Page 24 of A Tribute of Fire

Jason shrugged. “Since I haven’t seen him, I can’t confirm if this is true or not. I lean toward believing it to be a fabrication.”

That wasn’t a no. The prince might very well be some kind of mythical monster from one of my grandmother’s stories. If Alexandros had looked at all like Jason, I might have considered changing my mind about my scheme.

And I hated that I thought it. I should not feel that way about an Ilionian.

“I’ve also heard that the king has a terrible temper and beats his children.” I said this in a low voice, not wanting to risk being overheard. A merchant had told me this one night after being deep in his cups, as if it were a giant secret. In Locris we valued our children. I couldn’t imagine how a parent would ever harm a child, especially their own.

“I’ve heard that rumor as well.”

It didn’t surprise me. If we’d heard it all the way here in Locris, it made sense that he would have heard it in Ilion.

“Where’s the other one?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure what he meant. “The other what?”

“The other princess. The captain mentioned something earlier about her being betrothed to Prince Alexandros and that we would be bringing him here in a couple of months. Then you and I can both get a good look at him and see if he’s part bull.”

I was not going to be here and I didn’t like Jason making it sound as if we’d be seeing each other again. There obviously wouldn’t be any future where someone like him and someone like me could be together. Not only because of our differences in station, but because I would not marry an Ilionian even if my life depended upon it. I glanced around the room, as if searching for someone.

“I don’t see her.”

He smiled. “I can’t imagine that she would be as beautiful as the woman the prince would like to marry.”

Why did part of me feel indignant that Prince Alexandros wanted to marry someone other than me? I didn’t want him either, but that seemed beside the point. “What is she like?”

“Chryseis? She is said to be the very image of the goddess—sweet, kind, and demure. They say that all the men of Ilion wish to make her theirs.”

“Do you wish it?”

“I’m a man of Ilion, aren’t I?” he asked with a wolfish grin that made my stomach flutter. I angrily told it to stop being attracted to a philandering man who stole kisses without consideration and was talking about how he wanted another woman.

“She’s Lykaon’s sister,” he added, and it made me dislike the prince even more. If this Chryseis was even a tiny bit like her awful brother, she didn’t deserve anyone’s undying devotion.

Although once the prince discovered that I had escaped our betrothal, maybe he wouldn’t take his anger out on my family—he would be free to wed his goddess-like harpy. It might be a good thing that there was someone else to distract him from my actions.

Not wanting to continue this conversation any further, I turned my back on Jason and returned to the food tables, intending to pile my plate high.

Realizing that he’d been dismissed, he decided to take one last swipe at me. “When you’re done with your chores this evening, let me know if you’ve changed your mind about sneaking off somewhere together. I’ll be at my ship.”

He walked away and I couldn’t help but stare after him. Chores? He assumed that I was a maid. To be fair, there was nothing in my dress or appearance that might make him think otherwise. And most princesses probably didn’t pull out weapons and threaten to kill people.

I wasn’t mad about that part, but I was infuriated by the notion that he thought I was so desperate for his kisses that I would go looking for him. How could he think I would ever voluntarily spend time with him again? I was more likely to burn his ship to the ground than I was to sneak onto it, trying to locate him.

Although I could picture myself doing just that.

With a groan, I forced myself to pay attention to the food. Demaratus would want me to eat as much meat as I could before I left. He believed that it strengthened a warrior going into battle.

And I was about to leap into the fray.

While I ate, I kept an eye on Lykaon and Kallisto. He was all easy smiles punctuated with laughter. I saw my sister’s shyness lift bit by bit as his charm worked on her. What special power did these Ilionian men possess? How did they know exactly what to say and do to make Locrian women let their defenses down?

I was as guilty of falling for it as anyone else.

My sister was too kind, too soft, for this sort of political game. Despite his outward veneer, her betrothed had a sly and calculating face.

Kallisto would never survive with him as her husband.

Quynh’s queries from last night had been haunting me the entire day. What would I do if my plan failed? Shouldn’t I tell my parents what I was going to do? Try to find another solution to save Locris and my family?

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