Sacrifice by Mayandree Michel Read Free Book Online Page A

devotion with his one and only act of contrition. How can he be trusted with our …lives?” Lucien asked. “What if you’re wrong about him?”
    “I’m not,” I declared, challenging him.
    “Are you prepared to take full responsibility if Victor turns on us, again?” Lucien asked, glaring at me.
    “He won’t.”
    “You haven’t answered the question,” Christos pressed.
    “Yes,” I said, hoping that the day would never come when Victor would betray the empire.
    “Empress, do you aim to lose everyone’s support?” Lucien raised a brow.
    “Have I lost yours?” I asked, glaring at every elder. There was a long pause as they all shifted from one foot to the other and avoided eye contact with me. The awkward silence made me wonder if I ever had their support.
    “Empress, we are all trying to support you, and don’t take this the wrong way, but we feel that your decisions are very rash,” Lucien said.
    “I’ll take that the right way and thanks for trying . I am taking the appropriate time and guidance when making all decisions.”
    “Who’s guidance? You haven’t taken any of ours ,” Christos huffed.
    “Fortunately, you’re not the only elders I can go to for guidance and support.” They knew that I was referring to my parents. They resented the fact that I was communicating with them. My parents were superior and if they agreed with my choices then how could they not…
    “Your father was a very wise emperor, but–,” Christos said.
    “ Is a wise emperor. My father will be back once your children have fulfilled their mission,” I declared, interrupting Christos.
    “I didn’t mean any disrespect to your father,” Christos amended, shakily. “What will you do if your parents return? Will you step down and let your father rule again?”
    “You mean when he returns, right?”
    “Uh, yes, of course,” Christos stammered.
    “Of course.” I agreed, smirking.
    I chose to not answer his question. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I had no idea what I was going to do when I bought my parents back to life. I hadn’t thought that far ahead and realized that I should have. I had only been focusing on finding them. Maybe I never thought that far ahead because deep in my heart I feared that I’d never find them. The thought almost brought tears to my eyes.
    “Do you really plan to defy the gods?” Delilah asked, darkly.
    “What do you mean?” I had no idea where she was going with her question.
    “Do you plan to ignore the appointed match for you?” She clarified.
    “My match is my choice. For the god’s sake it’s the nineteenth century not 10 B.C.,” I sighed, exasperated with this tiresome spin on the discussion.
    “The gods are finicky that way. They will never bless your union to Lord Evander, Empress. Together you have two wills, two points of view. You will never see eye to eye, not completely. You must have one will as all matches do. You both are doomed to endure pain, not true and undying love.” 
    I had to catch my breath. “Evan and I are stronger… because we love each other. The gods can’t change that.”
    “Stronger together ?” Delilah asked, as her laughter rang through the mine like chimes. “Yet, the young lord sought our confidence without you knowing it. That is not the behavior of a true match, young Empress. Two wills.”
    “That’s between Lord Evander and I,” I said calmly, but I was blistering hot.
    “And what is between you and Victor? Do you feel nothing for him or is it just that you need to make him nearly as powerful as you.” Delilah asked, as the corners of her mouth flirted with a smile. She was more like Hera than I had thought and this peacock was plucking at my nerves.
    “I feel nothing but the need to protect him,” I lied.
    “Nothing more?” Delilah nudged further.
    “I will fortify Victor’s powers tomorrow,” I said changing the subject, but I could tell by Lucien’s raised brow that he knew why I took the