Page 7 of Blood Feast

“He already has a powerful bond with your Hesperine family. He will with you, as well.”

“It might be worse for him if the bond didn’t break.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Liegehounds can’t survive separation from theirkaetlii. After a month without me, he might be gravely ill.”

“But he recognizes Zoe as akaetliinow, too. Staying with her this month will have kept him safe.”

A frantic bark came from the distance, then another. Cassia’s hand tightened on Lio’s.

He smiled. “It sounds like Knight is waiting for you at the goat barn. I dare say Zoe is, too.”

Cassia started running. The barking grew louder. The grounds swept past her in a blur, Lio keeping pace beside her. She slowed outside the low stone fence of the goat paddock.

A massive, dark form launched toward her with speed to rival her own. Lio made to move in front of her, but with a shake of her head, she stood her ground before the oncoming predator.

No matter how Knight reacted, she would face him.

His body struck her, knocking the air out of her lungs. Snow met her back. He pinned her under his weight.

And began to lick her face. His overexcited whines split her ears. His whole body shook with the force of his emotions and his wagging tail, all his training and discipline forgotten.

Cassia gasped a breath, tears flowing down her face. She rolled over, strong enough to push him off, only to wrap her arms around him. They half wrestled, half cuddled in the snow.

“I know, my dearest,” she cooed. “That was the longest we’ve ever been apart in your whole life. It was so hard.”

Sniffing her everywhere, he sneezed and shook his ears.

“Do I smell different?” she asked, her throat tight. “So do you. Did you know you smell terrible to Hesperines? Yes, you do, but I have never been happier to get a nose full of liegehound musk.”

He licked her chin again. Laughing, she let him give her all the slobbery dog kisses.

She was still hiskaetlii, fangs and all.

I told you so.Lio sat on the ground nearby, trying to hold his little sister’s two goats out of the fray.

I should always trust your reassurances,Cassia said.

Then another, smaller form hit her, tumbling into the pile with her and Knight. Zoe squealed and squeezed the air out of Cassia a second time. “I missed you so much!”

Cassia sucked in a deep breath, learning her Grace-sister’s scent. Betony flowers and syrup. Zoe was shaking harder than Knight. Cassia felt that tremble of emotion in her own bones. The child's old fears and new panic and very present joy made Cassia’s heart speed up and a fresh wave of tears come to her eyes.

The Hesperines had taught her numb heart to feel, but this…this was the Blood Union. She, the lady of ice, would now live in visceral empathy with everyone who had blood flowing throughtheir veins. Especially the people she loved, like this little girl who had suffered too much in her eight years of life.

Cassia held Zoe close. “I promised you that whenever Lio and I have to leave you, we’ll always return. You’ll never lose me now, Grace-sister. For I am as immortal as you.”

Cassia let Zoe have a good cry while Lio stroked his little sister’s hair. When the child’s sobs of relief seemed wrung out, Cassia asked, “Do you want to see my new fangs?”

Sniffing, Zoe nodded. Cassia managed to sit up with Zoe against her and Knight sprawled across her lap. She beamed at the little girl, baring her teeth.

“Now you have fangs like me!” Zoe grinned back, revealing her own tiny canines and a missing bottom incisor.

Cassia gasped. “You lost another tooth! What did our Ritual father give you as a Tooth Gift this time?”

“Rudhira carved me a new toy goat. He says by the time I lose all my teeth, he’ll complete a whole herd.”

“I want to see the new addition to your collection.”

“I’ll show you later. Right now we have a surprise for you inside!”

Lio’s brows rose.Whatever excites Zoe more than a herd of goats carved by the First Prince must be marvelous indeed.

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