Read Online The Pandora Curse (Greek Myth Series Book 4) by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page B

guessed was supposed to resemble a snap.
    “I apologize,” Nikolai said, shaking his head to clear it.
    “You were thinking of her, weren’t you?”
    “I was just trying to wake up.” He walked over to the washbasin and decided to change the subject before Baruch asked what happened last night. He didn’t want that tale of lust getting back to his mother. “So how’s your tail? Did Hera help you?”
    “Hera fixed it. But it’s still sore. She told me to keep a better eye on you. She has the feeling you’re going to go foul with this plan.”
    Nikolai splashed water onto his face, liking the cool bite of the morning chill. It brought him back into the moment and kept him away from his hot, steamy dreams.
    “The only thing foul around here is your breath. Now stop pestering me. I’ve got work to do.”
    A knock sounded at the door, and Nikolai wiped his face in a rag and hurried to open it. He turned around first and nodded to Baruch. “Take cover.”
    The minion shot him a disgruntled look and hopped off the bed. Nikolai pulled open the door to find Calanthra standing there with a smile on her face and a plate of bread and cheese in her hands.
    “Calanthra. So nice to see you.” He leaned on the door frame with one arm, and her eyes traveled to his bare chest. He knew now he should have donned a tunic before opening the door.
    “I brought you some food since you slept through the first meal. I didn’t want you to go hungry.”
    “Well, that’s very thoughtful of you.”
    He reached out to take it, but another hand stopped him from doing so.
    “No! We have more important things to do.” Vara appeared from nowhere with a scowl on her face. Nikolai scowled too, as he was hungry.
    “I’m sorry, my lady, I thought you would want him to eat.” Calanthra bowed her head and backed away with the food.
    “Wait, Calanthra.” Vara reached out and took the platter. “All right, you may go now.”
    After the girl left, Nikolai spoke. “Vara, what do you want?” He noticed her attention focused on his bare chest.
    “I want to talk in private. Now let me in.” She pushed past him into the room and Nikolai had no choice but to let her enter. He closed the door, looking around for the minion.
    “I want you to escort me to the competition games in Athens today.” She sat down on the bed and started eating the food. His food. His stomach growled just watching her.
    “Athens is a good day’s journey. We won’t make it there until sundown.”
    “I understand that. But the competition doesn’t start until late tomorrow. That will give us plenty of time to get there. Besides, we cannot leave until later in the day. I have to attend to a problem in the dungeon with my prisoners. It seems they are getting unruly. And the Corinthians who now serve me have been plotting behind my back. Zetes has overheard talk that a rebellion is in the planning.”
    “Well, can you really blame them? After all, this is their kingdom, and you are the outsider here.” Nikolai reached out for some bread, but she slapped his hand away and kept eating.
    “This is my kingdom now, and I will not have you speaking differently.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest and waited. She looked up, chewing slowly, then finally handed him a very small piece of bread. Disappointed and starving, he took it.
    “My advice to you is to let the prisoners go. Or were you planning on killing them off one by one?”
    “I don’t know what I plan on doing yet. But it is none of your concern.” She continued to chew, but he could see she was in deep thought. “If I let them go, they would surely turn against me.”
    “Not necessarily. But then again, you have done some terrible things. And I don’t think the king of Corinth is going to just leave his castle walls and let you rule in his place. So mayhap you do have a problem on your hands.”
    “What do you see in your crystal orb? Tell me what you see happening pertaining to the