Page 116 of Blood Feast

“Our laws are supposed to be just. Where is the justice in punishing you for your own nature? Our elders taught us that all are welcome under Hespera’s Eyes. When did they decide our profane goddess would not accept your thorns?”

“They accepted my roses. Just not our weapons.”

“They, who have killed war mages with their bare hands and even now have voted that Hesperines should march to war.”

She pressed her hand to his medallion. “We were always supposed to be diplomats. You worked your whole life for the title of Ambassador. You were born into Blood Komnena, the long-awaited hope of our elder house. Don’t tell me you do not feel the loss.”

“I do. I feel it so bitterly. I gave all of myself to the diplomatic service, and I earned my seat in the Firstblood Circle as Firstgift Komnenos. I proved to our people over and over that they can trust my judgment. And this is how they repay me. By casting out my Grace.”

She drew a sharp breath, and he felt the stab of pain in her aura. “Oh, Lio. This is so much worse than if you were angry at me.”

“What? Why?”

“You’re not angry at me. You’re angry at our people.” Tears welled in her eyes, wavering gold. “I haven’t merely cost you Orthros. I’ve cost you your love for it.”

“You know that when faced with unbearable choices, I will always choose your love. My first loyalty is to our Oath, my Grace.”

She hid her face against his chest, her sobs quiet against his heart. He held her while her weeping wracked her and waves ofgrief tore out of her. They’d had everything they ever wanted for a night, only for it all to disappear.

Lio bared his fangs, his blood pounding with the injustice of it. “I will not let anyone punish you for who you are. Remember what I said, Cassia. I want you to break everything in your path.”

“I can’t bear to hurt anyone again.”

“Look at me, my rose.”

At last, she lifted her tear-stained face.

“You taught me something, one of the most important magic lessons of my life. And now it’s my turn to teach you.”

She scrubbed her hand over her eyes. “What could I have taught you about magic?”

“Think of that night after Martyr’s Pass, when I believed I had slaughtered hundreds of mortals with my magic. What did you tell me?”

“That you could never hurt anyone like that. It’s not in you.”

“You were right. It turned out I was not to blame for their deaths. You taught me not to fear my own power. And I will not ever allow you to fear yours.”

“You understand.” The words rushed out of her. “I do fear it.”

“I know. The first time you touched your roses, their thorns cut. Now you’re afraid to repeat that pain. But that is the nature of your magic. It is not easy. It is not tame. Do not expect it to be. Let it be what it is.”

“What if it is not Hesperine?”

“That doesn’t matter.Youare Hesperine. Trust yourself, as you told me to do in Martyr’s Pass. If you unleash your power, your Hesperine heart will set its limits, just as mine did.”

She swayed against him, as if standing on a precipice. “That is such a terrifying risk to take.”

“I will take that risk with you. But in return, I need all your courage. I need you totry. You will never learn if you do not cast. Will you do that for me?”

“For you, Lio, I will do anything.”

“Then let go,” he said against her lips.

She raked her mouth over his, his starving queen, finally allowing herself to her own banquet table. He served up his tongue to her, and she lit into his mouth. Her kiss made his fangs unsheathe. She sucked them, turning his canines into her next course.

She pushed him, putting him where she wanted him with all her strength. His back hit stone, and he smiled into her wicked kiss. All her resolutions about not ending up against the wall had been in vain. And he intended to make the most of it.

ON WING

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