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“Of course.”
“Lio. You are precious beyond measure. The world can’t afford to lose you.”
A smile came to his mouth, and he stood, gathering her into his arms again. “You’re not going to lose me.”
“I hope these few moments are the last I ever spend facing that prospect.” She tightened her arms around him, pressing their bodies close, her face against his heart.
“I never meant for my explanation of Grace to give you the impression there would be someone else! I was just afraid you would hate the thought of being bound to me and having no choice.”
“You are my choice. I want to be necessary to you. I want it to be true.”
The last weight Lio had carried all these months lifted from his shoulders. Cassiawantedto be his Grace.
“It is all true,” he told her.
A TASTE OF ETERNITY
Cassia looked into Lio’sface, studying her future in his ardent blue eyes. In his gentle, sensual smile, she tried to find an explanation for the inexplicable.
“I’m your Grace,” she said. “Of all the people in the world—it’s me.”
“You are the person every Hesperine prays to find. You are the person I have been looking for my whole life. When I realized it’s you, it felt so right.”
“Then…you’re glad it’s me.”
“Glad? From the first moment I knew the truth, I was overjoyed. Terrified of the distance between us, yes—but it was one of the best moments of my life.”
“I wouldn’t want you to feel trapped, either.”
“Cassia, I do not love you because you’re my Grace. I praise the Goddess you’re my Grace, because I am so in love with you.”
Something fiercer than her dread and even her anger roared to life in her. “Something so goodcanbe.”
“This is how my world works. Live forever in it with me.”
“Now it is my world, too.”
“It will be everything your heart desires.IamyourGrace, Cassia. I can make you happy. I will see to it you have all you ever need.”
“You have been doing that all along. You were showing me what Grace means, even before you explained it to me.” She brushed his braid back from his face.
“That is what my braid meant all along. I always intended to give it to you.”
“The same was in my heart tonight when I made my braid and my promise to stay, although I didn’t understand everything yet.”
“We exchange braids publicly during the avowal ceremony, but now that we’ve acknowledged our bond to one another, we can trade them privately.” He ran his hand down her hair. “I would enjoy wearing your promise where no one else can see it.”
She smiled. “Then by all means, I shall not keep you waiting.”
Her gardening spade levitated into his hand from where she had left it by the roses. He offered it to her. “No other blade is worthy of this moment.”
She caressed his hand, then accepted her battered, steadfast spade. “This shall be its greatest honor yet.”
Lio bowed his head, bringing his hair into her reach. A thrill of nervousness went through her. This first heartbeat of their eternity was so important, so priceless. She wanted to mark it with worthy words.
Lio’s mouth brushed her neck. “I love you so much, Cassia.”
As always, it was easy for them to find the right words together. “And I love you, Lio, with all my heart.”
