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She wasn’t sure this feeling would ever fade, no matter how many times she beheld the sister she’d thought lost to her forever. No matter how different Solia the fierce warrior was from Solia the gentle princess.
Knight bounded up to her, and her face softened. She gave his ears a good rub and said to Cassia, “Good evening, Pup.”
The childhood nickname brought a lump to Cassia’s throat. She wrapped her sister in a hug. It was still a shock for Solia to be here and real and touchable.
Solia held her tightly for a long moment before drawing back. The timeless moment ended, and the demands of the present fell upon them once more. When one of them was Orthros’s ambassador, the other the Empress’s bodyguard, and both candidates for a throne, there was no such thing as a simple sisterly visit.
“I have something for you.” Cassia beckoned and crossed to the bed, where she had laid out a bright blue wrap dress. The lavish Imperial style left one shoulder bare and glittered with gold geometric embroidery. It was remarkable how easy it was to get anything she asked for, when she was the Empress’s honored guest.
Fond surprise crossed Solia’s face, and she looked so much like her seventeen-year-old self for a moment. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. I’m sure I’ll have occasion to wear it when the Empress decommissions me from the Golden Shield.”
“Why don’t you try it on now?”
Solia gestured to her armor. “I must return to my post right after our visit.”
“It will only take a moment, and this room is shut tight. Where’s the harm?”
“I should not disarm while on duty.”
“Remember when we used to play dress-up?” Cassia put on an impish smile. “Your royal gowns hung off of me, but you let me try on all your pretty clothes just the same.”
Solia crossed her arms over her smooth gold breastplate. “You deserved royal finery of your own.”
Cassia let the reference to her lineage pass and smoothed her hands down the elegant Hesperine robe she wore. “I want for nothing now. Let me return the generosity you showed me then.”
Solia sighed. “Very well. You know I’d do anything to please you, Pup.”
Cassia could only hope her sister would say the same when she made her next request.
Solia disappeared behind Cassia’s dressing screen, and there came the clank of metal. When she stepped out again wearing the dress and matching golden sandals, she turned in a circle with her arms out.
Cassia put a hand to her mouth. She took in her sister’s lovely face, now chiseled by life; her curves now honed to muscle; her royal grace turned into martial poise. “You are more beautiful now than you have ever been.”
Solia huffed. “You might be a bit prejudiced in my favor.”
“Of course,” Cassia replied, “but I know someone else who will think the same when he sees you.”
Solia went still, her face suddenly as blank as a mask. “Goddesses above. What are you up to, Cassia?”
Cassia gestured to the other door leading from the interior of the palace. “Lio is bringing Tendo to meet you.”
She could see Solia taking refuge in a warrior’s discipline to withstand the emotions overwhelming her. But when Cassia took her hands, Solia’s skin was hot with her volatile fire magic.
It happened every time Cassia mentioned Tendo. The man Solia had almost married. The love she had given up to put Cassia on the throne.
A small blue flame darted across Solia’s eyelid. “The Empress could have my head for this.”
“She’ll never know.”
“I will.”
“Solia, when will she release you from her service?”
“Soon. But I don’t know precisely when.”
“And when she does, is that how you want Tendo to learn the truth about where you’ve been for the past five years? You want him to find out with the rest of the court that you were safe at the Empress’s side while he believed you to be in prison?”
Solia grimaced and looked away.
