High Priestess Marina gave Isobel a series of examinations, and then finally broke out in a warm smile. ‘Everything is as it should be, and both you and your future husband are young and strong. Come to me if you notice any change in your health, but otherwise, I will see you in a month.’

‘What’s going to happen to my body?’

‘Nothing that isn’t natural, my dear.’ The high priestess stood. ‘The time will pass swifter than you think. Before you know it, you are going to be a mother.’

Isobel let out a sigh of relief. She looked up at Sophia, and Sophia couldn’t help herself returning her bright smile.

‘The priestess is leaving now. We can go back inside the villa,’ Lord Philippos said.

Dion nodded and began to follow him, but then with surprise he saw the novice following in the priestess’s footsteps.

‘Sophia!’ he called, hurrying over.

The imposing priestess bowed at Dion, her hands clasped together, buried in the folds of her robe. ‘May the goddess be with you, King.’

‘High Priestess,’ he said with a nod and a smile.

She glanced at Sophia. ‘I will leave you two to talk.’

A moment later they were alone and Dion was smiling down at Sophia. Her hair was longer than he remembered, and after the deaths of her father and sister, there was now a darkness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

‘Sophia, how are you? I haven’t seen you in a long time.’

Dion’s heart reached out to her. She’d lost everyone she held dear. He wondered if she was happy.

‘I’m well enough,’ she said. She blushed. ‘King Dion.’

‘It’s just the two of us here,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I’m so glad it was you who came today. I know we have to keep it quiet until after the wedding, but’—he grinned—‘it’s exciting news.’ He suddenly looked worried. ‘Isobel . . . Is everything the way it should be?’

Sophia smiled at his discomfort. ‘The high priestess said she’s fine.’

‘Good, good. Are you happy at the temple?’ Dion asked, frowning. ‘I can’t imagine how hard things have been for you . . . after Chloe . . . and your father. And Sophia . . . I hope you don’t blame yourself for Nikolas’s death. Just remember, you’ve done nothing wrong.’

At the mention of Nikolas, Sophia looked down at the ground. ‘The temple keeps me busy.’

‘Listen, you know that I . . . You know that you can always come to live with me in Xanthos. Your father . . . He was always good to me. He’s the reason I made it back home. You and your family . . . You’re . . . special to me.’

‘Thank you, but no. Phalesia is my home.’

‘If you ever need anything, anything at all, you only have to ask.’