“Damn it. Stop.” He raised his hand to stop me, yet his feet did not move.

“Spill.” I moved closer.

“Holy Poseidon, I’ve made a promise! I can’t—” He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and when he opened them again, determination flared in them as he sighed. “I just can’t.”

“What promise?”

“It’s nothing. None of your business,” he said.

Damn. That hurt. “Fine.” I lifted both of my hands, raising my white flag as I backed away a few steps. “Whatever.”

Later today, once the sun was up and everyone was at the Panhellenic Festival’s closing ceremony, Adrian and I were going to execute our plan. This was it. No turning back now. I told myself that Vlad was right. It was none of my goddamn business. I should let it go. Let him go.

Chapter Twenty-Four

This was it. This would be the day I finally got what I’d been wanting for as long as I could remember. With only two days until my birthday, I had to act fast. Dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, I waited for Adrian under the Whispering Oak. As expected, everyone was at the closing ceremony of the Panhellenic Festival, and most of the Court Guards were patrolling the stadium.

Where was Adrian? My fingers fought against the cold as I sent him another text.

I heard a rustle coming from the tree, then a voice brought by the wind. Just like the first day, it felt as if the tree was speaking to me. I thought back to what Vlad had said to me early this the morning while the rest of the Court was sleeping. Legend has it that the tree whispers things to those who can hear it. Was the tree trying to tell me something?

“Whatever you are trying to tell me,” I whispered back, “it won’t work. I’m still going to burn you down.” A pit formed in my stomach. I knew a tree was a living thing, but was the Whispering Oak of Dodona more alive than a regular tree? Would I be killing its spirit too?

The tree was even more beautiful than the day I had first seen it, now full of buds and blooms. Which of these flowers represented Kris and Domenico? Their happiness had blossomed instantaneously—would Kris ever forgive me for destroying this symbol of their love?

My hand slid into my pocket and pulled out the folded photo of me and Bryan. I stared into his eyes, suddenly desperate for his presence. “Things would be so much easier if you were here, Bryan.”

I heard footsteps and quickly shoved the photograph back into my pocket. Adrian had finally arrived. “What took you so—”

It wasn’t Adrian. It was Damian. The last person in the world I wanted to see right now.

“I’ve found you alone at last.”