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He stiffened and fumbled his next step. To his credit, he recovered quickly, sweeping her in another turn as they followed the other couples around the dance floor.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sol said stiffly, his eyes fixed on a point above her head.
Her smile widened. “I think you do.”
His hand curled around hers, tightening in warning. “Trivia, don’t.”
“Don’t what? You called me Pandora. Am I supposed to forget that happened?”
“Yes,” he said between his teeth.
“Why?”
He growled something unintelligible, his eyes sweeping over the room as if worried someone would be eavesdropping. Then, quite suddenly, he tugged on her hand, pulling her off the dance floor and through the open doors that led to a wide balcony. The setting sun was low in the sky, reflecting a glistening array of amber and fuchsia in the roiling ocean. It was much quieter out here, and Pandora relished the open air, which finally allowed her to breathe after being surrounded by so many people.
“What’s going on, Sol?” she demanded. She was through with his games. Clearly, something had him frightened. And now, she was beginning to think it wasn’t her, but some other secret he was hiding.
Sol didn’t answer for a long moment. Carefully, he shut the balcony doors, sealing out the music and chatter from the ball. “I am leaving tonight,” he said, his face uncharacteristically sober.
Her mouth fell open. “What?”
“Apollo has already activated the portal for me. I’m to leave for the mortal realm immediately following the ball.”
Pandora was silent as she registered this information. She wasn’t sure what to say. She wanted to feel relief. After all, wasn’t this what she wanted—to be rid of him forever?
And yet, something tightened in her chest at the thought of parting from him so suddenly.
“Why are you telling me this?” Pandora asked, crossing her arms and frowning at him.
For the briefest of seconds, his eyes dipped to her breasts, and she realized that folding her arms had pressed them together, drawing his eye to her cleavage. She hastily dropped her arms, but Sol’s gaze had darkened with a hunger that made her toes curl.
“I’m telling you this to warn you. Whatever you think you heard in the library, you’re wrong. Do not ask questions. Do not dig further into this.”
She glared at him. “Is that a threat?”
His eyes widened. “What? No. It’s a warning. I’m trying to protect you.”
She snorted. “Protect me? Since when have you ever been concerned with someone other than yourself?”
He gritted his teeth, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “Fine. You’re right. See, this is why I never concern myself with others. If you want to get yourself killed, go right ahead. Forget I said anything.”
He strode past her toward the ballroom, but Pandora grabbed his arm to stop him.
“Sol.”
He paused, giving her a stony look over his shoulder.
“Please explain.” She tried to make her voice as tender as possible. This was not a time to goad him. If she wanted answers, she would need to play nice. She released his arm and looked at him with earnest curiosity. “I’m listening.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It had been slicked back, but with the motion, it became tousled and alluringly handsome. Pandora couldn’t help but let her eyes rove over the strands of hair that fell loosely around his face.
“I did know Pandora,” Sol said, his eyes fixed on the ocean below them.
Pandora stiffened, her blood running cold. The screams, the memories, threatened to overtake her once more. She stepped forward, gripping the railing of the balcony and forcing her thoughts to remain intact. She needed to be lucid for this discussion.
“That was hundreds of years ago, Sol,” she said weakly.
He nodded. “Yes. I am that old.” Amusement touched his voice.
