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"I am surprised you called for mercy, Kione." Illario purred, leaning against a wall of the Dellamorte estate.
"I didn't want Lucanis to have any regrets." She snapped back, leaning against the opposite wall. "He loves you, and I wanted him to make a decision he could live with, even if it wasn't one Caterina wanted or expected."
"Dangerous words in her own estate."
"She loves you too. Even if you don't believe it, she does."
"Caterina does not love."
Kione shrugs. "Think that if it helps you sleep at night after what you did to her."
"And your own feelings about me didn't play into it?"
"Hah! If they had, you wouldn't be living right now. I would have found a way to kill you once I realized you turned traitor."
He gets an odd look on his face. "When did you know?"
"When we killed Zara--right before you stabbed her, she called you Amatus. I asked around what that meant. She wouldn't have tossed that term around lightly. I had some suspicions, but that really sealed it for me."
"Did you not tell anyone?"
"I told Lucanis first. Once he had some time to think about it, I told Teia and Viago too."
"They worried my judgement was clouded. They're more aware of my own distaste for you than Lucanis is."
"Have...have you told him?"
"Not in detail." The glare she shoots him is pure ice. "For the longest time, you were my biggest regret. That I chased you, that I allowed you to lead me on, even if I knew I was being stupid. Who didn't want to think that Illario Dellamorte had eyes only for them?" Her arms shifted to wrap around her middle. "And then...then you pushed it too far. You broke a boundary. It took me so long to realize that that wasn't my fault, it was yours."
"You are right. I...I'm glad..." For once, he tumbled over his words.
"What, you're glad I've moved passed your attempted assult? Glad I haven't ratted you out to Lucanis and Spite? Glad that I left out a few key details to Viago so he wouldn't kill you?" Kione spat the words out. "At least you know I'm right. But if I hadn't left? If I hadn't gotten some fucking space? If I didn't have Varric and Harding in my ear helping me understand it wasn't my fault?" She shook her head. "I don't owe you an explination. I don't fully understand why I thought Lucanis should have mercy on you." There's a pause as she pushes off the wall and takes a few steps closer.
"No...I don't know why I thought Lucanis should take pity on you. Grandson of the First Talon, trying to sell us out to the Venatori? Hah!" Kione tossed her hair at him and started to walk away. "You're going to be watched for the rest of your life. No Crow will ever trust you to have their back on a job. You're nothing more than a fucking display piece now. And it's what you deserve."
She's nearly out the room when Lucanis appeared in the doorway. An eyebrow raised as he took the pair of them in. "Am I interrupting something?"
"No." Kione flashed him a genuine smile as she stepped up to him. She had to stretch onto her tiptoes, but Lucanis was kind enough to get the hint and curl down to kiss her. She deliberately deepened the kiss, making a bit of a show in front of Illario, who squirmed.
When they finally pulled back for air, Lucanis chuckled. "Are you sure everything is alright?"
"I am." She wrapped her arm around his and leaned into him. "I always know everything will be alright when I'm with you."
Lucanis noted the odd look on his cousin's face, but didn't comment on it. "I was going to step out for some coffee, would you like to join me?"
Arm in arm, the pair walked towards the exit. Illario let out a groan, banging his head against the wall. Ran her right into the arms of my cousin. Lucky bastard.
