The furious gray clouds overhead promised the worst storm in months. The wind was non-existent. The humid air clung to Cassandra as she wove her way through the trees to Dimus' farm. Her hair and peplos had grown damp shortly into her journey.

She almost regretted coming outside on a day hinting at nothing but trouble.

Once she'd even tried to turn around and head back to the palace, to listen to common sense, but her craving to see Dimus had overridden the logical decision.

It'd been three days since she'd last visited the herdsman and, though foolish, a burning ache had grown in his absence. The lost sensation frightened her.

Every waking moment, she thought of Dimus. Many of her dreams were of him.

Why? What about the herdsman was so addicting? How could simple thoughts of him so easily take control of her brain and transform her into a mindless mess?

Cassandra's emotions for Dimus were so different from those she had for Apollo.

When with the sun god, her self-confidence soared, and his every touch excited her. But she'd never had the overwhelming urge to be in Apollo's presence if she hadn't spent time with him in a while.

She didn't contemplate him as often as she breathed.

Yet the first few moments around the god filled Cassandra with a honied warmth she'd never experienced with Dimus.

When had she gotten herself into this confusion?

Cassandra had always thought she'd treat romance more rationally. Sure, she enjoyed fantasizing in her mother's fashion, but her older sister Creusa was the one who lived in romantic notions.

Creusa should be the one with a torn heart.

Cassandra had once believed if, given the luxury of falling in love with the man she'd marry, she'd only be able to feel so strongly for one man. Craving two men (well, one god and one man) at the same time had never crossed her mind.

The worst part of it all?

Neither suited her.

Apollo belonged with another immortal.

Dimus was a commoner and forbidden to love royalty.

If it weren't happening to her, Cassandra would find the situation funny.

Sooner than ready, Cassandra stepped into Dimus' field. No cattle grazed; she could hear their muffled cries from the barn. Her gaze found the window in Dimus' hut, now illuminated by a single candle.

Like a poor insect to a flame, she approached it.

She reached the hut and knocked on the door. She didn't wait long before Dimus answered.

Like always, from the first day they'd met, the herdsman's exotic good looks captivated Cassandra. She couldn't look away, not that she wanted to.

Dimus smiled, and her heart jumped. He reached for her hand and brought her close.

She crossed the threshold and entered his hut, a place she'd never been before.

Every time she'd visited, they'd stayed in the field. Sometimes they sat in the grass and looked at the sky to find shapes in the clouds while they spoke. Other times, they walked over his property, never beyond the border of the woods.

Cassandra had tried to convince Dimus to venture into the forest (she wanted to show him why she loved it so much), but the herdsman always declined. It puzzled Cassandra, but she didn't push the issue.

The herdsman's hut was bigger than it appeared on the outside, yet tiny compared to her bedchamber. Not much decorated the single room. An empty place had been made where Dimus cooked his food and then ate it, complete with a table under the window. A bed stood in the far corner, and a staff, with a design Cassandra couldn't quite make out, leaned against it.

Cassandra couldn't call the home horrible, but it held no cheer. If she didn't know better, she'd have sworn no one lived here, that it existed for show.

No wonder Dimus never minded Cassandra bothering him so much. He didn't have much to keep him entertained outside of tending to his herd.

Dimus pressed her knuckles to his lips. "What brings you here on a day like today?"

Cassandra fought a frustrating urge to giggle before she answered, "I... uh, thought—It's been a few days. I wanted to check up on you."

How mindless she sounded mortified her. All he'd done is—barely—kiss her knuckles.

"Thank you." Dimus smiled again, then scrutinized Cassandra's face and frowned. He put his free hand to her forehead. "You're too warm."

"No, no, I'm fine."

Mostly, Cassandra told the truth. She hadn't thought about her earlier discomfort in a while.

Now with Dimus, she couldn't focus on anything other than him.

"You need to cool down."

She protested, but he ignored her.

"We're going swimming."

"Swimming?"

The herdsman nodded and nudged her out of his home.

