Page 56 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

Lio thought back over the muddle of that night, when he had been nearly too ill to think. His heart sank. “You were hurt that I didn’t tell you.”

“You always were a quick study. Well done.”

“By the Blood Union. I hurt Uncle’s feelings.”

“He does have them, you know.”

“Well, of course he does. But most of the time he is…”

“Impervious? He seems so, yes. That’s why this sort of thing is so hard for him. Mother and Kadi and I wear our wards for all to see. But he wears a veil.”

“I’m beginning to think he and I have done nothing but wear veils with each other this year.”

“He took it hard that you told everyone but him about Cassia. In fact, you went out of your way to keep her a secret from him until—”

“The Firstblood Circle.” Lio rubbed his face. “Thorns. What possessed me to let him find out with the rest of Orthros? Him, my mentor?”

“You weren’t thinking clearly because of the Craving,” Mak reminded him. “That isn’t an excuse, it’s a real obstacle.”

“Yet somehow I managed to present a plan for changing the history of Orthros without stumbling over my words, while I couldn’t even see the nose in front of my face and realize I did wrong by my own uncle.”

“You did collapse after presenting said plan. Imagine what might have happened if you’d tried to make amends with Father then. It would have been even worse than vomiting on his fruit trees, and that wasbad.”

“Well, I did have reasons for not telling him.”

Mak counted them off on his fingers. “Keeping our elders from kidnapping Cassia. Keeping the Queens’ Master Ambassador from kicking you out of the diplomatic service for getting your fangs polished by the king’s daughter…”

“I was afraid he would talk me out of my plan for the Solstice Summit. He is the soul of caution.”

“Maybe. But contrary to popular belief, he is not reason incarnate. He’s just as volatile as the rest of our family.”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call your father ‘volatile,’ but…”

Mak shook his head. “Why do you think all his children turned out like we did? Why do you think he’s a match for Mother? How do you think he managed to hold off an army bent on razing his temple with only his mind? Not by being reasonable.”

“I never thought of it that way.”

“You should know this. You’re the one who’s so much like him. What makes you a match for Cassia? How did you get the idea for the Solstice Summit?”

“Sheer benevolence on the Goddess’s part and sheer impertinence on mine.”

Mak chuckled. “A very Argyran answer. But the real answer is you’re so passionate about everything you don’t know what to do with yourself half the time. You care so much. There. I have educated you, without even needing to raise a fist to prove my point, I might add.” He patted himself on the back.

“I think you have taught me as much as about myself as your father.”

“Now go use what you’ve learned and apologize to him. The Vigil of Union is supposed to be a time of reconciliation. Veil hours are waning, and I want the two of you to end this night on good terms.”

“Is he in his library?” Lio asked.

“No, he’s in yours, waiting to apologize to you.”

Lio gave Mak the victor’s salute. “Are you sure you aren’t a mind mage?”

Mak shuddered. “Definitely not, thank the Goddess.”

“For your help tonight, you have my gratitude.”

“Good luck.” Mak gripped Lio’s shoulder, then turned him around and gave him a gentle push toward House Komnena.

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