Chapter 45
AIMILIA
Aimilia was resolved to bury Hypatia’s premonitions. She wouldn’t let her mind run wild with what they could possibly mean. They weren’t worth worrying about.
She was thankful Nikias didn’t question her on her quietness, probably assuming it was the grief rushing back to the surface now that she had little else to distract her. That was part of it, but she couldn’t stop herself from looking at Nikias and twisting the ring on her finger.
A facade.
No.
After another week and a half of travel, they finally crested the ridge to see the Mitis Estate in the distance and Aimilia’s heart twisted.
She should have come back sooner. She should have fought to return at least briefly after her graduation.
All those months she’d stayed in Areator, waiting and hoping that Gavril would finally propose, what a waste.
How foolish she’d been. She’d been absolutely pathetic, sitting there and pining for a man who would never marry her instead of doing something useful with herself.
It had cost her the chance to see her grandfather before he went.
“Aimilia?” Nikias whispered on his own horse beside her, the guards waiting for them to press on.
“I’m fine.” She took a deep breath, knuckles whitening against the reins. “Just bracing myself.”
Nikias nudged his horse even closer, leaning down and whispering, “You don’t have to be fine.”
Aimilia’s heart jolted in her chest. He was so close.
She wanted him even closer. She wanted to abandon her horse and throw herself into his arms. She didn’t even want to look at the estate.
She just wanted to turn tail and leave. If she didn’t go to the estate, she could delude herself into believing her grandfather was alive for a little longer.
If she didn’t go to the funeral, she could still pretend.
Would Nikias enable her, if she asked?
She opened her mouth despite the tightening in her throat.
“I would do anything you ask of me.”
He would.
Aimilia turned her horse and continued down the road, looking over her shoulder at him. “I know I don’t have to be fine, but I am. So come on, we need to get our mourning blacks.”
She could feel Nikias’ gaze on her the rest of the ride to the estate gates, but she ignored it and spent the time preparing herself for the chaos she was about to walk into.
Her mother.
Uncle Cyprian.
And Nikias right behind her?
This was going to be messy.
Aimilia had no idea how she was going to answer any of the questions she was about to encounter.
The gates opened and Aimilia rode through first to see the courtyard bustling with servants and Runai all in black. She also spotted the royal carriage near the stables, so that answered the question of who had arrived first, them or Nikias’ parents.
She expected as much, considering the distance and the additional delay with the ambush.
“Aimilia!”
She finished dismounting to see her mother hurrying through the crowd toward her, dressed in a black peplos.
Aimilia took a deep breath and let her mother pull her into a quick embrace as she said, “I came as fast as I could, Mother.”
Her mother pulled back, holding onto Aimilia’s shoulders. “I knew you would. Your grandfather was always dear to you, but it’s still a relief to see you here in time with my own eyes.”
The doors leading into the main house opened again, and another figure in black emerged, this time a red commander’s cloak swapped out for a black one.
“I’m sure my parents have already offered our condolences, but let me offer them again, Lady Ione.” Nikias stepped up behind Aimilia’s shoulder and out of the corner of her eye she could see the stable boys leading their horses away.
Her mother reached up and wiped at her eyes. “Thank you, Your Highness. Your mother has been most gracious in these trying times.”
Just his mother?
But before Aimilia could ask, Cyprian reached them and gave Nikias a bow. “Your Highness.”
“Commander,” Nikias said with a nod. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please, just say the word and it will be done.”
Mother shook her head. “Oh, no, Your Highness, you’ve done more than enough, especially giving us something to celebrate even in a time of mourning.”
“Mother, what are you talking about?” Aimilia asked.
She blinked and Cyprian’s eyes narrowed. Her mother said, “Obviously you made the right decision to forego the necklaces until the funeral is over, but as soon as it is—”
“We are not engaged!” Aimilia sputtered as Nikias shifted even closer. “What on earth could possibly make you think otherwise?”
Cyprian stepped forward, directing a harsh glare at her. “You mean to tell me you travelled all this way with him and you’re not his betrothed?”
“He had me assigned to the same project he was on, so when the news came, we were in the same location and travelled together with his guards.” Aimilia took a step away from Nikias, shooting a glare at him that rolled right off his back.
