Page 65 of Blood Feast

Cassia hadn’t known any of that. Mak’s dedication to the law was coming to Lyros and Lio’s rescue, even as it sealed his and Cassia’s fate.

She reached for Lio’s hand and spoke the truth. “I’m so sorry Mak and I are putting you and Lyros through this.”

His eyes blazed with anger.She takes you and me together, or neither.

It won’t do me any good if you martyr yourself. Mak and I are counting on you and Lyros to stop Nike. Someone has to convince her not to tell Aunt Lyta the truth and get herself arrested.

You know it goes against everything in Nike to let you and Mak make this sacrifice for her.

Yes. She’ll confess to exonerate us. We cannot let that happen.

She would sooner go to prison in your place.

She wouldn’t allow anyone to imprison her. She would flee back to her quest to find Methu, never to return. You know losing her again will break Uncle Argyros’s heart, and this time, he’ll never heal.

She could feel Lio’s heart breaking minute by minute. She sensed every new fracture spreading in their Union. She was asking him to choose between so many people he loved. To go against his deepest instinct to protect his Grace at any cost.

We agreed to put each other first.His protest rang through the mind ward.

This is my turn to put you first.Aunt Lyta witnessed me using my magic on the weapons. There’s no way we can convince her I’m not involved. But we can still make you look innocent.

Or so Cassia hoped. Had her scheme allayed Aunt Lyta’s suspicions?

The Guardian of Orthros pierced her palm, then curled it into a fist. Her power filled the air, pressing on Cassia’s ears. The weapons levitated off the table. Then the scabbards rose and wrapped tightly around them, binding them in chains.

“Mak,” she said. “My son. You know what I must do.”

He faced his mother. “Yes, Guardian of Orthros. I’m sorry I have forced your hand.”

“So am I.” There came the briefest gleam of tears in the ancient warrior’s eyes.

Then she cast her blood to the ground. Cassia felt warding magic close around her wrists. The Blood Shackles.

Mak’s mother took hold of their arms with surprising gentleness. “Telemakhos Argyros and Cassia Komnena, you are under arrest for possession of weaponry within the borders of Orthros, failing to surrender your weapons at Waystar or the Armory of Akofo, forging the tools of war within the peace of the Queens’ ward, and imbuing artifacts with enchantments designed to kill. These accusations and your defense will be heard by the magistrates of Orthros. May Hespera’s Eyes see justice done.”

Cassia’s senses blurred, overwhelmed with the powerful magic in the room and the emotions inundating the Blood Union.

She had feared the Gifting would not find her worthy. She had never imagined she would succeed in becoming immortal only to fall so far.

Like Phaedros the Mad, she was now one of the few Hesperine criminals in the history of Orthros.

But she had always known she would do anything for her Hesperines.

Lio’s power shook their Union.You’re asking me to stand here and watch you get arrested while I go free.

Orthros needs one of the Collector’s two worst enemies to not be in prison. Tonight, that has to be you.

Orthros can fight the Collector without me, then. I will fight for you.

You can’t do anything to protect me if you’re locked up with me. Take this opportunity I’m giving you. Work with Lyros to defend Mak and me.

That, at last, seemed to cut through his fury.Yes. Of course. We’ll fix this. I swear to you, Cassia, we’ll get you out.

Aunt Lyta addressed Lio and Lyros. “Inform your Elder Houses that members of your bloodlines are in the Stand’s custody. It is the duty of your firstbloods to arrange their defense.”

“As you command, Guardian of Orthros,” Lyros said.

Lio said nothing. Cassia sensed that in this moment, Glasstongue did not trust what words would come out of his mouth.

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