Perfidy didn’t need to be told twice. “Cainan,” she said excitedly.

“She agreed?” he said, reading the expression on her face.

She nodded. “We’re leavin’ immediately. C’mon.”

She helped him to his feet, slung his arm over her shoulders, and, together, they exited the shack.

Only to stop, Perfidy’s mouth falling open at the vision of perfection that stood before them, as unmoving as if she was a statue. Even through the gloom, her dark fur was so sleek it might’ve been painted on, her unblinking eyes like golden orbs. For some reason Perfidy wasn’t at all surprised that Corinthia had also acquired a third gold leaf, positioned on her forehead exactly where her own had appeared.

Are you going to stand there and gawk at my beauty all night or climb on my back?

Ye are…beautiful, Perfidy said.

Obviously.

Perfidy moved toward her, slowed by Cainan’s hobbling form tethered to her side. Reached her, the bloodpanther so large and muscled it made Perfidy’s heart beat faster in her chest.

“Ye are…,” Perfidy started to say aloud.

Magnificent, perfection, a vision to end all visions, et cetera, et cetera, Corinthia said in her head.

“Aye, all o’ that. May I…touch ye?”

It’s going to be hard to ride me without touching me.

Perfidy curled a lip. “Fair point.” She reached out and stroked the bloodpanther’s head like it was any other ordinary kitty. Corinthia leaned into her touch, closed her eyes and purred loudly. Which made Perfidy giggle, a most girlish sound under any circumstances, but especially this one. Not that she cared.

“I’m sorry to interrupt this moment,” Cainan said. “But we really must be off.”

I’m already regretting agreeing to take him, Corinthia said.

Me too, Perfidy said, unable to hold back her smile at being able to have a secret conversation with this magnificent animal.

What about the kid? Are we bringing him too?

Whut kid?

Corinthia tossed her head toward the central pavilion that surrounded the godsblood well. Perfidy searched the darkness, her gaze finally landing on a pair of white eyes staring at them from the darkness. Mirac, she thought. Are ye okay with bringin’ him too?

Yes. He is good at keeping secrets. He’s known about me for a while now, but never said a word to any of the others.

Perfidy nodded to herself, then hissed, “Mirac! Are ye comin’?”

The boy moved faster than she’d ever seen him move, leaping off his step and sprinting toward them, skidding to a stop to stand before her. “I’m coming,” he said definitively.