Her cheeks were unbearably hot as she ignored the echo of Nikias’ arms wrapped around her that night after the attack.
“Nothing inappropriate happened, and nothing has changed.”
He’d been injured and delirious. What was she supposed to do, leave him?
All the color left her mother’s already pale face. “Aimilia—”
Nikias cleared his throat. “Lady Ione, Commander, I assure you, Aimilia is correct. You must not have heard the news of our mission that took us to Clan Desero, along with my brother and his wife. Our arriving together was out of practicality, not a sign of our engagement. Right now, our focus is on honoring Commander Vires for his many years of service to Imperia and to House Mitis. All other discussions can wait until after the funeral.”
Cyprian reached for Aimilia’s arm, but Nikias was faster, looping it through his and starting for the doors into the main house, saying, “If you’ll excuse us, Aimilia has promised me a tour to ensure I don’t get lost around here, and we must get changed into appropriate mourning attire.”
Aimilia stumbled until she was able to get her feet under her as Nikias pulled the door open and ushered her inside. She hissed, “What are you doing?”
“Oh, pardon me.” Nikias kept his voice low, but his dry tone seeped through regardless. “I didn’t realize you wanted to be dragged away by your uncle as he tries to browbeat you into marrying me.”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
Nikias looked down at her as he released her arm once they were safely inside the stone walls. “Absolutely not. If you’ve already forgotten, I’ll remind you. When you agree to marry me, it will be because you want to.”
“There is a trap in your future.”
“You keep saying that, and the more you do, the less I believe you.” Aimilia stepped back and gestured to the entrance hall they were in. “We’re here for my grandfather’s funeral. In less than a week, I’m going to be competing to become the head of House Mitis.”
Nikias’ gaze darkened. He glanced around to see a few servants and Runai taking notice of them in the bustle. He pulled on her arm and they ducked down a random hallway and he lowered his voice. “You still mean to compete?”
Aimilia had spent the last stretch of their trip trying so hard not to think of the future, given Hypatia’s warning, that she hadn’t actually made a decision on any of the paths that lay before that had led her to Hypatia’s magic in the first place.
A trap could very easily refer to something in the trials.
Or was the trap choosing not to compete?
Hypatia said the future couldn’t be changed. Aimilia couldn’t avoid the trap.
If she didn’t compete, there was only one other path in front of her. Nikias would be her future. And what if that was the trap?
Aimilia needed more time.
“I do.”
Nikias shifted back, lifting his chin. His voice was frigid as he said, “I see.”
Aimilia couldn’t read what he was hiding behind his marble facade. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
Nikias’ jaw flexed before he took a deep breath and said, “Do you think it’s wise? You’re a skilled commander, Aimilia, there is no doubt about that, but you are the youngest one competing.”
“An advantage.” Aimilia lifted her chin. “I’m in my prime.”
“You and I both know their years of experience give them the advantage.” Nikias tilted his head, but there was an earnestness in his voice. At least it seemed earnest. “Their physical condition is comparable to yours.”
“Then my superior skill in casting will ensure my victory.”
“Aimilia, have you not realized it yet?”
Her stomach dropped. What did he know? What was his plan? Was this the trap?
“What are you talking about?”
Nikias stepped closer. “Just like the graduation tournament or the entrance exams, there are judges, and not just your peers amongst the commanders. The royal family judges you too.”
His words knocked all the air out of her. Aimilia’s tongue was lead in her mouth. She hadn’t gotten that far. If her fate was in Nikias’ hands, or worse, his mother’s…
“Aimilia, you need to think about what happens if you lose.”
It meant she’d be under the new Head of House Mitis, and if it wasn’t her, it was probably going to be Cyprian. If he took over and she kept defying him…
A no-win scenario…
Aimilia lifted her chin. “Your advice is noted, but unnecessary. I will prove it beyond all doubt, that not even you or your mother’s deliberate sabotage will stop me. I will be second best to no one.”
Then she turned on her heel and headed for the stairs. She could feel his eyes on her, piercing in the silence. She wouldn’t let herself look back. She wouldn’t look back.
She looked back.