Page 157 of A Vow of Embers

“Yes,” I immediately agreed. “Let me get dressed.”

I went behind my dressing screen and changed into a training tunic. There were so many things that had happened in the last day that I didn’t want to let myself think about. My wild kisses with Xander, his secret confessions, the way he had comforted me this morning ...

Io’s revelation was too much. I felt as if I were going to break. I hoped hitting things would improve my mood.

When I came back out, Ahyana invited herself along. Suri and Io were going to stay behind and keep searching.

“Are you going to speak to the prince about our invitation to the temple to watch the tribute race?” Zalira asked.

“Yes.” I would welcome the opportunity to escape the palace. If he said no ... I didn’t know what I would do. But I wanted to go back. To search the fountain. To ask Maia some questions.

To try and feel like myself again.

I had felt disconnected and adrift since I’d come here and hoped that returning to the temple might fix some of that.

“What if Stephanos is training today?” Ahyana asked her sister. I glanced over at Zalira to see her reaction. She had been hiding away from him since her arrival. She lifted her chin slightly.

“If he’s there, I’m going to talk to him. We are going to have to find a way to exist around each other for as long as I’m here.”

Although I knew she didn’t mean her words as a rebuke to me, they still felt a bit like one. I also needed to find a way to exist with Xander. Maybe that would mean going back to ignoring each other instead of constantly fighting.

“We’re here for you if you need us,” I told her.

As we approached the gymnasium, I saw that all of Xander’s phratry were with him. I immediately tensed up. I didn’t want Thrax to be here. I was still coming to terms with what Xander had told me, fighting off the hurt that my own sister hadn’t confided in me.

Xander spotted me and he turned and said something to Thrax. A moment later, Thrax left.

I was grateful for the reprieve.

Rokh immediately came over and greeted all of us but only had eyes for Ahyana.

“And there is my shining gem, the most beautiful jewel of all the jewels,” he said to her, and she giggled. “Would you like to train with me?”

She nodded and they ran off together. I wanted to warn her to be careful but I didn’t think she would listen.

Nor was I in a position to give anyone else advice. My own life was a complete mess.

Stephanos stepped forward. “Good morning, Zalira.”

Her smile was tight and she nodded. “Stephanos. It’s good to see you.”

His entire face lit up at her words. I saw the hope in his eyes. “May I speak to you alone?”

She pulled in a deep breath. “Yes.”

I tried to send her silent support but she was entirely focused on him.

“You wondered why security has been so relaxed lately?” Xander asked. I ignored the way he looked in his training pants. “I think it’s because my brothers have been totally distracted by your sisters.”

I didn’t say anything, mostly because at the moment my tongue felt too big for my mouth. Which only got worse when I felt his gaze on my legs. Tiny bumps rose all over my exposed skin.

This might have been a mistake. I waited for him to make a remark, like that maybe my tunic was too short and I should go and change.

He didn’t.

And I stood there, thinking of what my sisters had just encouraged me to do, and felt incredibly awkward. Like he would be able to look at my face and see all the different things I was imagining doing with him.

Dolion was about twenty feet away shooting arrows at a target. He hit it dead center. Then he split the first arrow with a second. Then the second with a third. He was incredibly precise.