“He does not seem a… candidate for such an ambition. While he might not have always gotten along with Ilias, as your advisor, I must say that I do not believe he would ever harm your father or hisskiá,” Dio assured Riordan.
“I agree,” Riordan assured them, his voice gentle as he looked at his angry sister. “He will be kept comfortable as we determine the exact role he plays in this scheme.”
“You will question him yourself?” Dio asked Riordan, and he looked relieved as the king nodded. “That is good. You have always had a good instinct for the character of other people. I trust you will clear him.”
“I want to see him.Now,” Rhea demanded.
“You cannot. He is being kept in a secure location,” Riordan insisted with firm sympathy.
“That is for the best,” Dio insisted when Rhea opened her mouth to object further. “Nikos is one of the more powerful among us, and I will admit to being suspicious of him when you experienced interference,” Dio admitted to Riordan. “However, a scheme of this magnitude does seem rather beyond the boy.Unless he is unwitting in his part or was taken in by zealots,” he amended. “It is best that he is not able to communicate with any conspirators he may be in league with,” he explained kindly to Rhea.
“Has he said anything about the whereabouts of your father or Markos?” Andromeda asked her son.
It was the first time I’d seen her betray any feelings at all concerning her missing mates. Riordan had confirmed already that she could still feel them, but she claimed the link was strangely muted. The last communication she’d had from either of them was from Markos when he woke up that morning. Since then, there was nothing.
It was always strange to me how so many Imítheos could treat their lovers so coolly. There were exceptions, like Dio and Hermes. But most of the Imítheos acted as if affection and any emotion aside from anger was private and shameful. So it was refreshing to see concern in the eyes of the Queen Mother, even if she tried to hide it.
“Nothing yet. He said he was asked to meet my father there at his apartment but… He burned the letter, so there is no proof of that,” Riordan lied effortlessly.
Sometimes it unnerved me how deceptive he could be. If I did not have enough access to his mind to know if he ever tried to be deceitful with me, then perhaps I would have been more concerned.
“It seems… odd he would burn the letter,” Dio noted with a glance at Rhea who glared forbiddingly at him.
“The apartment was torn apart. Someone was looking for something,” Riordan added cautiously.
“Any idea what it could have been?” Dio asked.
“No. But it is reasonable to suppose his disappearance has to do with me.”
“You do write to one another frequently,” Dio mused, not bothering to hide his curiosity. “I can confirm that his prolonged absence has caused some speculation that he is in Erétriafor reasons other than his official duties. So it is not unreasonable to suspect someone with ill intentions for you might find him to be a person of interest.”
Dio raised his brows at Riordan in a wordless question that I could almost hear him ask aloud.
Is there something going on that I should know about?
“A son cannot write to his father without suspicion?” Riordan asked with a flawless aura of nonchalance.
“Not when he is a king. Everything you do is cause for speculation,” Dio answered seriously, even as he tried to control his own smirk, and then he sobered. “But perhaps it would be good to search the apartment in Árgos where Nikos was staying. Hisskiáhas joined him here now?”
“He has,” Riordan acknowledged.
“That is good. I also heard you combined your power with those of your mate to devastating effect! I did not know such a thing was even possible, but I know little of witch magic,” admitted Dio with immense intrigue.
Amira’s heritage as a Dowrra was something we had decided to keep quiet. Especially now when there was a chance that she was being targeted by someone who was coming after Riordan.
“Oh yes, the witch is impressive,” muttered Rhea with a roll of her eyes. “That does not mean she was a suitable mate for you to choose or that she should be in command of the King’s Council! I still cannot believe she had the gall to order you away from the council chamber as if you had not ruled it for centuries!” she said to Andromeda.
“Our mother is no longer the queen,” Riordan stated. His tone was sharper and blunter than it usually was when he spoke to Rhea, and she certainly noticed. She stared at him in surprise at the change. “And Amira is my mate. She is my partner and equal in all things. I love her, Rhea, and I will not tolerateanyonedisparaging her in this way. She has done wonderful things for our people—”
“For Ktínos in the Rookery,” Rhea clarifiedsharply with a quick flick of her disapproving eyes up at me.
“Who are our people,” Riordan sighed in exasperation, shaking his head.
“I actually quite like her,” Dio interceded when Rhea glared at her brother as if in disgust with his statement. “Amira complements you in many ways,” Dio added to Riordan with a fond smile. “She has been a delight.”
Rhea seemed to have much more to say on the subject but wisely decided to keep her mouth shut. My blood was already boiling, and I did not think it would go over well if I were to unleash a verbal tirade on the princess.
“What are your thoughts on Castor?” Riordan asked his advisor. The change in subject from Amira made Rhea sink into her seat with her arms crossed in dejection.
