Page 70 of Blood Feast

You know I cannot see reason on this, my Grace.

Lio looked from their Trial sisters to Solia and Tendo. “Lyros and I are planning to break Cassia and Mak out of Stand custody and go errant, no matter the consequences.”

Lyros gave a solemn nod. “Our elders are doing what they must for the integrity of this land they founded. We’ll do what we must to protect our Graces.”

“We have a higher duty, as well.” Lio wasn’t sure if he was justifying this decision to their friends or himself. “The Collector won’t wait for Orthros’s magistrates to reach a verdict. We must get to Tenebra and stop him from opening that door. But you all have duties to your kingdoms and your bloodlines, as well.”

“Please,” Lyros said, “if you have any hesitations about this plan, leave now. We don’t want to hurt any of you.”

Solia crossed her arms. “If you weren’t planning to break Cassia and Mak out, I would do it myself.”

Tendo narrowed his eyes at her. “Fortunately for you, I’ve infiltrated the Empress’s secret prisons. I doubt the silkfoot version of high security will pose a challenge.”

She looked away. “The Ashes are covering for us. Hoyefe is casting illusions at the celebration to give us all alibis whileKarege helps Tuura and Kella smuggle out your packs and horses.”

“I’m your escape transport,” said Nodora.

Kia gestured at herself. “You’ll need my methodological deconstruction abilities to get Mak and Cassia out of their Blood Shackles.”

Lyros’s eyes widened at her. “You can break Blood Shackles?”

“I can dismantle any spell, in theory, as long as I understand its structure. I’m afraid you and Mak will have to reveal some of the Stand’s magical secrets if you want me to free him and Cassia.”

Lyros grimaced. “To put this mathematically, that could dramatically increase your chances of getting arrested.”

She lifted her chin. “I would consider it an honor.”

Lyros gave her a sad smile. “Trust you to flout the laws for your principles without hesitation.”

“When laws don’t match our principles, the laws need to change.” Kia touched his arm. “If that gets me exiled and imprisoned under the midnight sun with Phaedros, well, that just means I’ll get to debate his latest treatise with him in person.”

Lyros shook his head, putting his arms around her and Nodora’s shoulders.

“We won’t let anyone else get arrested tonight,” Lio said firmly. Especially not the Blood Errant. “Who knows about the arrest so far?”

“Lyta has a council with my mothers in half an hour,” Xandra replied. “That will be your chance to rescue Mak and Cassia while they’re not guarded.”

“That doesn’t give us much time,” Lio said. “Who else?”

“Argyros and Lyta have informed no one but your parents and Solia,” Xandra explained. “Then Solia recruited the rest of us tohelp. Your families are keeping all of this very quiet for now. They haven’t even stopped the avowal celebration.”

Lio grimaced. “How did my father react?”

“He was so quiet,” Xandra said. “Dangerously so. Then he went looking for you.”

Lio muttered another curse. “What about Nike and Rudhira?”

Xandra shook her head. “Rudhira is in Tenebra, and Nike has been on patrol at the other end of the ward this entire time. I think your families are putting off breaking the news to them.”

“We have to keep Nike distracted,” Lio said. “Mak and Cassia made us promise we wouldn’t let her do anything self-sacrificing.”

Xandra’s brow furrowed. “Is she more involved in this than you’re letting on?”

Lio exchanged another glance with Lyros. Their friends only knew the version of the story Cassia and Mak had told Aunt Lyta.

“They have a right to know the truth,” Lyros decided.

Lio nodded. “I agree. Nike needs their protection, too.”

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