Apollo leaned forward. He gazed at the creature squirming in Cassandra's hands and frowned.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am."

"That doesn't count."

"Why not?"

"It's a worm! Worms are nothing. Useless creatures that—"

"No, they're not, my Lord. Without them, many things wouldn't live; many things you and I have hunted. I agree worms aren't game experienced hunters bother with, but they aren't easy to get. It takes skill to gather them. I lucked out."

"That logic is... weak." Apollo glared at the worm. "Even if I allowed that you still lose because you cheated."

"If you're talking about my thwarting your attempts, it was never stated we couldn't do that to one another."

"You're a bold one."

Sweat beaded along Cassandra's hairline. "I'm not trying to offend you, my Lord."

Apollo's face flushed red, and he opened and closed his mouth twice but didn't utter a word. His chest heaved, and Cassandra swore steam drifted from his ears. The surrounding air grew hot and uncomfortable.

He would burn her alive, but maybe she'd earned her wretched end. Perhaps this was the consequence of testing fate.

"I've had a wonderful day," Apollo muttered.

In an instant, his demeanor changed, and the temperature returned to normal. The rage left his face, and the sun god flashed Cassandra a dazzling smile.

"I'll let you live, mortal."

"Oh."

Cassandra's head spun from his rapid transformation from vengeful Olympian to good-natured god.

Apollo laughed at her surprise and plucked the worm from her hands and dropped it to the ground. "I find you amusing." He wiped his dirtied fingers on his monochiton. "Plus, you have a face to rival Aphrodite. It'd be a shame to rid the world of such beauty. I'd never hear the end."

"Thank you, my Lord," Cassandra said, though she still had difficulty grasping the good fortune the Fates had given her.

She didn't know why they thought her so worthy, but she didn't dare question their actions. They may think she mocked their generosity, and they'd retract it.

Apollo snapped his fingers, and his hunting gear and the hourglasses vanished. He snapped again, and a gilded stool decorated with emeralds materialized behind him. He sat down.

"What's your name?"

"Cassandra, my Lord."

"Cassandra of Troy, the daughter of Priam?"

"Yes."

The sun god frowned. "I don't like your mother very much."

"She's an... acquired taste."

"I don't know if you've always thought I blessed you and your twin brother, but I didn't." Apollo rolled his eyes. "I can't understand where your mother got the idea."

Her mind latched onto the story of which he spoke.

Ever since she and Helenus had been young, Hecuba had claimed Apollo had sent snakes to clean her twins' ears the night she'd left them in the sun god's temple. She loved to tell anyone who'd listen how her children would grow into exceptional mortals all the gods fawned over.

Cassandra smiled.

She'd never given the story much thought. She looked at her mother's words as harmless babble and ignored her like everyone else.

"Oh, I know how she stretches the truth," she said.

Apollo plucked a hair from his lap. "She's lucky I find her delusions entertaining." His attention turned to her. "So why do you spend your time hunting? Are you trying to impress my sister in hope to become a Huntress? I must tell you, it's a very dull existence running around with her and avoiding the pleasures only a man can bring a woman. It's a waste."

"Hunting is my hobby."

"You haven't sworn off men or the prospect of marriage?"

"Not yet, my Lord."

"The thought has crossed your mind."

"I believe it crosses every young maiden's mind at least once, especially those in my position."

Apollo winked. "You may be right, but I wouldn't know much about that, now would I?"

Cassandra shook her head.

"Who was the one—"

Apollo tilted his head back to look at the sky. He sighed, stood, and the chair disappeared.

"Can I walk you to the edge of the forest?"

"... Yes."

Apollo marched past her, and she almost had to run to catch up with him. The god didn't seem to notice he moved too fast and Cassandra didn't utter a word of complaint. With how quickly his moods shifted, she didn't think he'd stick to his decision to let her continue breathing if she made him upset.