Cassandra offered no fight as he led her past the hut and barn, to the part of Dimus' property the pair had yet to explore. Not too far from the buildings was a quaint pond surrounded by knee-high grass, except for where three large, smooth boulders surrounded an impressive tree.

Dimus took her to the tree.

Cassandra pointed at the sky. "Isn't it a terrible idea to swim when the weather is like this?"

Dimus placed his hand on his chest. "I swear that at the barest whisper of thunder we'll head inside."

"I..."

The impending storm didn't make Cassandra hesitate. The thought of swimming with him had sweat pouring down her back. How did he intend for them to do it? With their clothes on? Naked?

What would she do?

It'd be senseless to swim clothed, but she couldn't strip down in front of him. Yes, she'd dreamt of Dimus unclothed, but those were only imaginings. She couldn't deal with the reality of it.

Dimus jumped into the pond and splashed water everywhere. He broke the rippling surface, shook his sopping wet curls, and then gazed at Cassandra. He held his attention on her for a moment before he flashed a knowing grin.

"Do whatever is comfortable."

"Uh..."

Dimus swam to the center of the pond and waved at her. "Get in the water. Have some fun!"

Cassandra took the best course of action and sat on one boulder, closest to the water. She slipped off her sandals, hiked up her peplos, and set her feet in the pond, and sighed. The water was chilly, a perfect balm to the muggy heat of the day.

She closed her eyes and leaned back on her palms.

Everything turned peaceful.

Cassandra listened to the sounds of Dimus appreciating the water in his way. The lack of a breeze no longer bothered her, and neither did the absence of nature going about its usual business. The one detail that could have improved it all was the sun's brilliance warming her skin, but Cassandra didn't miss it much.

In an instant, her body went rigid. A chill crawled down her spine. Her chest tightened as if two giant hands had wrapped themselves around her.

It took all of Cassandra's willpower to not overreact to the vision. She knew how to handle what would come. She needn't be afraid. She had to breathe and let it pass without a struggle...

Paris stood in front of the three birds again.

Somehow, though impossible, the dove wore a smile as the prince set the apple in front of it.

The peacock and owl cried in outrage and took flight.

Paris gazed, wide-eyed, at the dove. "When shall I have her?"

The dove tucked the apple under a wing. "Soon, dear Paris. Very soon."

Its voice was intoxicating, as rich as olives and as smooth as wine. The dove's voice boiled the blood and twisted around the soul. Mortals and the divine alike could only dream of sounding so alluring.

It enthralled Paris. He leaned forward as if before a roaring hearth. His eyes gained a dazed glimmer.

"In due time, you'll know when to make your move," the dove continued in its enchanting tenor.

It laughed, and Paris moaned.

"Until then, be patient, dear one."

The vision ended, and Cassandra focused on returning to herself.

She sat on a comfortable rock, and her feet wiggled from in the refreshing water. Perspiration beaded on her scorching skin. The musky scent of the surrounding grass filled her nose, and she heard the paddling noises Dimus made as he swam.

Dimus!

She'd forgotten all about him.

Had he noticed her episode?

Cassandra's eyelids snapped open as she prayed to the gods Dimus had been too fixated on his fun to pay her any mind.

One look killed her prayer.

The herdsman watched her; his eyebrows raised.

Horror gripped her, and she wanted to vomit.

Dimus waded toward her. "Is everything all right?"

"Y-Yes, I'm... I'm fine." Cassandra couldn't meet Dimus' concerned stare. "I was just—The water's nice."

"Uh huh." Dimus neared her right calf as he studied her. "It can be even better. Want to find out how?"

"Wha—"

Dimus took hold of her thighs and pulled.

A cry left her as she fell into the pond.

The shock of the water enveloping her entire body made Cassandra want to yell again, but she couldn't. Her head went under water, and she feared she'd drown.

Cassandra forced herself above the surface. Once there, she sputtered and pushed the hair out of her face.

The herdsman laughed and reached for her. His fingers grazed her bare arms and caused slight bumps to form. "I'd say you're cooled now."

