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“Thank you for that.” She gave his hand a squeeze before releasing him to dance past him again. She might be able to forgive him after all.
“I was wrong about you. Again.” Not just physical pain, but lingering temper made his steps taut. ”Every time I believe I’ve figured you out, you take me down a notch.”
“Is that why you’re angry?”
“No.” There was mockery in his tone. “I’m angry at the man who has most trampled on my pride today. Myself. You and Lio are braver than I. What have I ever sacrificed for love?”
“You are trying to make yourself king for Sabina, I’ll grant you.”
“Yes, my answer to our forbidden romance is to try to win more people’s favor. And yet here you are, willing to lose everyone’s good opinion just for the privilege of dancing together in public.”
Cassia hesitated. “Have you considered asking Sabina to dance with you tonight?”
He was silent a moment, then shook his head. “One must choose the right moment to start a war. But this has certainly made me start planning a new campaign.”
“I’m happy for you, Flavian. Truly. But I suppose it is too much to hope that this would inspire you to give up the kingship.”
He sighed. “No. The lords must have a say in their people’s future. The vote must go forward, for a greater cause than any one person here. We owe it to the kingdom to uphold the rule of law.”
“I cannot fault you for that conviction.”
“Whatever the outcome, Solia and I have the power to set a precedent of justice for Tenebra. Win or lose, we shall both respect the decision.”
“And so will Orthros,” Cassia promised.
“I know you speak for Orthros now.” With that, Flavian surrendered her to Lio.
Her Grace took her hand, repeating the steps with her once more. “He appears to have behaved himself.”
“I dare hope we’ve made our peace.”
“If he forgets that, I can always make some more peace with him on the tournament field.”
“I’m not sure he’d survive a second round, my love. Not to worry. He won’t trouble us any longer.”
One by one, Lio allowed the men of the Council a round of the Autumn Greeting with Cassia. Lord Adrogan tried to flatter his way into Blood Komnena’s coffers, while Lord Deverran gave her a respite with heartfelt congratulations. But most of the lords were coldly formal, and some hesitated to take her hand, as if she were tainted.
She found her gaze darting through the crowd, then to the bonfire. It was all too easy for silent outrage to erupt into violence, and Mak was right. An event such as this was the perfect place for it.
Lio looked too exposed, standing before the fire at the front of the dance, awaiting her return.
When the last lord danced her back up the line and released her, she took Lio’s hand with relief.
“Shhh,” he soothed, sweeping her close to him again. “We made it. Now let me make your heart race for happier reasons.”
Lio did not let his guard down until they stepped into the eternal wards of the Summit Sanctuary. Scarlet rose petals were scattered on the path through the tents and monuments, and cheerful spell lights lined the way. Music and familiar voices speaking Divine drifted from the direction of the pavilion.
“Do you need to go to our tent and rest before we celebrate?” he asked Cassia.
“No,” she answered, “we should go to our tent after the Hesperine dances, and rest is not what I have in mind.”
He smiled and gave her a kiss, trying to keep it appropriate for their mortal friends. As they all strolled along the path, Knight was finally at ease as well, trotting off to sniff at this and that. Mak took Lyros’s hand, and Perita and Callen followed, their auras full of good spirits. Kella and Tilili padded alongside Solia with Sabina, Valentia, and Genie, who looked around in wonder and curiosity. Nivalis walked arm-in-arm with Deverran, while Hoyefe and Severin brought up the rear, the young lord standing closer to Hoyefe than he ever did at Council meetings.
Rudhira met them on the path and embraced Lio and Cassia. “I understand congratulations are in order—on your betrothal. Those are words I never imagined I would say to my Ritual children.”
“You didn’t have to hold a celebration here,” Lio said.
Cassia shook her head. “This isn’t even our avowal.”
