Page 73 of Blood Feast

“We’re out of time,” Lyros hissed, an instant before Lio sensed her, too.

Lyta’s aura was approaching.

“How can their council be over already?” Lio glanced around them, then beckoned to the others. “In here.”

They ducked inside one of the empty disenchantment chambers, and Lio eased the door almost shut. He slammed more power into his veils, wrapping them all in the gloom of the unlit room.

Your heart is pounding,Cassia said.Oh, Goddess, she’s coming?

Lio gritted his teeth, unwilling to admit how close they were to getting caught by the Guardian of Orthros. Time to find out how the veils he had learned from her Grace and daughter held up against her.

Through the gap of the open door, he saw Aunt Lyta stalk in. She halted there, and Lio tensed. She stood for a long moment, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Then she sprang into motion all at once.

She hurled her fist at the practice dummy. Canvas ripped, and feathers tore through the air around her.

When another aura slipped into the room with her, Lio’s heart leapt into his throat.

Uncle Argyros pulled her into his arms. “Talk to me.”

She rested her fists and her tear-streaked face on his chest. “I remember how the pacifist Hesperites looked at me when I learned how to use my fists. Is that how I looked at Mak when I saw him with a weapon? Have I become them?”

“You could never be like them.”

“No.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I don’t want to tell the Queens. I didn’t want to arrest our son.”

“I know.” He shut his eyes, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“I cannot make exceptions for our own blood. But I want to. Hold me, Argyros. Otherwise I will walk over to that door right now and open it so Mak and Cassia can slip away, as if I never saw a thing.”

He held her tighter. “I’m afraid you’ll have to hold me in return.”

She wrapped her arms around him. He rested his face on her hair, and his eyes caught the low light, glowing dark gold.

Lio realized his uncle was looking directly at him.

Caught in Silvertongue’s gaze, Lio could do nothing but hold his breath and his veils and pray.

“I wish you and I could open that door,” said Uncle Argyros, “but we must not.”

Perhaps Lio had lost his mind. Or perhaps he understood exactly what his uncle meant.

He gave his mentor a nod.

Was it his imagination, or was that minute motion of Uncle Argyros’s head a nod in return?

“Let me take you home,” Uncle Argyros said. “It’s not necessary to guard them. Everyone in Orthros knows there is no possible way they could break out of this building.”

She lifted her head suddenly, her brow furrowing.

He put a finger to her lips. “We should leave now. It is better for everyone that way.”

The elders disappeared, their powerful presences fading from the room.

The rest of them stood in silence for an instant, then Solia said, “Is it safe to try again?”

“I’m fairly certain they won’t be back,” Lio replied.

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