AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Briefly," I admitted. "But he was in there today."
"Doesn't disprove him as a priest, Nari. If anything, it supports the idea." He leaned his head back and groaned. "That sounds like I don't believe you. I do. I also know that a very good ruse would be hard to see on the inside. You honestly believe you saw Zeal. That's obvious. The marks on your body are inexplicable. And yet, if someone wanted to disrupt the entire temple, this would be a good way to do it."
"But why?" I asked.
"Power." His blue eyes shifted to me. "Everything in this world is about power. Getting it or letting it go. That's theonething I know. See, I was twelve when I was given to the temple. Old enough to have learned all about how things work outside this place."
"Wait..." Because one thing stood out in my mind. "You're twenty-three?"
"Yeah, and you're nineteen. It's not that big of a gap. I'm only a year older than Eladehl and Wraythe." He smiled. "Why do you look so shocked?"
"A twenty-three-year-old virgin?"
"A priest in training," he reminded me. "And my year away was not a time when I was looking. My father died, Nari. He took a long time to do it, and the family fought for the scraps."
"Did you care about him?" I asked, trying to imagine how I'd feel if I was told my father had died.
Talin grunted and twisted his head. "Yes and no. He was my father, and I had some wonderful memories of him, but we were never close. I was always athingfor him to wave in other people's faces. The preordained son. I was born knowing I'd be a priest - the seventh child always is - and one who would go into the temple of temptation. He loved to pull me out and show me off as a reminder that our family was a principal patron."
"Well, then I'm sorry. If you despised him, I'd say I'm relieved." I paused for a moment as we turned onto our own hall. "That's why you don't talk about it?"
"It's more that I'm tired of being thebaron'sson. I really don't want special treatment. Yet, for the first time, I'm starting to see how I fit into Zeal's plan for you. I know how to navigate this kind of mess, and with the High Priest being involved, I promise you, itisa mess. He's going to try to make you give up. He'll acquiesce to the idea of a Priestess of Temptation, while doing everything to make sure it never happens. I know most of those tricks."
"Will you help me?" I asked, just as we reached my door.
"Always. Nari, I don't just want to be a good guardian because I'm an arrogant shit. I am, but I honestly want to take care of you. It feels... right. Rewarding. In there, when I spoke up for you? The rush was the same as when you fell into my arms, and I want more of that."
I pushed open the door and tilted my head inside. "Coming in?"
He smiled and followed, closing the door behind him. We rounded the hearth, and I stopped in my tracks. Sitting there in our new chair - a gift from Jamik - was Wraythe. Eladehl was across from him on the couch and looked up as I walked in. Wraythe followed his gaze, smiled brightly at me, and then his gaze shifted to Talin.
"Not what I expected from the description," he said, easing himself to his feet. "I'm Wraythe, Eladehl's guardian."
"Talin," he said, closing the distance to offer his hand. "The sword - well, blade - to your shield, I believe."
"And Nariana's guardian," Wraythe pointed out, his hand closing on Talin's, looking like there was a little too much force.
Talin shrugged, ignoring the very firm grip. "One of them. The one the High Priest recognizes, but I think we all know she truly has three." And he pointed around the room. "In our own ways."
Wraythe huffed, not impressed. "She any good in bed?"
"I have nothing to judge by. Nor will I ever." Talin lifted his chin and thrust out his jaw. "And I'm not about to risk your ward grabbing my ring again."
"Liked that, did ya?" Wraythe teased.
"I would've preferred a caress instead of a squeeze, but no complaints. He got his point across." And Talin eased his hand free. "I have to say, though, you are fuckinghuge."
"Mhm." Wraythe's expression turned sly. "And not the prettiest man in the room. Too bad for you, my girl doesn't care."
"I think she's more drawn to your sweet side," Talin teased. "Must admit, I can see the appeal."
That made Wraythe's brows go up because it was not at all what he'd expected. "Excuse me?"
Talin let his eyes drop, making his examination obvious. "I have a weakness for masculine men. Not all beauty is elegant or refined. Sometimes, there's a lot to be said for brute force. I also know you aren't interested, and neither of us can do a thing about it."
"Not sure how to reply to that," Wraythe breathed, looking over to Eladehl.
"He's trying to get your guard down," Eladehl said. "Trust me, flirting a little is an easy way to do it."
