Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

Castor took her to a quiet end of the sprawling house and into a

half-unpacked study with a spectacular view of the ocean. Leather

chairs and boxes of books in a dozen different languages fought for

floor space with rolled-up carpets and un-hung paintings. Two

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large desks stood on opposite sides of the room. The tops of each

were already covered in various papers, envelopes, and parcels.

Along the back wall was a row of French doors that opened up to

a patio bordering the beach. In front of the doors were two sofas

and a big armchair, all three set up facing each other.

Cassandra sat in the oversized armchair reading a book, which

she put aside when Helen and Castor entered. Helen expected her

to leave, or at least be asked to leave, but after a few moments it

was clear that Cassandra had been waiting here for Helen and

Castor to come to her and have this conversation. How Cassandra

knew there would be a conversation at all was beyond Helen, but

Castor didn?t seem surprised.

Castor offered Helen a seat on one sofa and then sat down on the

other. He glanced at Cassandra, dwarfed by her giant chair, and

then began.

?How much do you know about Greek mythology?? he asked.

?You mean, like the Trojan War? Homer and all that?? she asked

in return. When Castor nodded, she shrugged. ?I know bits of it. I

was supposed to read the Iliad but there was this chemistry exam

. . .? Her excuses were interrupted by Cassandra passing Helen

the book she was reading. It was an anthology containing both the

Iliad and the Odyssey.

?Keep it. We?ve got plenty of extras,? she said with a wry smile.

It was the first attempt at a joke Helen had ever seen Cassandra

make, so she forced a smile in response.