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Calix loped over with Ajax and a crowd of imperial heirs right behind him. To my astonishment, he dropped his plate down and claimed the seat next to a wide-eyed Theron.
“Hey, Cal,” Tycho said, voice shaking.
Cal didn’t even glance in his direction. Nothing new, but it did take on a new meaning considering what I walked in on the night before.
“What are we talking about?” Calix gritted, flicking from me to Alex. “Not gossiping or telling lies about people, are you, Aella Vanda?”
I blinked. “You know my name?”
He showed me his teeth. “I know all about you.”
And I know a threat when I hear one.
“Course I do,” Calix continued, clapping. “You’re the girl who stole Alexander Damien’s heart. In the five minutes he’s been sitting with his arm around you, you became the most talked about girl in Deucalion history.”
Alex laughed. “Nothing so intense as that. But what are you guys doing down here?”
“There is no down here or up there,” Ajax breathed, plopping down next to Nitsa. “Isn’t that what you’re always saying? We sit together, and if you’re sitting here, we’re sitting here. Besides...” Grinning, he winked at Nitsa. “The view down here is leagues better. Morning, lovely, where have I seen you before?”
“We uh— I uh— I was— I was— I lived—”
Tycho smothered a laugh. For all the times Nitsa made fun of him for being a stuttering mess around Calix, he had to be loving this.
Tycho glanced at a glaring Calix and dropped his grin immediately.
Elisavet came over and shoved between Nitsa and Ajax, putting an end to that conversation. “Are we seriously sitting here?” she snapped. “It’s disgusting over here. It stinks and— What the fuck is that?” she asked, wrinkling her nose at Nitsa’s food.
“It’s what they deign to serve us Sisypheans,” Ionna replied. “You know what? I’m glad you guys are sitting with us. You all think you’re fit to become the next rulers of Olympia? If so, you should learn about the struggles of all your people. Not just the nobles.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said again, stepping away from the table.
Calix was up and by my side in a blink. “I’ll walk with you.”
I lurched back. “There’s no need.”
“Please.” His expression softened. “It’s important, and you know why. Just hear me out.”
I flicked to Alex, who was looking at us. Calix was one of Alex’s best friends. Hearing him out, and reassuring him that I wouldn’t tell a soul, was the least I could do.
“Okay.” Calix fell in step with me. “Listen, right off, I want to say I would never tell anyone anything.”
“Why is that?” His tone was light, belying the tension in his shoulders. “You have information that can bring an imperial heir under your thumb indefinitely. Why wouldn’t you use that to your advantage? Anyone in your position would.”
“Only if theanyoneyou’re talking about is a shit-stain piece of garbage.”
He skipped a step on the stairs, brows furrowing at me.
“I would never ever, ever,everout someone,” I said. “I damn fucking sure wouldn’t blackmail or threaten anyone with what I saw.”
“What’s blackmail?”
“Never mind,” I said, stopping just short of the Hades eating area. “All I’m trying to say is that you can trust me. I know what it’s like to be surrounded by people who lie, trick, use, and cause others pain just because they can. I don’t want much in this life except to not be one of them.”
Calix studied me for a long time, expressionless. I couldn’t begin to guess what was going on in that handsome head of his, but I hoped he believed me. Ruining things between him and Tycho was the last thing I wanted to do.
“All right,” he said, so low I almost didn’t hear over the roar of the mess hall. “Thank you, Vanda, I... Thank you.”
Nodding, I gave him a little half-smile and turned to go. My thoughts immediately shifted to what I would say to Sebastian. It had to be enough to enlist his help without giving so much away that Selene freaked out and caused another full-scale riot just to throw some water in this face.
