Page 88 of Blood Sanctuary, Part One

The color drained from Perita’s face. “I wouldn’t put it past Cordium, but…to know that matters are so far gone…”

Cassia held her friend’s shoulders. “I know these are heavy secrets. I know you wish you had nothing to do with them. So do I. But the time has come when it is no longer safer to not know.”

Perita put a hand to her belly. “Tell me the rest.”

“I knew I couldn’t stop Dalos, not without help. I enlisted aid.” Cassia’s heart was pounding so hard, she could feel her pulse in her head. She was really going to say it. It was time. “I knew who had the power to stop him, to protect all of us from him.”

“You,” Perita breathed. “You told the Hesperines.”

Cassia waited, frozen, for the judgment to fall.

Slowly, an expression dawned upon Perita’s face. Wonder. She smiled. “By Anthros’s Sword. You aren’t to be trifled with.”

Cassia breathed. “You understand. I told them what Dalos was going to do so they would be prepared to counter his spell—so they would save us. And it worked.”

“It sure as Hypnos did.”

Relief and joy made tears rise in Cassia’s eyes. “I was so afraid you would think me a traitor and a heretic.”

Perita snorted. “Everybody’s a traitor and a heretic sometimes, my lady.”

Cassia embraced her friend, then pulled back and ran her hand over her eyes. “You have nothing to fear from the Hesperines. They know you and Callen were the source of my information. They know you helped me save the Hesperine embassy’s lives.”

Perita wrapped both arms around her middle. “The Hesperines owe a life debt to us.”

“They will not repay what you did for them by endangering your family.”

“Whatever else they may be capable of, I can believe that. Everyone looks out for their own kind, even Hesperines. Seven lives we gave back to them. They’ll not take ours.”

“You and Callen can safely have quintuplets and still be under the protection of the life debt.”

“Oh gods. I hope not. At least not my first time.”

“I’m so sorry. I never meant to inflict that much fertility on you when I tossed Kyria’s blessed sheaves your way on the Autumn Greeting.”

They laughed together.

The tension drained out of Perita, and her shoulders slumped. “Gods. I’ve been so frightened.”

“It’s time we stopped living in fear. I shall free all of Tenebra from its grip, mark my words.”

“If I do say so myself, you’ll need my help.”

“Oh, I will. I am so grateful you are with me.”

THE HESPERINE PATH

Lio was on theverge of pacing by the time he sensed Perita’s aura recede from Cassia’s rooms. Cassia peered out of the curtains, her eyes searching the darkness.

Shifting his veil to make himself visible to no one but her, Lio stood and held out his hands to Cassia. She darted outside, and Knight trotted in her wake with a wag of his tail.

She slid into Lio’s arms. “I’m sorry for the extra delay, but Perita and I had to talk. It was important, and it couldn’t wait.”

“No need for you to apologize.” He hugged her close to him, trying to let go of his frustration. “Is everything all right?”

“I had to convince Perita she is safe from your people. You see…”

“Goddess bless, of course she would be frightened, if she believes all those stories about Hesperines kidnapping pregnant women.”

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