xander.”

This family and their obsession with technicalities! This was not the time to be splitting hairs. “Why? Why would you do that?”

“There are so many reasons,” she said, trying to dry her tears and steady her voice so that she could speak to me. “I’m so sorry. I know you must be furious with me. But I cannot let my nation fall into my stepmother’s hands. She is making a play for the throne for my younger half brother. There is so much more here at stake than you realize. A much bigger picture.”

“So to make your brother king, you sacrificed me?”

“No, Lia, that’s not what this is.” She let out a sigh. “I’m explaining it all wrong.”

“Did you know that Alexandros is Jason?” I demanded.

Io made a confused face. “What?”

“When I met him, he told me his name was Jason. I have been seeing him. Kissing him. And ...” I let my voice trail off. I wouldn’t tell her how far I’d been willing to let things go.

For one brief moment she looked shocked but then she quickly recovered. “That’s good, isn’t it?” she asked hopefully. “You like each other. It will make things easier.”

“No, it’s not good! He has been tricking me this entire time to get me to agree to marry him.”

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