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“You’ll find that the nights seem to move slowly here in Orthros. Immortals have a different perception of time. No one hurries.”
“The Hesperines may move at their eternal pace, but the changing of the seasons does not. Summer Solstice will take place in Tenebra in only forty days, and with it, the council that will choose the new monarch. How often do the Queens hold audiences?”
“Often. But Lio and I wish to attend with you. Alas, we must reassure a few dozen relatives that we are not dead before they will let go of us long enough for us to do any politicking.” And if they happened to slow Solia down with family bliss until she forgot about taking over a kingdom, all the better.
Solia’s brow knit with regret. “Of course.”
“You weren’t in such haste when we were tucking Zoe in just now. I seem to recall it was you who gave in to her pleas for one more bedtime story.”
Solia’s lips twitched. “Yes, well, bedtime rituals must continue, even when one is busy trying to overthrow a king.”
“You always made time for me that way.” Cassia paused, choosing her words with care. “Are you feeling all right? Lio’s family can be overwhelming. I didn’t know what to do with all their kindness when I first arrived.”
“I can imagine. It would have been a difficult adjustment for you after leaving your dangerous life in Tenebra.”
That hadn’t answered Cassia’s question. Solia was too calm as she sat down and pulled off her boots. Cassia saw right through the composed elder-sister expression on her face.
Solia might have embraced her mercenary family in the Empire, but she was still off balance when confronted with a Hesperine family who had already chosen to adopt her, whether or not that was her plan.
“Kella is next door,” Cassia offered.
“I hope you did give her the best rooms,” Solia said.
“Lio and I are just a corridor away as well, if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine, Pup.”
Solia had always been an excellent liar, especially when she was trying to protect her little sister from herself.
Cassia hated this. She wanted to be her sister’s confidant in all things. Lio and all the family that came with him should not be one of the topics of conversation that felt like walking on shards of glass.
Cassia’s gaze fell to the hairbrush on the dressing table, and an idea came to her. She picked up the brush and stepped behind Solia’s chair. “May I?”
“You’re much taller now than you were the last time,” Solia said fondly.
“You were always so patient about the flowers I tried to put in your hair, no matter how I tangled it.” Cassia began brushing her sister’s cropped hair.
“It’s much easier to untangle now.”
Solia sat back and let Cassia revive the treasured ritual from long ago. With quiet brush strokes, Cassia created a moment of calm between them.
“Apollon told me something,” she said eventually, “the night I first arrived at House Komnena. ‘This house is strong enough to weather all your worries and your fears with you. Take as much time as you need letting them run their course.’”
Solia paused before answering. “I hate that you had any fears, Pup.”
“Every person who comes to Orthros brings their own fears. This is a very safe place to have them.”
“I’m glad you are no longer afraid.” How expertly she turned the subject back to Cassia at every turn.
“It would be easy for my fears to return because of what Dakkoul did,” Cassia confessed. “I had barely learned to trust. I gave my newfound openness room to grow and made friends with him. Then he proved to be the leader of the Rezayal and took me prisoner. It was a terrible failure of judgment on my part.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Solia said fiercely. “He is a mind healer. He exploited his ability to make people trust him and used that against you. Even someone as careful as you is not immune.”
“Even so, that would make me put on all my armor again, if I let it. But simply being back in Orthros has reminded me why trust is so very worth the risk. Everyone who was around the Ritual circle tonight deserves trust. Sometimes I can scarcely believe the list of trustworthy people in my life has grown so long.”
“I’m sorry you had so few allies in Tenebra.” Another evasion.
Do you see? Cassia wanted to ask her. Do you understand now why this place healed me? Won’t you admit your fear—that you will want to stay enough to tell the Empress no?