The god walked with sure steps. He trotted over roots and avoided rodent holes without ever looking at the ground.

Cassandra sensed he'd roamed the area a thousand times.

Without a glance at her, Apollo asked, "Who was the one to get you interested in hunting?"

Cassandra grinned. "My brother Hector. He taught me everything I know."

"Does he have skill?"

"More than enough to have embarrassed us both in that competition."

Apollo snorted. "Not that that's saying much when compared to you."

"But I still won."

"That you did."

The god's steps slowed to Cassandra's pace, and she caught up to him.

They walked side-by-side.

Apollo turned his head and studied Cassandra. His mouth opened, and then snapped shut.

"My Lord?"

"I was wondering..." Apollo smirked. "Will you let what little skill you have go to waste once you have a husband and a horde of children?"

"Why are you so fixated on the thought of me and marriage?"

Apollo shrugged. "It's what on my mind. Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"No. It's just uncommon for me to speak about this with anyone that isn't Helenus or my sisters."

"Do you believe I have an ulterior motive?"

"Do you, my Lord?"

One of Apollo's eyebrows lifted.

Then he grinned, and the wicked gesture lit his face. "Oh, by now you'd have figured out if I had an ulterior motive."

He chuckled at the look of disbelief Cassandra couldn't hide.

"No, Cassandra of Troy, I don't want you as my wife." Apollo regarded her. "I can do better."

"Better than a beauty that rivals Aphrodite?"

"I was kind."

"So, you're a god of lies as well?"

Apollo let out a beautiful, full-bodied laugh that somehow complemented the sounds of the forest. It washed over Cassandra like the summer sun, and she found it difficult to resist the god's allure.

Though he angered quick and was as unpredictable as the ocean, Cassandra identified with him.

Could she be responding to how gods presented themselves to mortals they didn't want to intimidate? Or did the two share a common trait that connected them on a profound level?

As Cassandra thought over her questions, they reached the spot where Cassandra had entered the forest.

Apollo stopped.

"I've enjoyed my time with you."

"I'm surprised I can agree."

"I'd love to see if you can get something other than worms." Apollo's smirk returned. "Would you like to hunt with me when I can spare moments to spend with you?"

The proposal filled Cassandra with delighted anticipation. "Yes, I would, my Lord."

"On the days I wish to see you, you'll find my message on your pillow that morning. Join me in the place where we first met before midday."

"I shall."

Apollo's body turned transparent. "Goodbye, Cassandra of Troy. I'm glad you shot me."

"Goodbye, my Lord," Cassandra said as the sun god faded from sight.

She stared at the spot where he'd been standing, smiled, then left the forest.

"Oh, thank the gods. There you are!" a voice shouted when she stepped out of the shadows cast by the small trees lining the outer wall.

Cassandra looked in its direction and spotted Helenus jogging toward her. "Did you follow me?"

Helenus stopped before her, his breathing heavy. "No. Well, yes, sort of. But not for the reason you think."

"You're not upset I disobeyed your orders?"

Helenus laughed. "I said that more on principle. No, I've been looking for you because Polites saw black clouds on the horizon and I didn't want you to get caught in the storm."

"I bet Deiphobus would prefer me to, to teach me a lesson."

Helenus snickered. "Most likely."

Cassandra sighed and started for the palace.

Her twin trailed her. "What did you do there? See anything interesting?"

Cassandra's lips parted, and she almost told Helenus about Apollo, but she stopped the words before they left her mouth. Apollo probably didn't want her discussing their meeting, and Cassandra wasn't sure if her brother would believe her.

He'd listen with an open mind and a nonjudgmental heart, but he'd conclude her confession resulted from a lack of water or a bump on the head.

No, she'd keep Apollo a secret, at least for now.

"Not really," Cassandra lied with as much conviction as she could muster. "It was dull."

"What a shame."

Cassandra kept her face neutral as excitement exploded inside her chest. "What a shame."