The celebration had hit its peak.

People gorged themselves on an endless supply of food. There was more wine than water in the Mediterranean Sea. No one could resist the loud, exuberant music. No shortage of smiles or laughter existed.

Cassandra couldn't enjoy any of it.

Hours ago, while she'd dressed for the party, she'd been dazed by a vision. It'd been the one she'd had when Apollo had first given her, her gift, though changed a bit. Paris had still held the round object (a gold-plated apple, inscribed with the words 'to the fairest') as he'd looked between the peacock, owl, and dove.

As he'd paused at each bird, an image had formed above the creature.

A massive stretch of land had hovered by the peacock. A well-decorated soldier had floated so close to the owl it'd almost touched the creature's head. The face of a woman so beautiful it had been hard to focus on her had hung above the dove.

Paris had studied each image for a long time, then placed the apple in front of the dove.

The vision had ended then, and Cassandra had returned to reality, sweat-covered and filled with anxiety. The event she'd seen hadn't happened yet, but it soon would.

The decision Paris would make would doom them all.

Cassandra had spent most of her remaining time before the party trying to add color to her cheeks and attempting to force the startled, disturbed glint from her eyes. She'd thought she'd done an outstanding job until she'd spotted Aesacus gazing at her with a knowing expression.

Since then Cassandra had avoided the seer while keeping watch on Paris. She didn't think her prophecy would come true tonight, but she couldn't be sure.

So far Paris had done nothing suspicious.

For the first part of the celebration, Hecuba had led her long-lost son around the enormous hall and told all who would listen how wonderful she thought him. Then Helenus and Polites had rescued Paris, and since then they'd spent their time dancing with many of the youthful women in attendance and speaking with men their age.

Once Hector had found Cassandra as she leaned against a column. He'd brought her a plate of food and a goblet of wine. He'd watched her consume everything before he'd tried to convince her to dance.

Cassandra had turned him down by claiming she'd yet to recover from the illness she'd had a few weeks prior.

Hector hadn't believed her, but he'd left her alone.

She wished she could shake the awful sense of tragedy and partake in fun. Instead of moping, Cassandra should stuff herself and dance until her sore feet couldn't hold her upright.

Yet she kept replaying the prophecy, tried to decipher what it meant. When no conclusion came, she grew more depressed.

Though what did it matter?

Hadn't she decided yesterday that, because Aesacus hadn't had a negative prophecy about Paris since his birth, any visions she had of Paris couldn't be trusted?

Why did she continue to dwell on an issue she had no reason to worry about?

"Cassandra!" Polyxena's voice cried over the group of men nearby who debated politics.

The men ceased talking and watched the young princess as she approached Cassandra at a run.

Her nursemaid Agatha, a wizened woman with lively brown eyes and hair as gray as storm clouds, who'd been the nursemaid to every one of Hecuba's children, trailed as fast as she could after the child.

Cassandra stopped her sister before Polyxena could knock her flat. "What?"

Polyxena's bottom lip jutted out. "I'm not tired."

"It's time for sleep," Agatha said as she stepped behind the child, her rich growl of a voice labored. She pressed a hand to her chest as she struggled for breath.

"No," Polyxena retorted. She turned her large eyes on Cassandra. "The rest of you get to stay up. Why can't I?"

Agatha opened her mouth, but Cassandra shook her head. "I'll handle this."

Agatha nodded.

Cassandra crouched to a height more equal to her sister. "Now, understand you're not being punished. I and our brothers and sisters couldn't stay all night at parties when we were your age, either. Not that we weren't wanted, but everyone knew we'd pass out long before the celebration ended."

"I swear I won't!"

"You may believe so, but you will," Cassandra said.

Polyxena sucked in her breath, and her expression promised a monstrous argument to come.

Cassandra pressed a finger to her sister's lips. "If you listen to Agatha and go to sleep, we'll go into Troy tomorrow, to the market," she promised before Polyxena could disturb any more guests with a fit she was too old to throw.

Polyxena's eyes widened, and her face lost its scrunched, sour look She beamed. "Really?"

Cassandra straightened and smoothed the wrinkles in her peplos. "Only if you obey Agatha."

"Of course, I will." Polyxena skipped to the nursemaid and grasped Agatha's gnarled hand and shinned the sweetest smile. "I love you."

Agatha patted the young princess' cheek. "I love you, too." She charged toward the room's exit. "Thank you," she called over her shoulder.

"You're welcome. Goodnight," Cassandra cried after them; her spirit light for the first time since her vision.

"Is she always a handful?" a familiar voice asked her.

Cassandra whirled around and met the shocking sight of Apollo.

He'd toned down his otherworldliness and appeared no different from any other mortal attending the party.

Well, mostly.

His beauty outshined all the other men and stole the breath from Cassandra's lungs.

She averted her gaze and pretended interest in the celebration.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, proud her voice betrayed none of her embarrassing surprise.

