Cassandra yanked on Polydorus (already a strapping adolescent boy at eight) until he dropped the dagger he held.

His upturned eyes bored into her, a combination of fear and loathing in their depths.

Her brother's apparent dislike of her stabbed Cassandra's heart like always, but she ignored the old wound.

"What do you think you were doing?" she demanded.

Polydorus puffed out his chest. "Practicing."

"For?"

But Cassandra didn't have to ask.

Though the King had forbidden it (to placate the Queen), Polydorus one day planned to fight alongside his older brothers. Hector had already taught him how to defend himself, but not for the reasons Polydorus thought.

Polydorus struggled in Cassandra's grip. "It's none of your concern. Unhand me!"

Cassandra dropped to her knees before her brother, her hand still clamped tight around his left wrist. The image of his decapitated body crossed her mind like it always did whenever she stared at him too long.

Since the vision she'd had after his birth, Cassandra had done everything to change his destiny, yet he fought her at every turn.

Sometimes, she wondered if her actions drove him more toward his grisly fate, but she loved him too much to not try.

"You'll get your day when you're older. Why are you so eager for the battlefield?"

Polydorus opened his mouth, but a shout from behind them distracted him.

The siblings turned, and the sight of a furious Polyxena approaching met them.

The eighteen-year-old reached the pair and took hold of Polydorus' free wrist. She towered over Cassandra's crouched form.

"Why are you bothering him?"

The venom in her sister's voice felt like a slap but wasn't unexpected.

In the years of the war, she couldn't remember a time when Polyxena hadn't treated her like a pile of horse dung. Most often she ignored Cassandra, yet she never held her tongue when she had a biting comment.

Cassandra wished she knew who'd turned her sister against her. Long ago, she'd even exhausted herself trying to find the culprit. A small part of Cassandra, though, thought she'd done the damage herself.

Once, back after Polyxena had just turned thirteen, she'd cornered her sister and asked, but Polyxena had laughed in her face.

"He was sneaking off the palace grounds," Cassandra said. She pointed at the fallen dagger. "He planned to go make trouble with that."

Polyxena snorted. "And? You used to hunt in the woods all the time. How is this any different?"

"I wasn't his age doing that."

"The age doesn't matter, you hypocrite."

"Father and Mother don't want him doing this."

Polyxena bent her face close to Cassandra's. "Are you going to tattle on him?"

Cassandra's gaze narrowed. "I will if it'll keep him safe."

Polyxena smirked. "I don't think our parents will care much when I reveal where you went with Helenus the other day."

As one of Cassandra's first prophecies had shown, Polyxena had grown into a stunning woman, with a face the perfect combination of Priam and Hecuba. Yet the coldness in her features made her seem less beautiful and more like a creature waiting to pounce.

Her sister's threat didn't shock Cassandra. Polyxena went to great lengths to protect Polydorus from the illness she thought Cassandra had. She contradicted every word Cassandra spoke to their youngest brother, and on over one occasion Polyxena had even assaulted Cassandra to rescue Polydorus.

Cassandra sighed. "I just don't want him to get hurt. Why does that make me an awful person?"

"Because you can't even look after yourself." Polyxena tugged hard on Polydorus, and Cassandra let the boy go. "His welfare is my concern, not yours. Don't bother him again."

"But—"

Polyxena spun around and, with Polydorus in tow, marched away from Cassandra. They found a path that would lead them to a grove just outside the palace walls the King had declared safe. In a short time, Cassandra knew Polydorus would escape Polyxena and venture into more dangerous territory—he always did.

What if today was the day the boy died?

Cassandra didn't want that on Polyxena's conscious, but she couldn't think of a way to intervene that wouldn't cause more problems.

So, she watched her siblings leave; her mind whirled with prayers. If Eileithyia had come through for Hecuba, another god might look after her siblings.

Cassandra stood and gazed in the direction Polyxena and Polydorus had left after they'd disappeared.

Lost in deep thought, she didn't hear Othryoneus' approach.

She jumped when he tapped her on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry I scared you," he said when Cassandra faced him.

Cassandra frowned. "I'm not scared, just startled. What do you want?"

Annoyance dripped from her words, and she didn't care about her rudeness. Cassandra had told Othryoneus to leave her be four days ago and had expected him to return home. Coroebus had the day before, but the prince had been so taken with Troy's hospitality he'd vowed to aid Priam however he could. Othryoneus had made a similar offer, yet still, he remained at the palace.

Othryoneus smiled. "Have you eaten?"

"Why?"

"I'd like to dine with you."

"I can't. I have... devotions to perform."

Cassandra hadn't planned to until later in the day, but it gladdened her to use the excuse now. All the other suitors she'd told of her religious activities had lost interest in her.

Even if Othryoneus didn't find it unattractive, he couldn't want to —

"May I join you?" he asked.

"It's personal."

"Then can I just watch? I could learn a thing or two. I'm not very good with prayers."

"It'll be a long day."

She spoke the truth. Today she'd planned to pray to the most powerful gods.

Othryoneus shrugged. "I have time."

Cassandra longed to yell at him but swallowed her discontent.

She nodded and gestured for him to follow her. She didn't check to see if he kept up as she hurried to Aesacus' chambers. Cassandra took the long way in the hope the twists and turns confused the suitor, and he got lost.

Her wish was dashed when she reached the door to Aesacus' chambers and found him right behind her. Cassandra groaned under her breath, then opened the door.

The two servants Cassandra had ordered to set up the altar room bowed to both her and Othryoneus, and Cassandra dismissed them.

She pointed at the far-left corner. "Please remain over there for the duration of my devotions."

Othryoneus nodded. "Anything you say, my Lady."

After he situated himself, Cassandra performed her routine. She lit candles and burned herbs. Then Cassandra went about her offerings and chants.

She took longer than usual to irritate Othryoneus, but every time she glanced at her suitor, he grinned and gave a brief wave.

By the time she finished, Cassandra's mood had turned as dark as the sky outside.

As she cleaned the room, Othryoneus left his corner and stood in Cassandra's line of sight. He made to help her, but she stopped him.

"No, I like to do this myself."

"Fine." Othryoneus leaned against a wall. "So, if I'm correct, you prayed to the Olympians today."

"Yes."

"But not to all of them."

Cassandra paused her actions but didn't comment. She braced herself for the following question.

"You even prayed to The Rich One but snubbed two of the most powerful gods. Why? That doesn't seem wise."

Cassandra glared at him. "I don't think it's any of your concern."

"I'm not trying to condemn you. I only worry you're causing problems for yourself."

Cassandra passed him the supplies she held. "Thank you for your concern. And today was so much fun, but I'm tired now. Goodnight."

Othryoneus called out, but Cassandra steps didn't falter as she exited the room.

She told a servant she crossed paths with to check on her suitor and to finish cleaning the altar room. Then she continued to her bedchamber, all while thinking Othryoneus couldn't want to pursue her any longer.