Page 89 of Blood Feast

Even underground, Cassia couldfeel that twilight had fallen in the world outside. Restlessness in her blood made her eager to escape this place of bones and magefire. But facing the black roses that marked the portal, she felt equal apprehension.

She secured her dagger belt around the waist of her dark, sturdy travel robes. Then she turned to her longest-serving weapon and rested her hand on Knight’s broad shoulders. “Ckuundat.”

He went into an alert stance, ready for any threat waiting for them outside. Beside him, Freckles put her ears back.

Mak led Bear to the door with a slight touch on the horse’s neck. “Any ideas about where to find Miranda?”

Cassia shook her head. “She escaped the Lustra’s hold under Rudhira’s nose. She could be anywhere.”

“We have one lead.” Lio joined them, Final Word sheathed on Moonflower’s saddle. “Something I heard at Mederi village. The elderly farmers there mentioned she has hiding places where she can disappear anytime her enemies get too close.”

“You think they might know where some of her dens are?” Lyros asked, already waiting ahead of them by the portal.

“Or perhaps they know other people who are likely to give her refuge,” Cassia added.

“We should start by asking them.” Lio looked between Mak and Lyros. “Do you have any idea where the Charge took the residents of Mederi Village for safety after evacuating them from Patria?”

“Let me think,” said Lyros. “Mak and I were casting wards on the walls, but I’m sure we heard where Solia planned to settle them.”

Mak snapped his fingers. “Callen and Benedict had that argument about it, remember?”

Ben. Cassia had been trying not to think about him. It still hurt that the devout knight judged her for choosing Hespera’s path. Their friendship had survived every ordeal but this.

Mak winced. “Callen insisted Hadria was safest because their warriors are superior, but Benedict was determined they should go to Segetia because the ‘bread basket of Tenebra will keep them better fed.’”

Cassia rolled her eyes. “Typical. They can stick their swords in enemies side by side and still keep up this foolish rivalry.”

“I think it’s becoming their language of love,” Mak quipped.

So Benedict would let go of the age-old feud and centuries of murder between Hadria and Segetia before he could accept her as a Hesperine. She should have known a holy knight would forgive warriors who had been his enemies sooner than a heretic who had been his friend.

“Who won the debate?” Lio asked.

“Segetia,” said Mak. “The Charge agreed to step the evacuees past the territory Lucis controls and into the safety of Flavian’s borders.”

Flavian’s name, on the other hand, no longer phased Cassia. Her unwanted betrothal to the future Free Lord of Segetia truly did feel like another life. But she sensed Lio bristle.

Her throat tightened. They had freed her from her mortal betrothal, only for her to ruin their Hesperine avowal.

Lyros offered the map to Mak. “Did they say where in Segetia they’re taking the farmers? It’s a large domain.”

Mak marked a spot where two rivers merged. “Solia has placed Benedict, as a holy knight in the Order of Andragathos, incommand of safety and charity toward the evacuees. I believe he and his men have gone to this area to resettle the villagers.”

“Let us hope we can avoid them all,” Cassia said. “I have no interest in sharing the happy news of my Gifting with Ben.”

Lio scowled. “Might as well feed roses to swine.”

“We shouldn’t simply step to the farmers, in any case,” Lyros said. “We might land in the middle of the Charge’s fangs or holy knights’ swords. Cassia, do you have memories of any locations in that area that we can use as a stepping focus?”

“Yes, I can think of a place that should be sufficiently out of the way.”

“To Segetia it is, then.” Lyros beckoned to them. “Let’s get out of here so we can step.”

It was time for Cassia to open the portal. Her heart began to race. Lio rested his hand on that sensitive spot low on her back. Despite the unresolved debate between them, her treacherous body shivered pleasantly.

“A drop of your blood should work again,” he suggested.

“There must be a way to get the roses to let us through without causing more magical upheavals.”

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