Page 76 of A Vow of Embers

He made an exasperated noise. “It wouldn’t be anything we haven’t done before.”

Yes, when he had been trying to manipulate me into marriage. He had already pretended to enjoy kissing me once, so of course it wouldn’t be difficult for him.

It didn’t mean anything to the prince.

And I was scared that it would mean something to me.

“Some of us are not as practiced as others,” I said sarcastically. “I didn’t grow up kissing my way through the palace staff.”

His brows furrowed slightly. “You think I made a habit of kissing servants?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”

“I would never kiss a servant,” he responded, and I was surprised by the vehemence in his voice.

“Why?”

“Because she couldn’t refuse me as her prince. And I would never exploit someone that way.”

It wasn’t an answer I would have expected from him. I felt a tiny glimmer of respect and wanted to erase it. “You thought I was a servant in Locris and kissed me.”

“I wasn’t your prince. And you need to make up your mind. Have I always known who you were and tricked you or did I have no idea and thought you were a servant? You can’t have it both ways.”

And I didn’t have a comeback or response for him. Because he was right.

Demaratus had told me what to do in a fight like this. Exploit weaknesses. Find openings.

And if all else failed, run.

I chose the third option.

My adelphia had already dressed for the dinner with Erisa. It was strange to see them in so many different colors and styles, and they all looked stunning. Like they were sparkling gems from a jewelry box.

Parthenia was finishing up my hair while Io gave me instructions.

“Can’t we just have dinner here?” I asked. I did not want to spend the evening with Erisa.

“No. You have to go. If we turned down her invitation, she would see us as enemies.”

“I think she already does,” I said.

Io ignored me. “My stepmother always thinks she is the smartest person in the room. Let her continue to believe it. Subterfuge is important here. You are not a threat. You are unintelligent.”

I wanted to ask her, “Like how your brother prefers his women?” but didn’t. Because I wasn’t angry with her. I was angry with Alexandros.

Io came over and moved one of the flowers that Parthenia had pinned in my hair a few inches over. “You have to trust me. Erisa raised me. I know how to navigate that pit of vipers without getting bitten.”

Parthenia pulled up a section of my hair to weave it into the intricate braid she was forming at the crown of my head, and Io leaned forward. “What is that?”

She pointed to a spot on my neck and I looked at it in the mirror. There was a dark bruise forming where my neck met my shoulder. Odd. I hadn’t been hit there. I wasn’t sure where it had come from. “I don’t know.”

“Xander has one in the same spot. I thought maybe you two had done it to each other.”

I would have liked to be the reason he was bruised but it hadn’t been me.

Parthenia finished and patted me on my shoulders. “The god of desire will surely strike you tonight,” she said with a wink. “Call on me if you have need of my help later. Although I suspect you will not.”

I tried not to flush at her implication. With my adelphia here I had an entire roomful of people who could help me dress and undress. I thought I might be relying less on Parthenia going forward. Which was probably a good thing, as she didn’t know about my situation with Alexandros.