For the first time in weeks, Caius could be honest, so he filled the ladies in on the details of the mission he had been forced to keep from them by Athenodora's order.
When he was done, a moment of silence prevailed as both Roxanne and Meline seemed to wait and take in his words.
"That was… a lot," Meline said.
Roxanne's lips were pursed and her eyes were on Caius when she started to speak.
"An attack that renders one as powerful as that so weak and curses them with eventual death. A curse that apparently has no cure. A temporary fix that affords her a decade more of life at best. A possibility of you having to remain here to keep her living for another decade— existing for nothing more than being fed on…"
"As I said," Meline said with a sigh, "It's a lot."
"Well, first things first," Roxane said and in a flash undid the fastenings that held her gown close, pulling the top of it down to expose a lot more of her cleavage, "You need perking up."
Caius laughed.
