Page 163 of A Vow of Embers

I used the washroom and then went to Io’s bedroom to find my adelphia ready and waiting for me.

“Time to go!” Io announced cheerily. She seemed most excited to return and I understood. The temple was probably the first place where she had ever felt safe, given what she had grown up with.

As her brother was fond of pointing out, I had taken that away from her when I’d arrived. And now she’d had to follow me back to the palace, potentially putting herself at risk again. I considered trying to talk her into staying at the temple, but I knew she wouldn’t.

We went down to the front gate and guards unlocked the two massive doors and pulled them apart.

To reveal that Antiope stood there with temple guards, waiting for us.

“I hear I’m supposed to escort some acolytes back to the temple,” she said, and the only reason I didn’t rush over and hug her was that I knew she wouldn’t like it.

Io didn’t share in my concern and ran over to our battle master and embraced her tightly. “It’s good to see you again!”

Antiope grimaced and awkwardly patted Io before she stepped away from her. “We should hurry. I don’t like being out in the open like this. Troas is not a safe place for women. Especially a princess.”

I saw the panic on Io’s face. No one at the temple knew Io’s background, and she would be kicked out if they did. It probably feltscary to have her two worlds connect in this way. She relaxed when she realized that Antiope had been referring to me.

And I didn’t believe Antiope’s supposed concern because I suspected that it would absolutely thrill her if someone attacked us and she got to slaughter everyone who would dare.

“Wait!” a voice called behind us.

Xander and his phratry, along with a large contingent of soldiers, marched toward us. He had on a full set of armor and so many weapons that it made me feel a little weak-kneed.

“What are you doing?” I asked when he came over to me.

“Escorting you. We’ll wait outside the temple until you’re done.” He lowered his voice so that only I could hear him. “I need to be nearby in case someone tries to kill you so that I don’t wind up dead, too.”

But somehow his sister had managed to overhear him. “Actually, there’s something about that you should know, Xander.”

Chapter Fifty-Three

“Io!” I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”

She protested but I didn’t let go of her until we were far enough away from her brother.

“What are you doing?” I asked her. “You can’t tell him.”

“Why?”

“Because ...” Because if he decided to heed her advice, I knew that I would be unable to resist. And I couldn’t let things go that far. I glanced back at him. If I did ... I would never recover. My heart would be forever, irretrievably lost to me.

Not to mention the pesky being-put-to-death aspect.

Antiope told the guards to head out, expecting that we would follow. We did, with Xander and his men staying back, bringing up the rear.

My emotions and reactions were already so out of control. I would not be his pet, following him around, hoping for a few kind words or a smile, everything in my life centered around him and whether he would deign to give me attention. I wouldn’t let myself suffer the pain of caring about him when he did not return that feeling.

“And if your brother and I ... did what you wanted, you know what the results would be.” I nodded toward Antiope. The temple guards being here to escort us was a stark reminder of the life-ending consequences if I did ever give in to temptation.

“Xander would never let them touch you,” she said confidently.

That tactic wasn’t going to work, so I resorted to what I had left. “You vowed you would keep my secrets. You can’t tell him what you read.”

I could see the internal battle she waged. She wanted us to separate our physical link. Her desire to protect both of us warred with the promise she had made to me.

She finally said, “I will not tell him.” I knew that it had cost her something to make that choice.

“Thank you.” We walked for a little while and then I said in a soft voice, “You should also know that I find it extremely disturbing that you are advocating for me to have sex with your brother.”