She was stronger for loving Dante, who grew up steeped in the conviction he was evil. He’d watched his parents die at the hands of people he knew and trusted, believed it was his fault that fear and hatred drove people to cruelty. He might be the only remaining ghiotte, but he wasn’t the only person who’d grown up believing sin flowed in his veins, that his legacy was his destiny.
“Dea created a Finestra because connection is our salvation. Today, I’m asking you to prove her right. Will we barricade our doors and cover our ears against the screams of those who deliver our milk and brew our ale, or will we try and save every soul we can?”
Silence.
A lone cough echoed in the stillness, and her stomach sank as she wondered how long to stand there.
A finely dressed man stepped forward, hat in his hands. “It isn’t a fortress, but our family home can hold a dozen or more, and stone walls are better than none.” He gestured at a ragged-looking woman with a baby on one hip and a toddler clinging to her leg, her marked wrists visible as she clutched her children to her. She burst into tears.
“I’m too old to be a soldier, but I have a good arm,” said a swarthy man with thick muscles. “One of the Marked can have my spot in the Fortezza. I’d rather throw rocks at the bugs, anyway.”
One by one, then in pairs and groups, people stepped forward. Some volunteering to fight, others to give their spots to those in need, yet more to welcome the overflow into their homes.
Hundreds of people, volunteering to face an army of demons armed with nothing but sticks and bats, knives and rusted pipes, choosing to fight so others might live.
If only Dante could see it. Dea’s faith in them had not been wrong. And by sharing their sacrifice, no one had to bear it alone.
Together, we protect. Divided, we unravel.
And suddenly, she understood.
The key to her power had been right there the entire time.
Forty-Four
Nessuna nuova, buona nuova.
No news is good news.
DAYS BEFORE DIVORANDO: 11
Still reeling from her revelation, Alessa didn’t notice the door to her suite was open and nearly leapt out of her boots when a figure popped out of nowhere.
“Oh, sorry!” Saida squeaked.
Kamaria awkwardly stood from the couch, favoring her wounded leg. “Kaleb’s awake and in a beast of a mood, but he doesn’t know anything about what’s been happening, so we told him to go back to sleep. What happened out there? Is Dante going to be okay?”
The sympathy on their faces was too much, and Alessa crumpled.
“Oh, no.” Kamaria limped over and gave Alessa a rib-crunching hug, while Saida patted her back.
It wasn’t the first time she’d wept that day, but this time she cried with her friends’ arms around her.
When the worst of her sobs were over, Saida ordered her to sit and bustled off to gather ingredients for something she swore cured heartache.
Alessa had no appetite, but any baker’s daughter knew how food soothed the baker as much as the recipient, so she let Saida have at it.
Kamaria seemed relieved they’d moved past emotions and began ticking off a list of non-terrible aspects of the current situation on her fingers. “One, he’s inside the Fortezza, so he won’t get chewed up by scarabeo. Two, sounds like a lot of other people will be safe, too. We can figure something out after Divorando, but first, we need to get through it.”
“Seriously?” came an indignant male voice from the doorway. Kaleb, clutching the doorframe. “You’re having a party without me? Almost dying wasn’t enough to earn me an invitation?”
“We’re planning, Kaleb,” Kamaria said.
“And baking!” Saida called from the kitchen.
“Using our brains and our skills.” Kamaria smiled like a cat about to pounce. “What could you possibly contribute?”
“Ha ha ha,” Kaleb said. He turned to look at someone in the hall. “Couldn’t stay away, huh? Help me in, will you?”
Alessa stood as Josef helped Kaleb totter inside. “You aren’t supposed to be here. I promised Nina I’d scratch you off the list.”
“In exchange for a secret,” Josef said. “The secret’s out, so the deal is off.”
“Was it her?” Kamaria asked. “Did she tell Ivini?”
“She says she didn’t.” Josef stopped, forcing Kaleb to stop with him. “She was scared and trying to protect me before, but she’s not evil. Dante in prison doesn’t help anyone.”
“Then, if she kept her side of the deal…” Alessa said, a question in her voice.