AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not either.”
They held each other without speaking for a long moment.
“Is your Craving all right?” she asked.
“You nearly bled to death. I will not take a sip from you until you are entirely ready.”
“I didn’t want you to go hungry ever again.”
“Let me take this opportunity to make something clear. Although you are my Grace, you are never obligated to feast with me, and I am never entitled to expect it. When you are not willing or able, I will take responsibility for my own needs.”
“I love you, Lio.”
“I love you, too.” He stroked her hair.
“Tell me it was only a nightmare that he broke your window.”
“You are safe. That’s all that matters.”
Cassia squeezed her eyes shut. “It was a beautiful work of art. You made it with your own hands. I will never forgive him.”
“It was just a window.”
“It was more than just a window.”
He fell silent. Then, “I know.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Cassia.” He took a breath. “I invited an Old Master into Orthros.”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself that a legend turned out to be real and took advantage of your Summit.”
“I don’t blame myself. But I must own the unintentional consequences of my actions.”
“He told me the treaty helped his plans. That everything we’ve worked for was exactly what he wanted. He praised me for being his token. Lio, he invited me to become an Overseer.”
“What?”
“He said I could become like Skleros. It made me sick. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I’ve chosen not to do many things I would have been ashamed of. How could I be so heinous as to gain the Collector’s attention?”
“Put his poison out of your mind. He would say anything to torment and manipulate us. He trapped me in a waking dream. That’s why I couldn’t get to you at first. He showed me a vision of Orthros in ruins. It was so real. At first, I actually believed it.”
“How did you escape?”
“I heard your voice.”
“You’re right. If we allow ourselves to believe even one thing he said or did, we let him in. We have to reject him with all our strength. I’m just...so tired.”
“So am I. I’m not sure what I’m doing anymore.”
“My rebellion has become something larger than me. It isn’t really mine now. It is a thing of its own.”
“So too did my Summit grow beyond my control.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I don’t want you to have to face any difficult decisions tonight, but the embassy is leaving as soon as the Festival of Grace is over, and I want you to have plenty of time to think about some things.”
