Page 99 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

“It is a wise political move. It is also my pleasure.”

“I wish we could offer you some advice,” said Lyros, “but we have no experience asking for a mortal family’s blessing.”

“Lyros couldn’t help you anyway,” Mak added, “for he never had to ask. I thought Father was going to beg him to braid me up.”

“Grace-Father thinks my ‘considered approach to life’ is a ‘moderating influence’ on Mak.” Lyros flashed a very immoderate grin.

“Good luck,” Mak wished them.

As Lio and Cassia proceeded into the gallery, his cousin clapped him on the shoulder.

“Goddess bless,” Lio heard his Trial brothers say behind them.

“I think the celebration for your parents this moon went well,” Cassia mused, “even though you and I didn’t get any sleep between yours and theirs.”

“I have to say,” Lio replied, “I’ve seldom seen Zoe so excited.”

“She explained the Festival of the Gift to me three times while we were getting everything ready. She could hardly wait to give your parents a present to thank them for making her a Hesperine.”

“She’s thrilled you were there to help.”

“I wouldn’t have missed the installation of their goat window for the world. But it still bothers me that I—”

Lio shook his head, smiling at her. “Don’t say you didn’t bring a gift.”

He realized they were in the courtyard of Rose House, and Cassia had made him forget his apprehensions for a moment. Cup and thorns, he loved his Grace.

“Do you have any final words of counsel?” he asked.

She glanced at her hound, who stood at attention beside them. “Knight approves. The hardest battle is behind you.”

“Alas, I cannot convince your human guardians of my good intentions with treats.”

“You are one of Orthros’s foremost experts on Tenebran custom. No one is more qualified for this than you.”

He rubbed his mouth. “I fear these leave me hopelessly disqualified.”

“Nonsense. All my other suitors lacked an essential feature. Fangs. I insist on fangs.” She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth before she turned to her curtained door.

Lio smiled, but he could sense his challengers waiting within. Cassia opened the door and pushed the curtain back, and he escorted her into her quarters on his arm.

Perita halted in the act of tidying the already spotless room. She froze, staring at them. The color was gone from her face. She cast one glance at Knight, and disbelief flashed in her aura. It pained Lio to listen to the way her heart raced.

In the awkward silence, he heard it. The other heartbeat in the room, soft and quiet but strong, beating within Perita.

Lio tried not to smile or stare, lest he alarm her further. He stood there and listened, trying to grasp it. She had two hearts. She was carrying a little body inside of hers, crafting it like a spell without even trying.

He bowed deeply to her.

“Perita,” Cassia said, “I’d like you to meet Lio.”

“Ambassador.” Perita’s fear did not make her voice waver. She swept a deep curtsy.

“It is an honor,” he told her.

As if the sound of Lio’s voice were an alarm, Callen burst through the door. He charged in front of his wife, sweeping her behind him.

“Callen, at ease,” Cassia said. “There is no danger.”

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