Cassandra pressed her palms to her face in the vain hope to cool her inflamed skin.

No reprieve came.

If it didn't end, Cassandra knew she'd catch on fire.

Her pulse still thundered in her ears; her breathing so unmeasured she feared she'd pass out. Her entire body shook.

What just happened?

Why had Apollo been so tender—so unusual—with her?

Had Cassandra confused an innocent gesture from one friend to another for something more profound?

Had she been correct about Apollo almost kissing her? Or had it only been imaginative thinking on her part?

Had he kissed her, would she have kissed him back?

Cassandra cared for the god more than she'd have considered possible, but was her feelings any stronger than what she had for her family?

If Apollo had intentions to shift their relationship into the uncharted waters of romance, would she be comfortable with it?

If he wanted her, why?

Cassandra knew of her beauty, but it meant nothing. Dozens of goddesses and creatures existed more alluring than her, and the sun god could get any of them with little effort.

What would he want with a mortal like her?

No, Cassandra must have interpreted the situation wrong. Her training had exhausted her, and she'd imagined Apollo's touch as something more than he'd intended.

They were just friends.

With that conclusion, Cassandra controlled her unruly body. She sighed, surprised a shred of disappointment stuck to her. No matter how she tried, she couldn't shake it.

Had she wanted that kiss?

She pondered this as she moved forward without paying much attention to the direction she took.

If honest with herself, Cassandra found she wouldn't dislike a kiss from Apollo.

The sun god would make it an event she'd never forget.

Common sense chastised the whimsical hunger inside her. It'd be a poor idea to shift her bond with Apollo.

What if it went sour, as so many of the gods' romantic affairs with mortals did?

Cassandra would hate to lose Apollo's friendship.

No, she'd do her best to ignore her girlish desire. It couldn't mean much, anyway. It'd come upon her so swiftly she was sure it'd be gone just as fast. She shouldn't dwell on it.

Sadness overwhelmed Cassandra. She stopped to lean against a tree. A few tears leaked from her eyes before Cassandra could bury her emotions, and she grew furious.

Why did she act so foolishly?

She had to cease this nonsense. Cassandra had been gone for much too long and had probably been missed. She needed to get home as soon as possible.

Cassandra looked around, and her lips pursed. She didn't recognize this part of the woods. She shook her head and scolded her stupidity.

She didn't debate which direction to take. Cassandra forged forward and figured she'd come to the end of the forest eventually. Once clear of the trees, she could decide where to go from there.

Her footsteps were quick. She thought of the chimera attack and grew weary of remaining in the forest without her bow and arrows or Apollo. The monster had likely only shown itself because of the sun god, but she wasn't sure enough to dawdle.

Soon came the edge of the forest, and Cassandra entered a lush field. Many fat, content cattle dotted the area; pulled at the grass with their teeth. They chewed the vegetation and glanced at Cassandra as she passed by.

A tiny hut with a quaint, tidy barn beside it lay in the distance, and she angled herself toward it. The owner would set her right.

"You!" a sardonic voice cried from Cassandra's left.

Cassandra turned and met the blazing violet-green eyes of the slim man who strode toward her.

Red highlights streaked his light brown, coiled hair. His face was handsome in a mischievous, exhilarating way Cassandra had never seen before.

The man halted so close to Cassandra he could reach out and touch her if he wanted. "What are you doing on my property?"

"I'm—"

"Bothering my cattle."

Cassandra reacted to the man's interruption as if she'd been slapped.

Never had a commoner taken such a tone with her. Most cowered in her presence, and all showered her with respect, lest they wanted to feel her father's wrath.

"I-I..."

"Were you planning on stealing them?" The man's thin lips curled into a cruel sneer. "Not too bright of you to come in the middle of the day. Or are you a distraction? I'll no doubt head home and find I've been robbed. Is that it?"

Anger loosened Cassandra's tongue and straightened her spine. She pinned the man with a glare of her own. "I'm no thief." She wielded her words like a whip. "You'll be wise to cease speaking to me in such a manner."

"Why is that?"

"Don't you recognize me, you fool?"

The man's gaze drifted from the top of Cassandra's head to her sandals, then snapped back to her face. "Am I supposed to?"

"I'm a princess of Troy, and if I wanted any of your herd or your possessions I could have them without needing to trick them away from you."

Cassandra didn't enjoy uttering what she had, and would never take so heartlessly from her people, but she didn't mind hurling the threat at such an unpleasant individual.

The glint in his eyes told Cassandra he didn't believe her.

"What's a princess doing so far away from her palace?"

"What makes you think you're privy to that information?"

"You're the one who trespassed on my land, so I'll get the answers I want."

"Not in this era."

Cassandra turned on her heel, opposed to spending any more time with this insufferable man.

There had to be a road nearby. She'd find it herself. She'd find someone along the way willing to lend her aid.

She'd not taken over five steps before the man called to her. "I'm sorry." His voice had lost its hostility. "I didn't mean to insult you."

He sounded sincere. His genuineness spoke to her, and Cassandra halted.

She took a deep breath before she focused back on the herdsman.

"I had no intention of stealing from you. I'm not that person."

The man had the decency to look ashamed. "I realize that. I overreacted, and I'm sorry. Over the last few days, I've had some trouble." He shook his head. "I should've known better, though. You don't have the... appearance of a thief."

"What do I appear to be?"

The man rubbed his chin. "Hmm… A princess."

All of Cassandra's anger evaporated, and she laughed.

The man joined her, and the noise was so boisterous the closest cow scuttled away.

The pair chuckled harder.

"I'm Dimus," the man said once his laughter had died away. "Are you truly a princess of Troy?"

"Yes, I am."

"Which of King Priam's lovely daughters have I had the pleasure of meeting?"

"I'm Cassandra."

"Cassandra." Her name tumbled from his mouth like a soft prayer.

He held her gaze, then nodded at the forest. "Why were you in there?"

"I like the forest. It's one of my favorite places."

"You go in there by yourself?"

"I'm hardly ever alone."

She almost smiled. If only he knew.

"Is today one of those rare days where you had the misfortune of no companionship?"

"Yes."

"Let me guess. You got lost. That's why you've stumbled onto my property."

Cassandra sighed. "I can't believe it happened. I've spent a good amount of my life in those woods. I should know it like my own bedchamber."

"Everyone has an off day."

Dimus smirked.

The gesture played with his features instead of contorting them like when he'd first confronted Cassandra; it heightened his attractiveness.

Cassandra could barely keep her eyes off his face.

Dimus noticed and winked at her, and she darted her attention to the cattle behind him.

"Would you like to know how to get back to the palace?"

He sounded close to laughing again.

"If you'd be so kind."

Cassandra refused to tear her concentration from the cattle. She couldn't bear to embarrass herself further.

"Do you mind if I show you, my Lady?"

Dimus reached for Cassandra's elbow.

She allowed him to take it, and he led her back to the forest but a bit of a distance from where she'd exited from. He stopped before a well-trodden trait.

"Follow this until it forks. Take the left path, and it'll lead you to a road I'm sure you'll recognize. It shouldn't be difficult from there for you to find your way home."

He released Cassandra.

"Thank you."

Dimus bowed. "It was a pleasure, my Lady." He took Cassandra's hand and brought it to his lips. "Can I expect to see you again?"

Cassandra removed her hand from his grasp. "Possibly."

"I can't wait."

Dimus turned and retreated to his cattle.

Cassandra watched him longer than necessary, then fled into the forest. She raced over the trail and made a vow that thrilled her as much as kissing Apollo would.

She would revisit Dimus.