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Hands grabbed and put me back on my feet. They didn’t belong to Alexander. He was too busy smirking his ass off.
“There isn’t a hole in my pants,” I gritted.
He shrugged. “No, but don’t you wish you could do a lot worse than dismiss me for lying to your face? See, no one likes a deceiving piece of shit. Admit it or you’re a hypocrite.”
“Oh, I’m going to admit a few things to you, Jackass. Clear your schedule for the week.”
If anything, his smirk widened. “I’ll take a rain check on that. Now stop stalling.” He grabbed hold of my arm. “Get through the gates.”
That’s rich accusing me of stalling while he’s spinning tales about my milky-pale ass. All the same, I did appreciate the extra minutes outside the gates. They gave me a few precious moments to think of a way out.
There are guards on either side of me. If I run, I won’t make it two feet. If by some miracle I did slip through their net, the only place to go would be miles and miles of woods with no food, water, or map. The nymphs would be taunting my starving corpse in a week’s time. There was no stopping this.
Alexander and I stepped off the dirt path onto the stone steps.
All I could do now was find a way to escape the inescapable fortress.
“You did it.” I tugged free of him and was mildly surprised that he actually let me go. “You can run off now. But before you go.” I stepped in his path. “I just want to say... that I despise you and it’s my deepest wish that you eat a plate of tainted meat and shit for so long and hard, that you blow a hole through your pants.”
Alexander laughed so hard, he wheezed. It was an adorable sound that made me want to slap him.
“Goodbye, Alexander.” I took his hand and shook it. “I hope we never meet again.”
“Oh, sweet Aella,” he crooned. “What is it I told you? The fact that you want it makes me disinclined to give it to you. I’m not going anywhere.” His voice reached me over a dull ringing in my ears. “We’re spending the next four years together.”
“Xander? Hey, Xander, over here.”
“You would do that?” I croaked. “Post yourself outside my room for four years just to make sure I don’t run? Does everyone in the army have your dedication to stopping deserters!”
“I’m not in the army. Not yet anyway. I’m a novice just like you.” My sluggish brain recounted his age, placing it smack next to mine. “But it’s cute you think I care about you that much.”
I tossed my head. “Wait. No. If you’re only eighteen, why were you riding with the watchers? Why were Jason and Castor obeying your orders, and how do you have the authority to dismiss him? More than that, what gives you the right to change my sentence and bring me here?”
“Goodness, did you reign as queen of the cave people? I have every right and all the authority. My father is the Zeus councilman, Maximos Damien. He’s leader of the twelve, the most powerful demigod alive, and heads the only high-governing body in Olympia.”
My sluggish mind did more recounting, more adjustments, and did not like what it concluded. I did know of Maximos, but I never heard of his son. The man standing before me.
“Xander!”
“As the one set to take his seat one day, tell me who would dare disobey me?” A slow grin curled those lips. “Or call me a jackass?”
“Xander, did you hear me calling you?”
I looked up as a cloud of rose scent hit my nose, heralding the arrival of the most glamorous woman I’d ever seen. Her flowy, bloodred dress billowed behind her—marking a path through the people stopping and staring. Hair the color of roasting chestnuts fell around her shoulders, framing big brown eyes, an upturned nose, and a small mouth twisted in distaste.
“What’s this?” She raked me up and down. “Go away.”
“Wow. Nice to meet you too.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s nice to meet me, but I couldn’t give a shit who you are. I said go away.” She shoved my forehead, nearly popping me off my feet. “Come on, Xander. Everyone’s here already.”
She led him off, leaving me the one standing there in shock and confusion. What the hell was that!
I fumed for a full minute. The length of time it took me to peel my eyes off her, and glance toward the gates. Theopengates.
My anger faded. Was it that simple? Did I just have to walk back out?
I took a step. Then two. No one called out or stopped me.
