Page 114 of Thief of Hearts

Was that enough for me? Had imaginary Lia been right? Was I holding on to anger I didn’t need to keep? I’d heard the real Lia express her regret many times that she had been so mad at Xander for so long, she wished she had communicated better with him and found out the truth long before she did.

“I could always go on another quest for you,” he offered. “Win your favor again.”

“You remember that now?”

He nodded. “I remember everything from that night.”

“What did you do with the pig?”

“I put him back where I’d found him.”

“Oh.” It still stung a little that he’d given it to me only to snatch it away.

“And I did almost take an arrow for you during the final event.”

Such an exaggeration. “That arrow was nowhere near you and it wasn’t meant for me. You can’t take something you’ve done and bank it for future offenses you commit.”

“Fair enough.”

The words from last night kept running through my head. I didn’t like being angry. I wanted to enjoy my life, and anger kept that from happening. But I didn’t think I was ready to forgive him yet.

“Thank you,” I finally said. “For your apology.”

“You’re welcome,” he responded quietly. “Now, back to you using your goddess’s fighting aspect.”

“Yes.” I had forgotten we’d even talked about that. I dropped my sword on the table so that I wouldn’t have a weapon in my hand. I let out a deep breath and then said, “Invara Enyalius.”

I stood and waited.

“Nothing’s happening,” I finally said.

“Do you feel like you want to attack something?”

“No more so than usual.”

“That means yes,” he said. He came over to me and looked at my face. “Your eyes aren’t steel gray like they were the last night of the tournament.”

“So it isn’t working.” That was a disappointment. The rest of Lia’s adelphia only had one aspect, so it made sense that I would as well. I had been hoping it might be different because Invara wasn’t Dea.

There was a knock at the door.

“I’m answering it,” Zain said, rushing over.

When he opened it, Dione came in. “I have news. The king has requested that you join him in his meeting room. He would like to talk to you about your journey. I also wanted to ask you, Queen Thalia, if you liked the pants I brought you.”

I assumed she had called me Queen Thalia for the benefit of anyone who might be listening in from the hallway, as Zain hadn’t closed the door.

That was why I should be in charge of it.

“Pants?” I repeated. “What is that?”

“They’re in this pile of clothes here, imported from Sasania. Epirian women will often wear them when thieving.” She held up what looked like a skirt that had been cut in half lengthwise and stitched back up.

“It’s too small.”

“They are supposed to be tight on you. Try them on.”

I took them and put them on under my tunic. They were comfortable and practical. “This is so much better! No more bare legs rubbing against a horse, no more dust and dirt flying up into my tunic, no accidentally exposing myself every time I have to kick someone in the face.”