Page 221 of Blood Feast

Mak’s mouth hung open. “That’s what you think?”

“I’ve felt that way since the first time you showed me how to throw a punch.”

“You’re always the one making me a better warrior. A better person.”

“‘The good influence who keeps Mak out of trouble.’” Lyros let out a humorless laugh. “I embraced that label from your parents. It made me feel…needed, I suppose. Like I brought something useful to the family.”

Mak stared at him. “You thought you had to beuseful?”

“More useful than a thieving urchin and a delinquent artist. So I influenced you right out of your bravest ideas and kept you from breaking rules that needed to be broken. Because I was trying to prove something, too.”

Mak shoved his hands through his hair again. “You’re my Grace, and I didn’t know you felt this way. Goddess. It never occurred to me. It’s always been so obvious to me that you’re the best of us.”

“You’re hardly objective.”

Mak made a strangled noise of frustration. “Why do you think I keep that lump of clay in our residence?”

Lyros huffed. “So you can tease me about it.”

“Why do you think I love to tease you? It makes me happy every time I look at your horrible attempts at art. If you’d been a master artist, you wouldn’t have become a Steward with me.”

“I would have.”

“And then I’d feel guilty for pulling you away from something you were good at. But I didn’t. You were meant to become a warrior.”

Lyros smiled. “You were the good influence on me.”

“Then listen to me. You don’t have to prove anything. You’re worthy of your speires in your own right. But if you need another reason, you’re my Grace. You belong with me.”

Lyros pulled Mak closer. “Let me back into your hard head, and I think I’ll finally believe that.”

The tension in Mak eased. Lyros’s eyes unfocused, and he let out a sigh. His fangs unsheathed.

Over his shoulder, Mak motioned to Lio and Cassia and mouthed,I’ve got him.

Lyros would be all right. What he needed now was time with his Grace. As Mak’s veil spells fell over the cavern, Lio and Cassia slipped through one of the archways.

They followed the stream along a lengthy passageway. Now that they were alone, her Craving seemed to fill the space. But he didn’t reach for her yet. Dame stayed close to him, while Knight trotted ahead of Cassia.

They hadn’t gone far when Cassia halted. She turned to Lio, unsaid words rising and falling in her thoughts. This time, he didn’t push. He would wait as long as she needed him to.

Dame closed the distance between them, tiptoeing toward Cassia.

“Oh, hello, lovely lady,” Cassia crooned, extending a hand. “How glad I am to see you on your feet.”

After sniffing her for a moment, Dame licked her hand.

“Well, aren’t you a sweetheart?” Cassia held out her other hand to Knight. “Come meet Dame properly, darling.Barda acklii.”

Dame stayed where she was, cautious, But Knight trotted over to her, and soon they were circling each other, sniffing one another’s tails.

No aggressive posturing for pack dominance? Lio rubbed his temple. Either his blood had ruined Dame’s liegehound instincts, or she was the friendliest dog ever forced into war.

Knight bounded away, then halted, looking back over his shoulder at Dame. She took a step toward him, but didn’t leave Lio’s reach.

“How do I tell her she’s off duty?” he asked.

Cassia smiled. “Soor obett.”

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