Page 100 of Blood Sanctuary, Part Two

His hand clenched on the handle of his scythe. He gaped at Cassia arm in arm with Lio and at her vicious liegehound unconcerned in the company of a Hesperine.

Lio held up his hands. “You are safe with me. First, because I am a Hesperine called to cause no suffering. Second, because I am a diplomat and have devoted my life to peace. Most importantly, because you are under Cassia’s protection, and she is under mine. None of her own will come to harm while my heart beats.”

Callen relaxed his grip, but did not budge from in front of Perita. “My lady is still under my protection. My wife assures me there is no foul magic at work here, but do not think I have surrendered my watch.”

This was what courage smelled like—like honor coated in fear coated in bravery. Lio wished he could convince Callen how much he admired him. “I am here to thank you for your roles in stopping Dalos. I owe you and Perita my life, as does every member of the Hesperine embassy. On behalf of Orthros, allow me to tell you that you have our deepest gratitude. We shall not fail to honor what you have done for us.”

Perita stepped out from behind Callen, and he let her, although he put an arm around her shoulders and held her close to him.

“I’d like to ask a boon,” said Perita. “Will you honor how we helped you by granting a request?”

Cassia’s aura brightened with hopeful surprise. But Callen’s face darkened, and he gave Lio no time to reply.

“With all due respect,” Callen all but growled, “I’ll not allow my wife to accept anything from Hesperines.”

Perita faced him. “I’m not going to accept it. You are. You’re going to let me honor what you did for me.”

He shook his head. “You’re everything to me, Pet. I’d give up far more to take care of you.”

“I know. But what kind of wife would I be if I didn’t take care of you right back?” Perita turned to Lio. “I would ask that your healers see to my husband’s leg.”

Callen stiffened beside her.

“I can say without hesitation,” Lio answered, “our healers would spare no effort in reversing the effects of your husband’s injury.”

“Now see here—” Callen protested.

Perita persisted, “Do you know how much they might be able to do for him? Can your Queen really do for a mortal what we saw her do for that Hesperine? Answer me honest.”

Lio nodded. “Mine is not the most qualified opinion. However, I can tell you that Queen Soteira has treated Imperial soldiers with limbs so damaged that mortal healers’ only recourse would be amputation.”

Callen took a step back.

Lio met his gaze. “Every one of those soldiers has returned to march in the Imperial army.”

Perita clutched her husband’s hand. For the first time, the hostile armor in his aura cracked, and Lio caught a hint of longing.

Cassia went to her bodyguard. “Before we left Tenebra, I secured Lord Hadrian’s promise that you and Perita will always have a place in his service, come what may. You know how well he keeps his oaths to his people. But think how much better he could keep it if you accept Perita’s gift to you.”

Perita looked up at her husband, her eyes pleading, her chin stubborn. Callen was indeed fortunate in love, and Lio suspected the man knew it better than anyone.

“I’m grateful to you, my lady, and to his lordship.” Callen hesitated.

“I know you,” said Perita. “You’ll not live on his charity thanks to some empty position he invents to keep you in his pay. You’ll not accept anything less than real work.”

“Lord Hadrian will need you,” Cassia urged. “You are too good a man and too fine a warrior to waste. Will you deprive him of your sword on the field?”

Lio weighed in. “It is perhaps pretentious of me to comment on the business of warriors, but there is one thing I can say without doubt. You are a man who protects women at any cost. I have the utmost respect for how you have guarded Cassia, and I can see how fortunate your wife is in her husband. It is also my understanding that your mother is a widow, and you the only son among several daughters.”

He had Callen’s attention now, although the stoic warrior gave Lio no clue whether he was making progress.

“I take that to heart,” Lio said, “as the eldest and only son of my family. I think my sister is the same age as your youngest. My thoughts are troubled by keeping her safe from the threat of Cordium’s rising aggression. What an astonishing time, when the same threat hangs over your own family as over mine.”

“Aye,” Callen said at last. “I never thought a Hesperine and I would find ourselves on the same side of the battlefield.”

Lio stepped nearer. “I will gladly do anything I can to help you care for your family through the coming trouble. It is the least I can do, when you have so faithfully protected mine.”

Lio rested his hand on Cassia’s arm just above the elbow. It felt uncomfortable to make a Tenebran male gesture of claim, but Lio reminded himself what it meant between them. He was just touching Cassia’s freckled elbow.

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