He couldn’t let this attraction to Ariadne progress any further.For the sake of his Court, he had to marry Queen Hippolyta.It was the only way to guarantee the help of the swordmaidens.
“Ariadne, I…” He cleared his throat as she knelt to lock the shackles around his ankles once again.
“Yes?”She glanced up at him before turning her attention back to the chains.
What should he say?Did she even feel this same attraction that he did?Or would she just find it awkward if he said something?He coughed, his tongue all but stuck to the roof of his mouth.“Never mind.”
Ariadne stood, grimacing as she gathered up his dirty clothes and dumped them in the bowl half-filled with muddy water.She set the damp towel and empty pitcher on top before she picked up the whole bundle of stuff.She left his cell, locking his door behind her.
Theseus gathered his thoughts, his chest tight.“Ariadne?”
She turned and raised her eyebrow again.“Finally found your tongue?”
He couldn’t give in to the invitation to banter.“I have to win Queen Hippolyta’s hand.It is too important to my Court.”
He had expected hurt to flash across her eyes, her shoulders to slump, or perhaps even tears to form.
Instead, the corners of her mouth twitched, as if she was fighting a smirk.“I know.”
With a swift, precise turn, she headed for the stairs.The last glimpse Theseus had was of her long blonde braid swinging across her back.
ChapterSeven
Theseus stood in the center of a colosseum.The sandy floor crunched beneath his feet.Swordmaidens and servants filled the tiers of benches formed of white stone.The black-haired, cold queen stared down at him from her dais.
He adjusted his grip on his sword’s hilt, willing his palm to remain unsweaty.This was his final test, and he had no choice but to win.His Court’s survival depended on his victory.
A door opened in the stone wall surrounding the combat arena.A figure dressed in leather combat armor sauntered toward him, her head high, her grip on her sword relaxed.Her golden hair was wound in many braids around her head, the braids studded with winking diamonds.
Ariadne.
Except…Theseus studied her more closely.Her swaggering confidence.Her smirk glinting in her eyes.
The pieces and hints he’d stashed away for thought fell into place with each step she took toward him.
The swordmaiden he had known as Ariadne halted in front of him, her mouth twisting into a smirk.“Well, King Theseus?Are you ready for your final trial?”
“It is an honor to fight you.”Theseus held her gaze as he added, “Queen Hippolyta.”
Her smirk widened, and she languidly swung her sword.“I am the queen of the Court of Swordmaidens.Of course I will be fighting for my own hand.”
She glanced at the dais and nodded.
The fake Queen Hippolyta—most likely the real Ariadne—stood, then stepped aside, taking her place next to the throne as one of the queen’s guards.
Theseus tightened his grip on his sword and faced Ariadne—no, Hippolyta.It had taken him far too long to realize the truth.But the signs had all been there.The way the servant he had known as Ariadne was clearly a swordmaiden in disguise.The time she spent with him each day, as if trying to get to know him.The way the fake Hippolyta had barely interacted with him.All the little tricks Hippolyta had played on him all along, each one yet another test, including hiding her identity.
He might have been angrier at all the trickery if he hadn’t been so relieved to find that he had been fighting for her hand—not the hand of that cold-eyed swordmaiden—all along.
It would come down to this.His skill against hers.
He had no hope of truly beating her in a sword fight.She had, after all, dedicated her life to learning the ways of the sword and battle.He was the king of a court of librarians.While he had some training, it had not been his focus nor his purpose.
Would she let him win?Would she give him her hand?She knew how important this was for his Court.Surely she felt the same attraction that he did.
Hippolyta prowled in a circle around him in graceful strides.“I ask again, King Theseus.Are you ready?I will even let you call the start.”
It wasn’t fair the way her smirking mouth heated his blood and sent his thoughts everywhere but battle.If she felt a similar distraction when she faced him, she didn’t show it.She was all deadly grace and beautiful boldness, now that her true identity had been revealed.
