“It’s disgusting,” said Jason, pouring himself a glass of plain orange juice.
Diana had the feeling they’d done this a thousand times, a homecoming ritual. She accepted the glass Alia offered and took a sip. Sweet Demeter, it was disgusting. But she forced herself to drink the rest and smile rather than agree with Jason.
“Refreshing,” she managed.
Jason lifted a brow. “You’re not fooling anyone.” He leaned back against the sink. “Give me an hour at the party,” he said to Alia. “We’ll shake hands, put a good face on everything, then we can take a helicopter straight to the airport and see about this spring of yours.”
“How long is the flight to Greece?” Diana asked.
“About twelve hours, give or take. I’ve texted our pilot, Ben. We can fly into Kalamata. That’s about a two-hour drive from Therapne.”
If he was right, they could be at the spring in less than twenty-four hours—with days to spare before the reaping moon.
“Alia, we need this,” Jason said. “There are people on the board who have their own ideas about the direction Keralis Labs should go. The only reason they haven’t moved against me is because they know how bad the PR would be. We need to keep it that way. Show them we’re continuing in the tradition Mom and Dad began. Show them…we’re still a family.”
Alia turned the glass in her hands. Diana could see the effect Jason’s words had on her. She supposed she could respect how seriously he took his responsibilities. Even if he was a domineering ass.
“What do you think?” Alia asked Diana.
Diana pressed her lips together. She knew attending the party wasn’t a wise choice, but she also understood the stakes were different for Alia and Jason. They had a life they wished to return to when this journey was over. No one would know Alia was attending until she was mingling with the guests, and if any spies relayed that information onward, they’d be gone from the party before Alia’s enemies could act. “An hour,” she said at last. “No more.”
“Okay, then,” Alia said. “I’ll go.”
A broad smile broke over Jason’s face, carving a dimple into his left cheek and transforming his features completely. “Thank you.”
Alia returned the grin. “See, Jason? You’d get your way more often if you just made your case like a human instead of resorting to ‘Obey or face the consequences.’?”
He shrugged, still smiling. “?‘Obey or face the consequences’ is just so much more efficient.”
“Can I bring Nim?”
Now the smile vanished. “Alia—”
“Nim comes, or I’m wearing sweats.”
Jason blew out a breath. “Fine.”
Alia pumped her fist. “Cell.” Jason slapped his phone into her palm with a resigned expression. “Come on,” Alia said to Diana, already heading back toward the entry, her attention focused on the phone, thumbs moving in a blur.
But as Diana made to follow, Jason stepped into her path. All the warmth he’d exhibited the moment before had vanished.
“Who are you, really?” he said, voice low. “You’d better believe I’m going to have my people digging up every bit of information on you they can find, Diana Prince.”
“They’re welcome to.”
His scowl deepened. “If you hurt my sister—”
“I would not harm Alia. I risked a great deal to bring her here.”
“So you keep saying. What I want to know is what’s in it for you?”
How could he ask that, knowing so much was at stake?
“A future,” she said, though she knew that wasn’t the whole story. I see you, Daughter of Earth. I see your dreams of glory.
His laugh sounded hollow as a drum. “I’m not sure if you’re a fanatic or a scam artist—and I’m also not sure which is worse.”
“Is it so hard to believe I’m trying to do the right thing?”
“Yes.”
Diana frowned. What kind of life had this boy led that he’d grown so cynical? “I want nothing from you or Alia except the chance to set this world to rights.”
“Being a Keralis means everyone wants something from you. Always. Alia is the only family I have. If—”
“Then maybe you should stop bullying her.”
“I never—”
“Since I’ve met you, all you’ve done is dictate her behavior, call her stupid, and sneer at her attempts to pursue her dreams.”
“I’m letting her chase after this ridiculous spring, aren’t I?”
“Letting her.”
Jason cut his hand through the air dismissively. “She’s not equipped to deal with the world. Alia has had a very sheltered life.”
“Whose fault is that?” Diana felt her temper quicken. “You can’t even imagine the courage and resilience I’ve seen her show.”
“In your long acquaintance?”
“Maybe if you saw more truly, listened more closely, she wouldn’t have felt the need to lie to you.”
Jason’s jaw hardened. He took a step closer. “You don’t know anything about me or Alia, so just stay quiet and don’t get in my way.”
“You wouldn’t even know your way without me.”
“If you make one move that seems—”
Diana leaned in. She was tired of threats from this boy. They were almost the same height, and she met his gaze easily. “What will you do?”
“I’ll end you.”
Diana couldn’t help it. She laughed.
“What’s so funny?” he growled.
How could she possibly explain? She’d faced the death of her mother and friends in the Oracle’s vision. She’d braved exile and nearly drowned to come here. Besides, when you’d stood toe-to-toe with the great Tekmessa, general of the Amazons, and endured her derision, it was hard to fear a mortal boy—regardless of his well-made frame.
“You’re pretty enough, Jason Keralis. But hardly intimidating.”
His eyelids stuttered. “Pretty?”
“Is Jason being a jerk?” Alia called from somewhere in the penthouse.
“Yes!” Diana called back without breaking Jason’s gaze. “If you’ll excuse me?”
She bracketed his shoulders with her hands, and he emitted a squeak as she picked him up and moved him out of her path.
Diana strode past, not bothering to look back. From behind her, she heard Jason mutter, “Pretty enough?”
Alia hovered halfway up the stairs in the entry as Diana strode from the kitchen. How did she manage to make a crappy drugstore T-shirt look regal?
“What did Jason say?” she asked. “Was he horrible?”
“Yes,” said Diana as she followed her up the steps. “I suppose his motives are good, but his manner makes me want to—”
“Stab him with a pencil?”
“Not exactly that,” said Diana. “But he’s certainly irritating.”
The phone buzzed, and Alia bounced on her toes with a happy whoop. “Nim is on her way!”
“It would be best if she wasn’t seen entering the building.”
Alia paused, her foot on the stair above her. It was too easy to slide out of the reality of her situation. It was like her mind couldn’t accept what was happening, so it just kept defaulting to the ordinary.
She sent a text to Nim telling her to take a car and use the private elevator. They could send Perez down with a key.
“Can she be trusted, this Nim?” asked Diana.
“Definitely. But let’s spare her all the Warbringer talk, yeah?”
At the top of the stairs, Alia hesitated. She longed for her room, her clothes, a good long nap. Instead, she made herself turn right and follow the hallway, the skylights casting squares of sunshine on the black-and-white paneled floor.
“The pattern is different here,” Diana noted.
“Yeah, the tiles in the entry hall make a fractal. This is a DNA sequence.” Alia shrugged. “That’s what happens when you give nerds money.”
She stopped before the double doors to her parents’ office, her hands resting on the handles, then took a deep breath and pushed them open.