Page 151 of The Prince's Mage

Her mouth was opening and closing as she called out, “—sta!Konsta!”

Nikias didn’t listen any closer as she kept calling for her husband. He was too focused on just standing upright and not giving into the painful burning in his chest.

Finally the couple of the hour, Aimilia, and the demon’s husband noticed her presence. Probably because of her screeching some butchered form of his name. The husband took off immediately, intercepting her before she could make it more than a quarter of the way through the crowd. The second he was in front of her, she clasped his arms and started speaking even faster, but even if Nikias could hear it, he couldn’t translate it.

Then her eyes rolled in the back of her skull and she went completely limp.

Her husband shook his head and quickly lifted her up and hurried her out and back into the temple.

The crowd, though, seemed hesitant to resume the festivities.

Nikias only felt the burning.

“Breathe.”

The word was in his language.

Nikias did so, only realizing after he had that his vision had been going black from a lack of the action.

His vision cleared to see black curls with gold lilies and a neck scarred by his orders in front of him.

He immediately bowed his head and murmured, “Pax Marcella.”

She had a wry smile and continued speaking in his tongue, “Like it better than she-wolf.”

He knew she could see the shame-filled flush crawling up his neck.

Marcella just looked over her shoulder at where the demon had appeared. “She is gone. She has… not been well. She must have had a vision. Such things come with Sight. Or rather her obsession with her Sight. Force the ability, pay with health.”

Her abominable ability. At least it caused her harm for all the gain it had brought her.

“Is there something…” Nikias asked, slowly looking up. He did not know why she would have approached even if there was something she needed.

She shook her head. “No. Just… few know what it is to have suffered her. I am one. After all that has happened… Gavril told me. You will marry. And we may choose Areator. Thank you.”

Nikias shook his head. “You should never thank me, not for anything. It is all a pittance compared to what I owe you. I am sorry for everything I did. I was so wrong about everything.”

“What do you owe me? You have made mistakes. I have too. I am not innocent. It is war. No one is. But as someone we both love told me about the things we do to end wars… I hope that the people I have done them to will find a way to forgive me for them. Let us begin over. Will make rest easier.”

Nikias couldn’t quite decipher her meaning.

She sighed, frowning, and then said, “When we return to Areator.”

“You’ve decided?”

She nodded and smiled. She gestured behind her to where the demon and her husband had been. “Yes. My new brother offered, and at some point I would like to spend time with my people again, but your father—you will need Gavril. And I think he will forgive you better by seeing you be better. Besides, the academy is Gavril’s favorite place, and I think it might be mine too.”

“I… You want me to be forgiven?”

Marcella nodded. “I have. I should like to have yours. For what happened. Whatever Hypatia did… I know it was likely somehow worse than what you had done to me. Forgive me for forcing your hand to it.”

“There is nothing for me to forgive you for.”

“I disagree.”

“Then you are forgiven if you desire that. I do not blame you. Only myself and the demon. You I thank for ensuring it was me and not Gavril or Aimilia.”

Marcella smiled at that. “Then, even?”

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