AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A thought came over Cassia, as it often did lately whenever she saw someone cast a spell. She would soon take part in this. Would she struggle as Solia did? What dangers did Cassia’s powerful and mysterious magic have in store for her?
Cassia bit her lip. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Solia’s eyes opened a sliver. “Actually…perhaps there is. Come a bit closer.”
“All right.” Cassia patted Knight again. “Het Baat.”
Once he was in a down-stay, she ignored his whine and stepped away from him to approach Solia.
“That’s close enough.” Solia’s voice was firm.
Cassia halted.
Now Solia shrank the distance between them. The air grew hotter. Slowly, Solia opened her hands. Fire roiled in her palms.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said.
“I’m not.” Cassia’s trust in her sister had been formed before she could remember. She felt only expectant fascination as she watched Solia’s hands come nearer. Nearer.
The fire faded. By the time Solia touched Cassia’s arms, her palms were merely warm.
She pulled Cassia into a hug and sighed. “See there. I would never hurt you, and the fire knows it.”
Cassia wrapped her arms around Solia in return. “Your instinct to protect me is stronger than your magic.”
“It wasn’t always. But I have taught the flame that lesson. My heart rules it.”
Cassia didn’t let go. “How has your heart fared tonight?”
“We have more important concerns.”
“I don’t. I haven’t seen you in fifteen years, and I waited all this time to be your sister again. At this moment, nothing is more important to me than whether you are all right.”
Solia rested her head on Cassia’s shoulder. “I love you. Have I told you that since we met again?”
“I love you too,” Cassia said fiercely. “Even when you don’t say it, you show it.”
Knight, excluded from the display of affection, gave another whine, impatient this time. Cassia called to him, and he nudged his head under Solia’s hands in the hope of being petted.
Relief crossed Solia’s face. “See there, Sir Knight. I was protecting our Pup long before you were.”
Cassia swallowed. “But I suppose that’s the problem with Tendo, isn’t it?”
“I’ve always put you first,” Solia said. “He shouldn’t expect me to do otherwise. I wouldn’t ask him to put me before his brother. Anesu is his family—his king.”
“You don’t have to choose between Tendo and me anymore.”
“But I did in the past. And Tendo hasn’t forgiven me for the choice I made then.”
“He may not be ready to forgive you tonight, but that doesn’t mean he won’t in the future.”
Solia drew back, now calm and dignified. “I don’t need his forgiveness. I need him to understand that I did the right thing. But it’s not enough for him that I regret what he suffered for my sake. He wants me to regret my choice. To feel shame for behaving with honor.” Her calm broke, her voice thickening. “And he has the gall to tell me I compromised his honor. I never asked him to put his subjects at risk or abandon our comrades. I did everything I could so he wouldn’t have to.”
Cassia nodded. “You wanted him to have the life you both loved—which you couldn’t have anymore. You were trying to give him a parting gift.”
“Why doesn’t he understand that?”
“I don’t think he wanted that life if he couldn’t live it with you.”
