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“Yes.” She threw up her hands. “If only Cassia understood this.”
Lio nodded. “This is your way of trying.”
“I am trying so hard to like you.” Her scowl resembled Cassia’s when she was put out.
Lio almost laughed. “I try to be likable.”
“It’s infuriating. You have no right to be so kind. You make it too difficult to stay angry at you. Especially without your beard, looking like a temple chorus boy.”
He raised his brows. “You can’t deny you’ve enjoyed torturing me at least a little.”
A half smile came to her face. “During the fourth labor, the bridegroom is supposed to teach the Matriarch something. Don’t tell me you won’t enjoy that a little, scrollworm.”
“That depends on what you want me to teach you. If you’re talking about another round in the fighting ring, I doubt I’ll enjoy it as much the second time.”
“Not to worry, Ambassador. I want you to become one of my advisers.”
Lio tried to repress the smile spreading across his face. “You’d like me to assist with politics and diplomacy alongside Cassia?”
“Share all your expertise on Lucis’s reign, all your insights gained from decades as Argyros’s mentoree and from personal experience during two Summits. I intend to build a Tenebra that is a true ally of Orthros. Your knowledge will shape that future.”
This could still go terribly wrong, he reminded himself. “I would welcome this, but before I commit to advising you, I need to know if you will heed me.”
“I cannot promise I will always do as you recommend. But I will give everything you say serious consideration, with confidence in your judgment. I hope you will do the same for me, so that even when we disagree—which is sure to be often, scrollworm—we can have a respectful debate.”
“And when there is no time for a respectful debate?” he pressed. If reminders of their recent battle would put strain on their newfound trust, better to see the cracks now.
Solia did not bristle, however. “We will adhere to the advice Karege once gave me. Perhaps he mentioned it to you as well. ‘If I’m better at something than you are, you listen to me. If you’re better at something, I listen to you.’”
“Karege and that very advice saved me in the Maaqul.”
“You are better at anything to do with mind magic.” To his surprise, her aura gentled. “I am better at carrying the weight of battle decisions. I will listen to you next time we face the Collector—but listen to me now, Lio. Sometimes there are people you cannot save. There is no use in berating yourself. Spend that energy honoring their memory instead.”
He felt the wrongness of Pakhne’s suffering in his every vein. “I will not shirk my responsibility toward her.”
“Neither will I. But I have learned the hard way, as Lucis’s daughter, not to shoulder the guilt of others’ evil. Do not blame yourself, and do not let anyone else place that blame on you. That’s one reason I was angry with you last night. Next time, I want to see you defend your honor to the likes of Nivalis.”
Suddenly their shouting match took on an entirely different meaning. One that finally shifted Lio’s thoughts, if not his feelings. Intellectually, he knew Solia was right. When would he feel the truth of it?
“I’m afraid we Hesperines tend to feel that we are powerful enough to save everyone.”
“I know,” Solia said, “but no one is. Don’t let what happened to Pakhne distract you. Focus on saving Cassia.”
Perhaps his Grace-sister understood him better than he had realized. “That, I can do.”
Solia gestured to the two floor cushions in the alcove. “If she can spare you for the moment, I will ask you for your thoughts on a few questions now.”
“She’s with Zoe,” Lio explained, “who is rather in need of reassurance after what happened at the greenhouse.”
Solia winced and nodded.
Lio sat tailor-style on the floor cushion across from her. “Where shall we begin?”
“How did you and Cassia meet?” Solia asked.
He raised his brows. “I was expecting a question on politics.”
“Cassia brought it to my attention that I have neglected some basic rituals when meeting the love of my sister’s life.”
