Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?First of all, Lucas can never have Helen,? Daphne said darkly.

?And second, you know there are easier ways to see if I?m telling

the truth about who killed Ajax than kidnapping me. Have you ever

asked Tantalus why he?s still in hiding??

?Probably because he knows you can look or sound like anyone!?

Pandora shouted back, furious. ?The only thing you can?t do is fake

someone?s handwriting. That?s why he?s only communicated

through letters?to protect himself because he knows you want him

dead!?

?And why would I want him dead?? Daphne?s own temper rose.

?If it?s a Triumph I wanted, why wouldn?t I have killed any one of

you Theban rats as soon as I saw you? Why would I want Tantalus,

and Tantalus alone, unless he stole something precious from me??

she asked, her voice breaking at last.

Pandora watched Daphne as she settled back into the sand, turning

her back on the ocean she dreaded, to stare slack-jawed at her

own feet. Pandora moved away from her and crossed her arms, tilting

her face into the wind. She was breathing hard and her eyes

darted from left to right as if she was reading the dark horizon.

Suddenly, she snapped back to attention.

?You snake,? she said, turning to stare at Daphne with awed rage.

?Creon said you were cunning, but this is something else entirely.

You actually believe what you?re saying! That?s why Lucas couldn?t

find anything false in what you said. All those years of hiding behind

other people?s faces and now all you are is one big lie. This is

why I have to keep you away from Castor and Pallas?from everyone

I love. I know in my heart that you used the cestus to trick my

brother. You never loved him, and he could never have loved you.?

Her words were harsh, but doubt was beginning to creep into her

tone. ?Ajax was too good, he was too pure. . . .?