Page 101 of Blood Feast

“I’m prepared for it now,” Lio said.

She arched a brow at him. He cleared his throat into his hand, but she suspected he was surreptitiously rubbing his fangs.

Neither of them was prepared to remain in this circle for hours, fighting the insistent magic. But they didn’t have a choice. “We can spend the Dawn Slumber here.”

Lyros eyed the open sky. “Not under direct sunlight. It would be best if we sleep in the light-resistant Azarqi tents Kella sent with us. But underground would be better. I suppose there’s no chance of finding a portal here?”

Cassia shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not one of the Changing Queen’s doors to her secret passages, in any case.”

“This circle is something much older. More primal.” Lio’s voice sent a shiver over her skin.

“Yes.” Cassia’s mouth was dry. “It almost seems as if it is a portal in some way of its own.”

“A portal to what?” Mak asked. “Where?”

“I don’t know,” Cassia answered. “I don’t know nearly enough.”

When Lio offered topitch his and Cassia’s tent, he expected her to protest. But for once, she didn’t insist on helping. She stayed on the opposite side of the circle from him. That made it only a little less difficult to keep his hands off of her.

Their Blood Union saturated the ring of stones, a churning mix of hurt, anger, and need. Mak and Lyros pitched their tent without commenting, but he noticed their worried glances.

Finally Cassia padded over to join Lio at the tent flap, her eyelids heavy. The magic of the stone circle hummed up through his body, demanding, right. There was still time for him to follow her into that tent and turn her over for a fast, hard feast before she fell asleep.

He shook his head, trying to clear it. He couldn’t let her drink from him, not with the Gift Collector’s magic still in his body. But if he drank from her first, that might finish healing him so his blood was safe for her…

No. With this magic manipulating their minds and desires, could she trust herself to wait? Could he trust himself to stop her?

She looked up into his eyes, and her throat worked as she swallowed.If we give in, I think it could interact with the magic. Even activate it. We shouldn’t do that without knowing the consequences.

She was right to hesitate this time. He knew that. But the sight of her tongue darting out to wet her lips almost undid him.

This is one experiment I’m not in favor of,he made himself say.Riling up prehistoric spells we don’t understand could cause…trouble.

He couldn’t think clearly enough to theorize about the possible outcomes. He only knew that the moment she got her fangs into him, the remnants of their self control would break, and he would be inside her in a heartbeat.

Her cheeks flamed.I’ll go into the tent alone. Wait till I fall asleep.

He nodded mutely. She slipped inside with only her liegehound for company.

Lio stalked to the other side of the circle and sank down onto the grass, propping his back against one of the stones. They had made the right decision. Hadn’t they?

Or had she seized on the Lustra’s interference as an excuse to keep her distance?

Lio looked out over the surrounding fields and tried to think who might be out there following them. More Gift Collectors. Lucis’s war mage allies. Some threat from Kallikrates they hadn’t imagined yet. He tried to distract himself from the fact that his Grace was falling asleep alone mere paces away, and he had hurt her.

Mak flopped down beside him, then Lyros sat on Lio’s other side.

“I should have known you two would corner me,” Lio said.

Mak stretched his bandaged arm. “What are Trial brothers for?”

“Don’t bother avoiding our questions. You know we’ll get answers out of you by any means necessary.” Lyros pointed at Lio’s shoulder. “First, how is your wound?”

Lio rubbed it gingerly. “Sore. But the fatigue is getting better. You?”

“Same. Another drink and I won’t feel it anymore.”

“Speaking of,” said Mak. “Next question. Why are you moping out here instead of letting your newly avowed Grace tend your wounds some more?”

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