Page 80 of Blood Feast

He hesitated, then pulled his hand back. “Very well. We’ll try mine. For now.”

“Where should we start looking?” Lyros pulled out his map.

Lio studied it with him. “Hadria is one of the oldest domains in Tenebra. There should be a number of structures here that date from the Mage King’s time. Any suggestions, Cassia?”

Cassia pointed to a section of land that curved outward from the coastline. “We’re here on the Horn of Tenebra. There’s a lighthouse out on the tip of it. The legends say the Mage King litthe signal fire himself when the lords of Hadria swore fealty to him.”

“Perfect,” Lio said. “Let’s see if the Changing Queen left her mark on it as well.”

“Shall we ride instead of stepping?” Cassia asked. “I think we can reach it in a couple of hours on Orthros Warmbloods.”

“Good idea,” Lyros said. “You two can look for entrances to the passageways as we go. They may be spread out like the ones at Patria.”

Cassia wished she could levitate onto Freckles like a proper Hesperine. Even so, mounting had never been this easy. As a mortal, it had taken so much practice to ride the Hesperine way, using her knees to guide her horse without reins. Now she felt connected to her horse through the Blood Union.

Freckles swung her head around and sniffed Cassia’s dagger. She put her ears back, snorted, then proceeded to ignore Rosethorn.

“Not intimidated by liegehounds or dangerous artifacts, are you?” Cassia patted the mare’s neck.

Freckles had a lively presence, but when Cassia tried to sense Knight’s emotions, all she felt was solid silence. The contrast sent a pang of regret through her. Liegehounds’ immunity to Hesperine magic meant she couldn’t commune with her oldest friend.

As they galloped across the moors, the others let her take the lead, although she would rather have shrunk to the back of the group in silence, as Mak was doing. But given her familiarity with Hadria, she was the best guide they had.

They halted at intervals for Lio to apply blood to his medallion. No light spawned to guide them to a Lustra door. Perhaps this search would prove as disastrous as everything else Cassia had attempted.

Twilight had given way to night by the time they reached the bluff where the lighthouse stood. They approached under veils, cautious of the mortal auras within. Lord Hadrian’s men might report their presence to Castra Hadria without ill intent.

The circular tower, built of heavy gray stone and Hadrian stubbornness, seemed immune to time and the waves fighting to wear down the sharp rocks below. Cassia halted Freckles at the foot of the bluff and squinted up at the firelight glaring from the top of the lighthouse. The ancient structure’s presence had always given her gooseflesh, and now her arcane senses told her why.

“It’s shining with magic in a literal sense,” she realized.

Mak let out a low whistle. “There’s something very strange about that fire spell.”

Lio stared up at it with an intrigued frown. “Cassia, do fire mages come here periodically to renew the enchantment?”

She shook her head. “Lord Hadrian would never let an Aithourian war mage touch his lighthouse.”

Lio’s brows rose. “Are we to believe this is the Mage King’s original spell? What could possibly sustain it this many centuries after his death?”

“We have a different arcane mystery to solve,” Lyros said. “Did his queen leave any portals here?”

“Hmm.” Lio tore his gaze from the flame and bit his hand, making another libation on his pendant.

Nothing happened.

Cassia’s heart sank. Her brilliant idea had not helped them at all. “There’s nothing here.”

“Nothing that I can detect.” Lio guided Moonflower closer to her. “Perhaps you have to let me in before the portals will accept me.”

Freckles shifted testily under Cassia, and she realized she was holding the horse’s mane too tight. She forced her hands to relax. “It would be unwise for me to attempt any magic.”

“I can veil your casting. I’m prepared this time.”

“I’m not sure I can concentrate. I’m rather thirsty.”

Lio’s gaze darkened. “That’s easily remedied.”

Her face flushed. After the ordeals of the night and the magic she had expended, she didn’t dare take a bite of him here and now. Her Craving would demand more than a sip.

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