Page 161 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

“It’s time to leave this in the hands of our Hesperines errant, don’t you think?” Lio asked. “Haven’t you been errant long enough?”

Cassia tried to swallow her tears. Could it really be that easy?

“Cassia, think of what the Collector did to try to capture you. If you’re necessary to his plans, depriving him of you is the surest way to foil his ambitions. You’re safe behind the ward of Orthros or traveling anywhere in the Empire. But the moment you enter Tenebra, you’re vulnerable to him. Staying out of his reach is the safest course for both you and Tenebra.”

For once, what was good for her was good for others, too.

“I’ll never try to take your weapons out of your hands,” Lio promised. “I’ll never condescend to you and say you should sit at home where it’s safe. Only you can decide if you’re ready to lay down your work. But Orthros is ready for you, if you are ready for it.”

Cassia looked at Lio. “I am ready.”

FESTIVALOF

GRACE

WITHIN REACH

Perita’s laughter filled therooms at the New Guest House that were now Cassia’s lodgings. Cassia had never heard her friend make such a free and happy sound.

Callen danced his beloved wife from one end of the sitting room to the next. With the giddiness of children and the gazes of newlyweds, they leapt, clapped, and spun together in a country reel.

Cassia would never have been able to give them up, if she hadn’t known she had helped secure them this future.

Callen picked Perita up off her feet and swung her around, turning in a circle on two good legs. “I thought I’d spend weeks in a sickbed! But here I am, ready for a dance.”

Cassia watched them from a couch with Knight on her feet. “You’re a fine dancer, Callen.”

Perita’s eyes twinkled at her over Callen’s shoulder. “Oh aye, that he is.”

“Well,” Cassia teased, “I am sure the two of you have exciting plans for tonight. You must go into the city as the Hesperines have invited us to do and get the most out of the festival.”

Callen came to a halt, setting Perita on her feet and holding her close. “What do you say, Pet? Shall we dance our way across Selas?”

She grinned, but glanced uncertainly between him and Cassia. “Are you sure it’s all right, my lady? Master Gorgos was very firm about none of the embassy participating in the Hesperines’ courtship festival. I don’t want to get my Callen in trouble.”

Cassia looked at Callen. “Are you planning to engage in any ‘orgiastic rituals that will rob you of your mental faculties and ready your body for corruption’ with my handmaiden?”

Perita snickered.

“Hmph,” said Callen. “If Master Gorgos hasn’t sent me to the pyre for letting Queen Soteira fix my leg, he can’t hold a few dances against us. We don’t know any Hesperine dances, in any case. There’s no heresy in a Hadrian carole.”

“I’m sure there will be plenty of songs suited to Tenebran dances. The city is full of music tonight.” Cassia could hardly wait to join Lio in the Hesperine dances. Tonight would not be a celebration of the Summit. This night was a celebration of them. Of love.

Perita eyed her with a knowing look. “Yes, why don’t we just be going.”

Callen took her hand, and they escaped across the courtyard through mint and junipers, murmuring and laughing together.

Now Cassia could ready herself for Grace Dance. She pulled her feet out from under her hound and stood up, smoothing the skirt of her dear old gardening dress. It was a good thing she had forgotten it at Lio’s tower the night Rose House had been destroyed. She found she didn’t regret that the rest of her Tenebran gowns hadn’t survived the attack. Neither she nor Solia needed them anymore.

Now it was time to don her silk festival robes.

Cassia went to pull the green velvet curtains, but a figure in the courtyard caught her eye. She stepped outside. “Ben?”

He halted his steady pace across the courtyard and stood at attention under a set of wind chimes. “Evening, Your Ladyship.”

She approached him. “You know, you can call me Cassia.”

“You’ll always be Your Ladyship to me.”

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