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“Yes. But he was my blood,” she whispers. “I will give you one last chance to open the safe.”

Cassius grunts. “So you can have a war that will send mankind back to the dark ages? Funny. You don’t look stupid.”

“These are the dark ages,” Seraphina says. “We will bring order back.”

“Says the little girl. Have you ever seen a city after orbital bombardment?”

“I saw Ganymede after the docks fell from orbit,” she replies bitterly. “I’ve seen horror—starvation. A whole city frozen.”

“You haven’t seen war.” His heavy eyes strafe the rest of the Raa. “You all think you’re the chosen people. The keepers of the flame. Please. You know how many have thought that? You’re just like the rest. Too vain to realize the flame has gone out. The dream of Gold was dead before any of us were ever born. You want a war because you think the Rising is vulnerable? Because they still battle the Core? You don’t know Darrow. You don’t know his people. If you attack, you lose everything.”

“The Slave King has already fallen,” Dido says, smiling at Cassius’s confusion. “Of course, how could you know? He has become an outlaw. His own mentor and wife have turned their backs on him. The Obsidian Horde is thinned. The remainder stirs with discontent. Their Senate devours itself and debates peace with the Pixies of the Core. They are flailing, scattered, and weak.”

“The Ash Lord has sought peace?” I ask.

“It seems war has softened his resolve. He is craven, and will be dealt with once we have retaken Mars and Luna. Rhea will be repaid in full.” Dido turns her eyes to me. “They say your family is cursed, Cassius. How lucky you are to have a brother survive the Jackal’s purge. Which one is he? Theseus? Daedalus? They would be his age by now….” She looks back to Cassius. “It doesn’t matter. If you do not give me the combination, I will let our dragons suck the marrow from his blasted bones.”

Cassius looks over at me with love and sorrow in his eyes. He’s been searching for this for the past ten years. A chance at redemption. Denying her war is that chance. It crushes him now to know the price it will cost. But he will pay it, I realize. Even if that price is my life.

“I swore to protect the people. That is what I will do. No matter the cost.”

“And do you share your brother’s insanity?” Dido asks me.

Cassius would have stayed to free the prisoners on the Vindabona. He wouldn’t have run at the first sound of Obsidians like I did, because he is a hero, and I am not. Whatever hate I have for Darrow, whatever hope these Gold have kindled in me, I cannot betray Cassius now. I love the man too much. But it breaks my heart to know that the masses he would die for would have his head on a spike if they could.

“He speaks for the both of us,” I say again.

Dido makes a small noise of disgust. She leans back, realizing the impasse, quick eyes searching for a way around it. “Diomedes. A bloodfeud needs resolution. Will you do the honors?”

“No,” the stoic knight replies. She turns on him in confusion.

“What?” Dido asks, caught off guard.

“You heard me, Mother.”

“He killed your sister.”

“They are our guests.”

“You’re joking.”

“You blathering idiot…” Bellerephon hisses. “They’re enemies of our blood.”

“They are our guests. If you want blood, draw it yourself.”

“Let him alone,” Seraphina says, standing. “It is his right to refuse. I will do the deed.”

“No,” Dido says.

Seraphina flinches. “You doubt I can?”

“Yes. Sit down.” She ignores Seraphina’s wounded expression and looks down the table. “Bellerephon, do what your cousin will not.”

“With pleasure.”

The man uncoils to his feet, long legs taking him around the table till he stands looking down his crooked nose at Cassius’s bloody face.

“Beware, milky,” Cassius says with a feral grin. “I am a student of Aja au Grimmus.”