Page 15 of Blood Feast

“I’m in a helpful mood,” Mak said. “You’ll spar with us tomorrow, won’t you, Tendo?”

Didn’t he already secure Solia’s agreement to meet in the arena?Lio asked Cassia silently.

He certainly did,she replied.Oh, clever Mak.

Cassia put a hand on Tendo’s arm.“Please stay that long. I’d love to come and watch.”

“I’ll even let you take me into the ring for a few beatings,” Lio promised.

“We’ll see,” Tendo relented. That was far better than a no from the grumpy shifter.

No one breathed a word of war or politics as the night went on. Cassia managed to bring Zoe and Solia in on her plan with Lio none the wiser. But Cassia could feel everything left unsaid rising like a storm, until she could hardly bear the charge in the air.

The storm broke when a new aura slipped silently into the gathering. Cassia’s magic rose in recognition, and she met the scout’s startled green eyes across the now-hushed room.

“Habuch joh bero,” Kalos breathed, an oath in the old garden tongue once spoken by their ancestors, the Lustri people, who had practiced nature magic in its most ancient and powerful forms. She sensed his beast magic prowling around the letting site, circling her. He bowed deeply to her.

She drew nearer to him. “Oh, Kalos, no need for that.”

“Silvicultrix,” he said reverently. “You made a Hesperine letting site.”

“I’d love to talk with you about it. Later.” Right now, she could tell their time was running short.

Kalos’s gaze went to the First Prince, then Solia. The scout was veiling his emotions. For the sucklings’ sake, Cassia thought. But she knew without a doubt that he was here to deliver the bad news she had feared.

THE NEXT DUEL

Lio allowed himself hisanger. Cassia’s Giftmoon was over.

He’d known it as soon as the letting site had issued its desperate warning. But he stood in denial for a moment longer, while Kadi and Javed helped Lio’s parents herd the unsuspecting sucklings out of the room.

Zoe clung to Cassia and Lio, pleading to stay. He picked her up on his hip, while Cassia tucked one of her purple hair ribbons back into place.

“We’ll go with you, Zoe,” Nodora offered.

Kia nodded. “I’ll read you a bedtime story.”

Thank you,Lio mouthed to his Trial sisters over Zoe’s head.

Nodora gave him one of her kind smiles. After a great deal of persuasion from her, Kia, and Xandra, Zoe let Lio hand her to their father. The look of disappointment on her face gave him a new level of hatred for the war.

On their way out, Xandra paused to give her brother a fierce hug. “You had better come home again soon, Rudhira. Don’t make me drink your terrible hard cider alone.”

“I’ll join you for a bottle of your insufferably sweet mead as soon as I can,” he promised. But their good-natured sibling rivalry about their brewing didn’t make anyone laugh tonight.

Knight stood alert at Cassia’s side. She gripped Lio’s hand, and her reassurance pulsed along their bond, fueled by her new power. But neither of them could stop what was happening.

The Charge, the Stand, and the diplomats remained. Lio’s minute of bitterness was up. His temper would simply have to come along for the ride.

Veil spells fell over the room, and Kalos announced, “Lord Lucis and the war mages are preparing to move.”

Lord Lucis. Hearing that reminded Lio of their new reality, and his Grace’s aura simmered with satisfaction at the words. Cassia and Solia’s mortal sire was no longer the king by law. Even if he and his mage allies refused to accept it.

Kalos continued his rapid report. “They’ve received new ammunition from Cordium—arrows imbued with magefire. They plan to use them on Mederi Village.”

Rudhira swore. “How much time do we have?”

“They’ll attack at dusk,” Kalos informed him.

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