“Those are definitely not visions. She started speaking likethat after she came here,” Sofia assured me, but I was simply not convinced.
“So then who is Hypatia?” I asked her.
“That would be theenuksha,” Helena spoke up behind us when Sofia shrugged unknowingly. The look that the warrioress gave me let me know that she agreed with me. Despoina’s mutters, while disorganized, were simply too uncanny not to be worth listening to.
“Then I guess I need to go see theenuksha,” I mused as the guard reached down to lift me into her arms.
“You will have to ask the king. I absolutely refuse to take you against his wishes,” Helena warned me.
Sofia smirked as I narrowed my eyes on Helena while she lifted me into her arms. “Why?”
“Why?” Helena nearly choked out as her golden eyes widened at me. “After the king, Hypatia is perhaps the next most powerful being in all the Vale! And I do not see Riordan being comfortable with you visiting her alone.”
“Fine. I will ask him. Although I resent it.”
“So glad to know you resent my determination to keep my head attached to my shoulders,” Helena muttered.
She launched into the air before I could reply.
Chapter twenty-six
THE SOCIAL SPHERE
Amira
“Aball seems like such a prudent use of our time when we are under attack from every angle!” I mused with sarcastic enthusiasm.
“Indeed,” sighed Sofia who was past trying to console me and merely rolled her eyes at me.
“This is unbelievable!” I continued, my voice going a little shrill with my frustration.
“The Imítheos are nothing if not impractical. I am not sure why you are surprised anymore,” Helena chastised me in exasperation, and Ares chortled beside her.
“We literally have Fuath amassing and marching on us, we are dealing with possible insurrection, theWild Hunt, and I am to drink and dance like nothing is wrong?”
“Yes! Because if you behave like a shrew here tonight, then it will reflect poorly on your king! Now, chin up!” Sofia encouraged me and stepped away before I replied. “Her Majesty, Amira Kelley, the Queen Consort, and her personal entourage,” she told the door attendant with far more manners than she ever showed me anymore.
The Imítheos guard eyed Helena and Ares skeptically, but he opened the door and announced our entrance.
“From brutes wallowing in the mud to an entourage of theQueen Consort. Not bad,” Ares smirked to Helena.
“Do not make a scene tonight,please,” Sofia hissed at him out of the corner of her mouth since people were still watching us enter the room.
“Me? Ascene? Now, you know that is not like me,” Ares chuckled with his distinctive mischievousness that suggested he would make a scene if it pleased him.
Sofia fumed beside me, but she managed to hold her temper until the next person was announced and most of the eyes strayed from our party. Then she pivoted to put herself nose to chest with Ares whose brows rose.
“Have I told you how hard I had to fight to get you and Helena an invitation tonight? Try to behave or it will be onmyhead!” she snapped at him.
I had not known she had to go through such trouble. Perhaps that was why she seemed so stressed tonight.
“You have not said as such. HaveItoldyouhow much that dress makes me want to rip it off you with my teeth?” he replied with his typical razor-sharp smile. And I swore, steam whistled out of her ears as her face went red with barely contained anger.
“HaveItoldyouhow your smug face makes me want topunchit?” she retorted.
“Have I told you—” he began again, clearly enjoying riling her far too much.
“Goodgods! Enough, you two!” Helena snapped, just as I was starting to be entertained. “Fuck each other or get over one another. I do not care which you do!”
