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Nina glared through her tears. “I’ll stay quiet, butonlyif you don’t choose Josef.”
A love for a love.
Alessa nodded. “Josef, take her home.”
Still sobbing, Nina let Josef lead her toward the door. His stone face slipped as they reached it, and he cast one last apologetic look behind him.
“So, what’s the deal?” Kaleb asked Alessa. “You can’t hurt Dante at all?”
“Ican, and I have,” Alessa said. “But he’s a lot harder to kill than other people, so he’s been helping me control my power. He’s been helping me exactly as I told you, and more. And I think, maybe, his gift almost works like a… release valve?”
Saida snorted loudly. “Sorry. Can’t help myself.”
Alessa ignored her. “All I know is that I can control myself better with him—Saida,stoplaughing—than the rest of you. It’s been extremely helpful, and without him, you’d all be in much worse shape.”
Kaleb circled Dante. “A real live ghiotte, huh? I always thought you’d have horns. Disappointing.”
“Finestra,” Saida said, “I don’t think Kamaria will be in fighting shape, so it has to be me or Kaleb. Who do you choose?”
• • •
Hours later, the library was scrubbed clean, and only one Fonte remained in the Cittadella. The others had said tearful farewells, promising to return for the ceremony the following day.
In the end, it hadn’t really been a choice. She’d never been able to use Saida’s gift very well, and with Kamaria unable to stand, Kaleb was the only one left. He’d gone pale, but accepted graciously, bowing and saying something about honor and duty. Saida had burst into tears while Kamaria gnawed on her lip, glowering in the way of a person trying not to cry.
Alessa and her partner stepped out to wave at the crowd below.
Thousands of people, clad in their brightest garb, flowed through the streets like a multi-hued river, down from the Cittadella, all the way to the city gates and beyond.Everyonewas invited to Carnevale, even the Marked. One last day for every Saverian to enjoy the best life had to offer before the gates and the Fortezza were locked, and they were left outside. Every face glowed with a fierce determination to enjoy the night. There was no celebration like the last hurrah before a battle.
Alessa waved until her arm grew tired, until the cheers faded enough for the Grand Master to announce the start of the festivities and dismiss the crowd. A new roar erupted as the people of Saverio donned their masks and turned away from their saviors, moving on to more important matters, like living.
The next day, after the confetti and detritus of Carnevale was swept away, Alessa and Kaleb would be joined before Dea and the eyes of the Church, forever bound by shared duty and responsibility. He’d be her constant companion until Divorando, her partner in every way that mattered, until they faced death together and, hopefully, saved their home from annihilation.
“Excellent,” said Renata from just inside the doors. “That went beautifully. Now, I’ll leave you two alone. But first…” She looked decidedly uncomfortable. “I should probably remind you that while Dea had the good sense to make sure regular use of a Finestra’s gift is effective for preventing pregnancy, when Divorando is over, you will have to find, erm, other methods.”
Kaleb shot a frantic glance at Alessa. She bit her knuckles to stop from laughing and gave him a quick eye roll, which seemed to calm him a bit, but his palpable relief that the magical side-effect of her power would be irrelevant for their relationship only made it harder not to laugh. As a battle partner, Kaleb checked most of the boxes. As alover? Not so much.
Besides, her heart was already taken.
Dante waited inside, his face colored by a spray of fireworks, as musicians outside took up their instruments and a vigorous tune joined the sounds of laughter, sparklers, and exclamations of joy.
The awkward trio surveyed each other as Renata left the suite.
“Was she saying—” Kaleb started.
Alessa snorted a laugh. “Yes, Kaleb. Any Finestra and Fonte are temporarily infertile as long as they regularly use their gifts. Dea’s no fool, and battling morning sicknessandscarabeo at the same time would be a bit difficult, don’t you think?”
Dante studied the floor.
“Huh,” Kaleb said. Bobbing his head nervously, he tapped his leg along with the rhythm. “Well, that’s good to know, but also, I didn’t need to know that. Kinda wish I could forget that happened, actually.”
Alessa giggled. “You should go to Carnevale, Kaleb.”
“What?” Kaleb spluttered. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” she asked. “Most people wear masks or face paint.No one has to know. It may not be a regular wedding, but every bachelor should have one last night on the town before settling down.”
And every bride deserved an evening with the man she loved before promising herself to someone else.
