Page 160 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

Lio’s body was tense against her. “We would have to go to some lengths to break your betrothal to Flavian.”

“We would find a way,” she said firmly, even as the thought of it all filled her with frustration she could scarcely bear.

She would be a woman who fought tooth and nail for every sliver of influence. She would go back to being all those masks she wore to others and all the masks they put on her. The bastard daughter of the king soon to be deposed. The virtuous Kyrian devotee. The schemer.

No affinity readings. No choice of a service. No roses. The garden at House Komnena would lay choked in weeds for…

“How long?” Cassia asked. “Did they say how long they want you to stay?”

“They suggested the standard tenure of Tenebran emissaries to Cordium. Three years to start, extended to five, depending on events.”

Three to five years.

“I’d have to wait to become a Hesperine.”

“We would have to make a decision about that, yes.”

“Lio, is this whatyouwant?”

He hesitated.

“You waited months to tell me the truth,” Cassia said. “You risked your life to give me time to decide I want to spend eternity with you. No one has ever made that kind of sacrifice for me, and you know I love and respect you for it.”

“I swore I would protect your freedom.”

“You will not compromise that if you answer my question. We’re only talking about it. We have to talk, just like always.” She put a hand on his neck to remind him of her braid and all their promises to each other. “When I tried to go back to Tenebra without you, I threw my plan in your face without asking how you felt about it. I will never do that again. This time, you should tell me what you want.”

Lio let out a sigh. “What I want has changed, Cassia. I have found something better than what I always dreamed of. I am living it with you every night here in Orthros.”

Cassia held her breath.

“Can we agree we’ve done our part?” Lio asked. “Could we let Tenebra go?”

A smile overtook Cassia, and suddenly tears were streaming down her cheeks. “I never want to set foot in Tenebra again. I want to stay home.”

Another sigh escaped him, almost a laugh. “Then we want the same thing.”

She rested her face on his chest. “No matter how many times I face the threat of losing Orthros, my answer will always be the same. Never.”

“In that case, I will go ahead and apply to Uncle Argyros for a leave of absence from my duties. Alongleave of absence.”

Cassia’s smile widened. “How long?”

“As long as we need. I want you to have plenty of time to recover from your Gifting and become comfortable with your new nature. Then we’ll want to take our time planning our avowal. These things happen once in an immortal lifetime, so be prepared for no one to know when to stop celebrating. Eventually we’ll get away from them all for our Gracemoon. A whole month all to ourselves, anywhere you like. By the time we get back, Zoe will be excited for a visit to goat country, and you and I will have no trouble providing for her while we’re away from our parents.”

“Travel in the Empire sounds wonderful.”

“If you find you like it, well, I have a rough draft ready of my petition for permanent reassignment to Imperial affairs. We don’t have to travel at all, though. Uncle tells me he’s in need of home diplomats to discuss cultural affairs with visiting administrators the Empress sends to Orthros. He has two openings, to be exact.”

“Joining the diplomatic service looks better to me all the time.”

“Would it be terribly selfish of me to try to persuade you?” He breathed into her hair. “I don’t know if I’ll ever shake up politics again. But I know I want to be with you all the time.”

Cassia’s spirits fell as quickly as they had lifted. “But who will protect Tenebra from the Old Master? They need a mind mage.”

“They shall have many, now that Hesperines errant are permitted in Tenebra again, thanks to the treaty. What’s more, Annassa Soteira has mandated that every errant circle travel with at least one mind healer. Hesperine theramancers trained in her techniques will protect mortals from the Collector’s evil.”

“The Tenebrans won’t need us.”

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