Heart of Fire (Blood of Zeus #2) - Meredith Wild Page 0,4

unfolding her arms haughtily. “It’s not good, but it changes things.”

“What things?” My voice wavers, giving away the worry that’s been plaguing me every hour since I broke my vow. “Are they coming for me?”

Maximus catches my hand in his, warm and possessive. I yearn to tuck in closer to him but don’t dare.

“I’ve managed to work something out with Arden.” My mother tucks her short black hair behind her ear, her expensive bracelets tinkling with the motion. “Though you left him in quite a mood when you ran off the other night. I had no idea how taken he was with you already.”

Maximus tightens his grasp, shifting himself in front of me a fraction, as if he can protect me from the mere mention of my betrothed.

“He’s not coming anywhere near her.”

“Why would he? She has nothing to offer him. You made sure of that,” she snaps.

If this topic wasn’t so awkward already, I’d correct her. Maximus didn’t seduce me, unless the weeks in his class listening to him passionately read page after page of Dante counts. Of course, it was so much more than that. A thousand little moments that twined our souls, tighter and tighter, until I couldn’t imagine giving myself to anyone else.

But none of it matters if I don’t survive our relationship. Before this moment, I doubted that I would. But now, there’s something about my mother’s stance, something defined and different about her attitude, that infuses my spirit with real hope.

“So what does this mean? Are we safe?”

“As for Maximus, I pulled some strings at the university. They’ve agreed to let the matter go.” She levels an even stare at the man I adore. “You should be able to start back on Friday, Professor.”

A whoosh of air spills from me. While the threat of having to pay the ultimate price for our affair has weighed on me, so has the prospect that Maximus would lose everything he’s worked so hard for because I couldn’t stay away. His livelihood. His passion.

“Does that mean…” I’m afraid to even ask, but the relief singing through my veins and flowing into my hopeful heart is too much to resist. “Can I go back too?”

My mother’s nostrils twitch again. “You can. For now.”

I can’t help the broad smile taking over my face.

“For now?” Maximus’s question cuts through the elated moment.

My mother interjects before I can explain. “Kara agreed to quit her studies at Alameda. To protect you and your career, of course. We couldn’t have the two of you creating any more newsworthy scenes. Someone had to go. It was her or you.”

Maximus’s expression is torn with confusion. “Kara, why didn’t you tell me?”

I turn in to him, mold my palm over his pectoral, and stare up into his tortured gaze. “It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered,” I whisper. Nothing but Maximus and the night I thought would be my last.

“Kara.” My mother’s sharp tone severs our connection, pulling my attention back to her. “This isn’t sentimental. Sending you back to Alameda has nothing to do with my approval or lack of it—and everything to do with your ultimate safety.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Being seen together before threatened to destroy the path you were born for. Had Maximus been a mere mortal, I doubt there’s anything I could have done to protect you. You could say we’re in limbo until this is sorted out, but we might be able to use the visibility to our advantage.”

Maximus laughs roughly. “Visibility? As in, having a relationship in the public eye?”

Z halts his pacing. “That’s exactly what she means.”

“But…isn’t that dangerous?” I ask.

Z shrugs. “Call it PR. Call it politics. And sure, while you’re at it, you could call it a Hail Mary.”

My eyes bulge at that. “Excuse me?”

“Think of it this way,” he goes on. “Disobedient subjects are easier to dispose of when very few know they even exist. Extinguish the problem. Poof.” He snaps his fingers, causing tiny snaps of electricity to leap from them. “You, Kara, are a Valari—which means you have the unique ability to position yourself directly under the limelight. And until this is resolved, the limelight is the safest place you can be. If anyone makes a move, all eyes are on you. On both of you, in fact.”

I disconnect from Maximus’s embrace and step toward Z. I’m struggling for words. While I should be grateful for the advantage fate has given Maximus and me, I’m still reaching for some reasonable argument that will let us go about our