AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Of course, it can be fixed, Aphrodite. Merely not in these conditions!” Damon tossed up his hands so as to remind me that we were on the side of the road. “Why on earth you could not wait is beyond my comprehension!”
“Will you please stop yelling at me—”
“I will not! For I am wet, cold, and covered in mud!” He now waved his hands at the dirt that had covered his bottom half and the rest of his body. “Aphrodite—what in heavens are you doing?”
I got out of the carriage, my feet nearly slipping as they sank into the mud. “I shall take one of the horses then.”
“You will do no such thing!”
“It is either that or walk!”
“My dear sister, can we please go home? He shall be there tomorrow—”
“If I go home, Mama will talk to me, then Papa, then you, or Hathor, and even Abena! And you all shall confuse my thoughts. I must go now,” I said, though I had no clue as to how to undo the horse. “Will you please help me with this?”
“I will not!”
“Must you be difficult right now, Damon?”
“Me, difficult? At present, Aphrodite, you have made yourself the queen of all things difficult!”
I glared at him a moment, the water from my hair dripping into my eyes. Tired of his complaining, I lifted my dress and turned to walk.
“Aphrodite!”
“If you do not seek to understand the urgency of my situation, that is fine. You may wait here. I truly would have come without you!”
“Aphrodite?”
I turned, as that was not my brother’s voice. Like a figure out of a myth, he appeared upon a dark horse—drenched as I was drenched, with no greatcoat—at the other end of the road, breathing harshly.
“Brilliant. The other difficult one has appeared,” Damon muttered.
I ignored him and looked to Evander.
“Where are you going?” I knew why I was attempting this madness, but what could have caused him to go into the rain as he was?
“To see you,” he replied, his eyes never shifting from mine.
“Why?”
“I have only now opened your letter.” He stepped closer. “Tell me you did not accept him.” It sounded as though he were hurt. “Aphrodite, I beg of you, please tell me you did not,” he whispered.
“I did not. Would I be here if I had?”
He released his breath. “Thank God.”
“Why are you thanking God I did not accept him?” I asked, clasping my cold hands together. “For I am not accepting you, either.”
“I do not understand. Then why are you here?”
“To demand the truth.” And now that I had said it, I was not going to back down. “You asked me for forgiveness, for a second chance. I will give neither until you tell me the truth from the beginning—all of it. I cannot make any decisions until then.”
“Aphrodite, I—”
“If you still refuse to explain, then that is it. You will find neither forgiveness nor a second chance. I swear it in all things.” I bit my lips to keep the tears back. “This will be the last time we speak.”
“Aphrodite, I wish to tell you, but I am afraid—”