Apollo shrugged. "I thought I'd pay one of my biggest admirers a visit on her special day."

He smirked, and Cassandra knew she hadn't fooled him.

"I won't let your mother know I'm here," he continued. "She'd never cease talking about it. It'd be the one memory she'd cling to in the afterlife, and she'd drive my uncle insane."

A laugh tore out of Cassandra, and some of her awkwardness evaporated. She met his eyes without fear of blushing.

The god's smirk softened into a gentle smile which drew one from Cassandra.

"I'm glad you're happy." Apollo reached for her but drew his hand away before he touched her. "What's upset you so tonight?"

"Oh, just a vision from earlier."

Though she knew Apollo could set her worries straight, she found she didn't want to tell him how disturbing her prophecies were. Part of her didn't want him to regret giving her a gift that often terrified her, and another part of her didn't want to ruin their time discussing upsetting topics.

"Should we talk—"

Cassandra extended her hand. "Take a walk with me in the gardens?"

Apollo's lips pursed. His analytical stare penetrated her for many heartbeats.

He sighed. "I'd love to."

Before he could change her mind, Cassandra laced her fingers between the god's and tugged him toward the only window near them obscured by a column.

Apollo followed without comment.

Once at the window, Cassandra ensured no one paid her and her male companion any attention. Confident they could escape unnoticed, she opened the window.

"This is the best way?"

Cassandra released his hand. "The most convenient," she corrected and crawled out the window. She dropped to the ground.

Apollo copied her, and a moment later he stood beside her. He took her hand. "Continue leading."

Fragrant flowers perfumed the air. On most nights, the stars and moon were the brightest objects to be seen, but not tonight. The palace glowed with an almost unforgiving light. It lit the grounds surrounding it and stopped short of the horse stables.

No one in Troy could miss the giant building on the hill.

They reached the gardens, and Apollo prompted Cassandra to tell her favorite childhood memories. He listened with a half-smile as they traveled the gardens.

Cassandra shared her many experiences; a significant amount had happened in the very gardens they appreciated.

"How do you coexist so... easily?" Apollo wondered after Cassandra had told of yet another event that had involved her and her brothers and sisters.

He guided her to a stone bench, sat down, and gestured to the spot beside him.

Cassandra claimed the offered seat. "It isn't easy. We bicker just like all siblings do from time to time."

"You love each other." Apollo's voice held a twinge of sadness. "I saw that with your younger sister."

"I know gods differ from mortals, but you're all still a family. Doesn't that hold any weight with any of you?"

"It did for a brief time, but as soon as we Olympians defeated the Titans all sense of family evaporated. Some of us still care, as I do for Artemis, but it's rare. Many find it more amusing to wound one another.

"Because of it, I... I don't like being at home. Though I haven't thought of Mount Olympus as home in too many years."

Cassandra couldn't imagine living an eternity without a place where she felt she belonged. "I'm sorry."

She squeezed his hand.

His responding sad smile needled her heart. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Since meeting you, I've discovered I don't need a home as much as I need someone who makes me feel home."

The god's sincerity and soft gaze crashed into Cassandra.

On impulse, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

With his free hand, Apollo ran his fingers through her hair. He ruined the elaborate hairstyle a handmaiden had taken hours to perfect, but Cassandra didn't care. His touch sent tingles from her scalp to her toes.

A moan escaped her, much to her horror.

"We've been gone longer than expected," Cassandra squeaked.

Apollo stilled his caressing.

"I'm sure no one's missed us, and if they have, they're so drunk they won't remember in the morning."

"I'd hate to give my father another reason to keep me from our forest excursions."

The sun god sighed. "No, you're right. I should get back to Olympus before my absence is discovered. Again."

Curiosity blocked Cassandra's urge to flee. "You make it sound as if you're breaking the rules by being here."

"I am."

"But gods can come to Earth. Don't they all the time?"

Apollo frowned. "Most can, but not Zeus' children."

"Why?"

"Hera's forbidden my father's trysts with mortals, and he's punished my siblings and me. He hopes our restless fury will convince Hera to revoke her sentence." Apollo laughed. "By now Zeus should know his wife."

"Are you the only one who sneaks away?"

"No, though I'm the one who's left the most."

"Have you been caught?"

Apollo nodded. "The times we've been together, and it's thundered, or the sky has darkened, that's my father realizing I've gone."

"Has he—What happens when you're caught?"

A grim look flashed across the god's face.

"Why—Don't do it anymore! Don't risk your safety. Not for me."

Apollo grinned, his teeth so radiant they almost blinded Cassandra. "Time spent with you is worth my father's wrath."

He brought her hand to his mouth and placed his lips on her palm.

Cassandra loved the sensation of his lips on her skin, but she didn't let it distract her. "But I'm not—"

The god kissed her forehead, then disappeared.

Bewildered, Cassandra traced the warm impression Apollo's lips had left on her forehead.