AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t care what you do to Flavian.” There it was, her beautiful anger, once more coming to her defense to chase away the fears. She nipped Lio’s lip.
He smiled. “I challenged him to Trial by Combat for your hand.”
She smiled back. “I want to watch.”
“Don’t you think it would be more reassuring to everyone if I walk into the room?” Cassia asked.
Lio paused before the portal and looked down at her in his arms. “I have put your clothes back on and am allowing them to see you, instead of keeping you in here with me, naked. That is all the reassurance they are entitled to expect.”
Her lips curved in a smile. “Have I ever told you how handsome you are when you lose your temper?”
He dipped his head toward her, his mind magic slipping his control again. “I’m happy to lose it more often if you like.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, and her arms tightened around his neck. “I do like it.”
“I am carrying you straight to your bed, and if anyone suggests that you put your feet to the floor before I have given my express permission, I will break their minds. Is that clear?”
“Abundantly, my mind mage.”
He swept through the wall with her. Not only Knight, but Mak, Lyros, Solia, Kella, and Hoyefe were all waiting for them in the ladies’ bedchamber.
Knight immediately circled them, sniffing every part of Cassia he could reach. She gave him reassuring pats. “There, there, my dearest. You knew Lio would set me to rights, didn’t you?”
Without a word, Solia turned down the bedclothes, and Lio set Cassia in the bed. She tsked at both of them as they fluffed her pillows and tucked the blanket around her. Knight leapt up onto the bed to wallow as close to Cassia as he could.
Mak reached over and ruffled Cassia’s hair, blinking hard. “We were worried about you.”
Lyros let out a sigh, leaning into Mak. “Goddess, I’m sorry your worst enemy in this kingdom is one we can’t fight for you. Some bodyguards we are.”
“Nonsense,” Cassia said. “According to Lio, you held off a crowd of mortals fearful for my reputation. That was very protective, thank you.”
Tilili put her front paws on the bed to give Kella a better look at Cassia. “You all right, Shadow?”
Cassia kept hold of Lio’s hand. “Now I am.”
“It was a close call,” Lio said. “Too close.”
“Closer than the Maaqul?” Hoyefe asked without a trace of his usual good humor.
Lio nodded. “Between my magic and the Lustra magic inside the passageways, Cassia will be all right, but things must change from now on.”
“We have to find the letting site faster,” Lyros said.
“Lio and I found a way deeper into the passages,” Cassia replied. “If we explore further, perhaps it will lead us there.”
“Or we can ride straight for Paradum,” Mak said.
“It could still take days to find it, and Cassia isn’t well enough for another long ride.” Lio decided that now was not the time to discuss his plan for speeding their search. They must remove the lesser obstacles first. “She won’t be able to keep her strength up if Flavian separates us again. I will not allow him any more power over her.”
Solia reached out a hand, but hesitated, closing her fist for a moment. Then she opened her fingers to brush the hair back from Cassia’s brow. “Flavian had no compassion for your health today?”
Cassia’s gaze fell. “I tried to tell him, but he thought I was trying to manipulate him. I have embroiled him in my schemes one too many times, it seems. He no longer takes me at my word.”
“He will regret this,” Solia vowed, but then she turned her hot blue glare on Lio. “But you are the last person who should make him regret it. What in Zalele’s name were you thinking?”
“Do you really blame me for doing what I had to do to revive her?” Lio replied.
“A Hesperine just absconded with my sister in front of my entire future court. Do you have any idea what they’re saying about her?”