Cassandra wanted to be mad, but she couldn't muster the energy now that she'd grown accustomed to the water's temperature. Dimus' action gladdened her, though she was aware her soaked peplos hugged her body like a second skin.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

Dimus embraced Cassandra, and his hands drifted down her back to rest on her rear.

She gasped, and her mind spun. Her cheeks flared as hot as a forge.

How had they gotten here? Where would they go?

She gazed at his chest. Dimus couldn't see how he affected her. If he found out, her heart would burst, and she'd die on the spot.

"Cassandra," Dimus said over and over until she looked at him.

The smoldering desire brightening his eyes stole her breath. She couldn't believe it. He wanted her as much as she longed for him; one of her dreams come true.

For a fleeting moment, Cassandra wondered if she'd fallen asleep on the bank or had blacked out after her vision.

Dimus bent his head forward and pressed his lips to hers, and Cassandra didn't care if what happened was truth or fantasy. The demanding kiss intoxicated.

Dimus' mouth worked with skill, and Cassandra's knees became as unstable as hot wax. Her stomach shook as if a thousand moths had taken flight. Her brain had turned to the mush of decaying fruit.

While he devoured her mouth, Dimus' hands slid up her back to her shoulders. He caressed her there, then played with the pin over her left breast. With one hand, he unhooked the pin and tossed it onto the bank.

Unstable, the top of her peplos tumbled down and exposed her breasts. If not for the belt around her waist, the entire garment would have fallen off her.

Surprised anticipation hardened her nipples, and Cassandra shuddered.

Dimus released her lips, and Cassandra swallowed much-needed air.

The herdsman chuckled and cupped her breasts.

Cassandra's eyes widened as her mind filled with thoughts of Apollo.

Guilt and shame brought the urge to bawl, and before she knew it, she stepped away from Dimus while shaking her head. She covered her breasts.

The herdsman frowned. "Did I upset you?"

"N-No." Cassandra glanced at the sky. "I heard—I thought I heard thunder."

"I heard nothing."

"Well, I should b-be going. It's late."

Dimus' hand stretched toward her. "Is that what you want to do?"

"Yes, it is."

She raced to the bank and crawled out of the pond. Cassandra wrung as much water as she could out of her peplos, then retrieved her pin. She secured the top of her fabric to its rightful place.

The entire time Dimus watched her, motionless.

Cassandra mustered enough courage to steal a glance at him. She wished she hadn't.

He scowled; all traces of his previous affection gone. She wanted to go back, to make him forget his anger.

But her feet refused to obey her.

Cassandra waved instead. "I'll come again on a better day."

The herdsman nodded once and turned away from her.

Cassandra sobbed as she ran across the field and into the forest. Once within the comforting shade of the woods, her tears fell. She couldn't have held them at bay any longer if she'd tried.

Caring for two people was destroying her. She hated that she'd fled from Dimus, and an internal voice screamed at her to return.

Another voice applauded her for not betraying Apollo and encouraged her moving forward.

The voices' battle pounded in her head, and she teetered on insanity.

She paid no mind to her trek through the forest. All her thoughts focused on the problem she'd gotten herself into.

Cassandra didn't feel the rain that started after she'd entered the woods. She didn't notice the multiple times she barely avoided tripping over roots and fallen branches.

She'd have missed Paris if the prince hadn't darted in front of her, as loud as a stampeding horse.

Cassandra snapped out of her misery and fell behind Paris; prepared to hurl herself behind a tree if he looked in her direction.

He never did.

Her stomach churned as she followed him.

Why had her brother been in the forest (he didn't have much interest in them)? Why did he seem so eager to return to the palace?

She remembered her prophecy, and Cassandra was sure it'd come true, more confident about it than anything else in her life. Whatever horrible thing she'd seen for weeks had reached fruition.

Troy had moved one step closer to annihilation.

But maybe her emotional troubles clouded her judgment.

Cassandra needed to see Aesacus. He'd know the truth and set her straight.