Destined by Jessie Harrell Read Free Book Online Page B

standing, but I couldn’t see any footprints. There was no sign that the clay pathway leading to the forest had been disturbed. A lone pine needle twisting in the grass was the only sign of movement.  
     
    That settled it; I must’ve fallen asleep on the bench and dreamt the whole thing. It had all seemed so real, but then again, dreams often do — especially omens.  
     
    An omen? Could it be? If the stranger in my dream had said that a “someone” would be coming for me, maybe he meant a husband. Maybe it wasn’t too late to save myself from Aphrodite after all. Would that be any more bizarre than nearly being impaled by an arrow only for the hunter to turn around and run away?
     
    Gathering up the lengths of my dress, I rushed back to the palace. The foyer and dining rooms were empty, so I rushed to my sister’s suite. Chara was finishing her packing. Wooden trunks were strewn about her room, overflowing with her various worldly possessions. She sang softly to herself and her movements were like a candle-lit dance as she glided one way to tuck away a nightgown and back across her room to retrieve a forgotten hand mirror.  
     
    Chara’s normally a bubbly person, but this felt wrong. Was this the same girl who’d banished me from her room for putting her in the position of having to marry an old king? I didn’t know how old Rasmus’s dad was, but he couldn’t be young.
     
    When Chara saw me standing in her doorway, she rushed over and pulled me into her arms, giving me a quick but crushing hug. “Psyche, I don’t want us to say goodbye on bad terms, okay? I forgive you.”
     
    I tried to smile but was too confused. What was I missing?
     
    Chara apparently mistook my confusion for jealousy and laughed. “I’m sure you wanted him for yourself. But seriously, let me enjoy having something special for once.”
     
    Before I could ask what in Hades she was blabbering about, Rasmus came to my side in the doorway. “Psyche, I don’t mean to interrupt, but if you’re done with your sister, I have a bride to take home with me.”
     
    “You’re heading out tonight?” I stammered. “Can’t it wait till morning?”
     
    “The sooner we get started, the better. Mycenae is eagerly awaiting your sister’s arrival.”
     
    Chara let a trunk lid slam closed. “If you’ll call the servant boy back up here for the last of the luggage, I’ll be ready.” When Rasmus walked off to do her bidding, she mock-whispered, “I’m going to be a princess of Mycenae. And he’s so young.” Returning to her normal voice, she added, “This is so much better than I could’ve ever hoped. I’m sorry I was mad at you all week. Can we be friends again? Please?”
     
    Before I could answer, Rasmus returned and took Chara’s hand. “Shall we?” he asked.
     
    Chara gave me a hopeful smile and slid out of her suite. I wanted to scream at Rasmus that he was a big, fat liar for everything he’d told me in the garden, but then he looked back at me. The look in his eyes was both pleading and stern, begging and warning me not to tell Chara what I knew.  
     
    My eyes grew wide as I broke gaze with Rasmus. Of course Chara was acting like a love-struck fool. She thought she was going to marry Rasmus. He must not have told her that although she would be a bride, she wasn’t going to be his bride. I wondered if that’d been his father’s idea or my parents’ inspiration. I was sure the Rasmus I’d just met wouldn’t willingly deceive anyone. But here he was, leading my painfully oblivious sister away.
     
    What would happen if I did warn her? Could I save her from what was already done by telling her? Or would I just be prematurely stripping away her joy?  
     
    In the second I paused to decide, Father moved in beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. His dark eyes pierced mine, making me feel small and helpless. “This is a good allegiance for our City, don’t you think?”
     
    What could I do but nod my