Page 127 of The Prince's Mage

She’d spent most of her life surrounded by her own people and never quite feeling like she belonged. She suspected so had Konstantin.

“When I first saw you, knowing you were intended for Hypatia, the first thing I thought was that she was going to eat you alive.” When he turned his head, she reached forward and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m very glad to be wrong. And I am honored to be called your sister. I have no intentions of using that connection simply for my selfish gain.”

Konstantin gave her a relieved smile and stepped back. “We should both get some rest, little sister. Tomorrow we face not just Prince Nikias’ wrath but my wife’s.”

Marcella nodded and let him go as she ducked into her tent.

Not only would she be facing the wrath of them both, but they would both be trying to take their wrath out on each other, even though they would all be saying the word ‘peace.’

She prayed.

* * *

The next morning, Marcella waited until the last possible moment to step out of her tent, knowing the second she did the news of her with lilies in her hair and an Inimicus cloak wrapped around her would spread like wildfire.

She cast a small rune to give her enough light to check over her arms and the illusions were still in place. Good.

It was only when her tent rustled and the voice of a soldier came through, telling her the scouts had spotted Prince Nikias and the Inimicus army on the horizon, that Marcella steeled herself and stepped out of her tent.

She immediately spotted Hypatia standing outside the command tent.

And unfortunately, no Konstantin.

She debated ducking back inside and just peering out her tent until Konstantin arrived—she was not nearly as brave as he thought she was—but it was too late as Hypatia spotted her.

Her brow furrowed. Her eyes ran all over Marcella’s appearance, her expression darkening when she spotted the lilies in her hair and the Inimicus cloak on her shoulders.

“Little one. Here.Now.” Hypatia’s voice ripped through the air.

Oh no. She was in a mood. She’d been using her Sight.

As Marcella instinctively obeyed, she was more certain Konstantin had the wrong measure of her after all. There was nothing brave in letting Hypatia order her around like a dog.

The second she was near, Hypatia grabbed her by the shoulder and gestured to the lilies and the cloak. “What is the meaning of this?”

Marcella tried to jerk back but failed to break her grip. Her heart was thundering in her ears, and she couldn’t quite get the words out. “It’s—I—”

“Oh, shut up. I know very well what this means,” Hypatia hissed, jostling Marcella. “And I will not stand for it. You will take those out of your hair and that cloak off or I will. You knew I would not allow this. I have not given my approval and I never will. This will not stand!”

“Yes, it will.”

Marcella immediately breathed out when she heard Konstantin’s voice. She turned her head just enough to see him striding toward them, a dark look on his face that she was certain was hiding his own terror.

A crowd had started to form around them at the scene.

Hypatia scoffed. “I should have known. This had you written all over it. Well, it was an ill-thought-out scheme. You had to know it wouldn’t work. We might be married, but our clans are still sovereign. Desero is still my clan to oversee and Marcella is—”

“Montis. As of yesterday.” Konstantin put a hand on Marcella’s other shoulder. “My sister actually. So that means it to falls to me to approve her match, and I have. Prince Gavril is her promised, so no, the lilies will be staying until they are married.”

Hypatia scoffed. “You are a terrible liar, Konsta. I know—”

“Ask High Priest Panagiotis. He oversaw the adoption. Ask any member of Montis. We had quite a time yesterday celebrating my little sister’s adoption.” Konstantin’s eyes brightened as he spoke and his lips twitched in a smile. “I’ll go get the papers if that would please you.”

Hypatia’s expression, though, only darkened, but she did pause and look at the crowd that was gathered, watching the exchange. Her jaw clenched and then she plastered on the sharpest smile Marcella had ever seen.

“No need. Congratulations, Konsta, you’ve bested me.” She shifted back slightly, her grip on Marcella’s shoulder easing but not releasing.

Konstantin’s eyes doubled in size at her easy admission of defeat.

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