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"I kinda took a nap," I admitted.
"Mm, from the long night. So which Path do you want?"
I groaned, sick of hearing that question. "I'm leaving it for my god to decide."
His hand slammed down on the table. "You demand to be asked, and when you are, then you say you don't want to answer? Pick a side of this fence, woman!"
I flinched back from his fury. "What are you talking about?" I gasped.
"Consent," he said, pale eyes boring into me. They stood out on his dark, yet oddly golden skin. "You accuse me of using you, annoyed that even if you decide, I might put you somewhere else, and then refuse to have an opinion?"
I.He'd said, "where I might put you." My eyes scanned his face, finding nothing but beauty. His features were so refined they were almost alien in their perfection. His skin was the color of wet sand, much darker than mine, but not as dark as Shalsa's. His lips were full, built to hold a smile as easily as a scowl.
He was perfect.
"My god is supposed to put the marks on my skin," I told him, trying to understand what was going on.
The man grabbed both sides of his robe and pulled, revealing nothing but bare skin beneath, and yet he was still covered in black. As the robe slipped to the floor, I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. From his throat to his toes, every inch of him was painted in the most intricate lace I'd ever seen. Not a space was left untouched. Not eventhere.
"Zeal," I breathed, unable to think of another way this made any sense.
"So I'm asking you, Nariana," he said, storming toward me. "Which Path do you want? Be honest!"
"I don't know!" I whimpered, bracing for his touch, squeezing my eyes closed, because I expected him to be furious.
But when his hand cupped my face, it was so very gentle. "Why don't you know?Whatdon't you know? You said you wanted to be asked, so I am here before you. I'masking."
"I want parts of them all," I breathed, lifting my lids to find his face hovering just before me.
His eyes were amazing. Blue, yellow, green, grey, amber, brown, and even white were flecked through them, creating the most interesting prism effect. I found myself smiling as I tried to see them all.
"I am everything and nothing, a thirst you can never quite quench. My presence is an addiction that will never allow you to get a fix, and yet will always make you feel the rush." He slowly blinked, shielding me from his eyes for a moment. "Do not get lost in there, Nariana. I need you to see me."
"Why?" I asked, my voice breathless.
His thumb brushed my cheek. "Once, so very long ago, a woman watched over us as we were born. She held us, cleaned our faces, and chased away the crows. Our first experience in this world was love, so we repaid her with the ability to always see. She passed that to her children, and them to their children, but the world is not a gentle place. That is why you can see me but no one else seems to. There aren't many of you left."
"Wait. So when you stood behind us on the Darkest Night, no one else could see you?"
"No one but you," he agreed. "And that is why I am here now. Tell me which Path you want? I'm afraid I'm not very good at begging."
"I really don't know. I mean, I like the Path of the Word, because I get to explain our duties to others. I can make them feel at ease around us instead of embarrassed or ashamed. I find the research fascinating, but I don't want to do it all the time. I definitely don't want to lead ceremonies or sermons."
"Mm, but you would be so good at it."
That made me smile, yet it was strange to be complimented by a god. "I was terrified that I'd hate sex, since we couldn't do it. But last night?"
"He was a very beautiful man, don't you think?" Zeal asked. "And you did me a favor while you were there, so thank you for that."
"Yeah," I said, unsure how to take that. "You're welcome? But my point was that Idolike it. I'm ok with the idea of laying with a stranger, and I understand it won't always be that pleasant, but I honestly believe my god - er,you- will make it easy."
"Always," he assured me. "Not always good, but easy."
"So the Path of the Body has its appeal, but it doesn't feel like it's a perfect match for me. Not the way Eladehl describes it. Maybe it's good enough?"
Zeal eased my hair back. "It is not an easy Path, but it is the most important. So what about Protection?"
"The rings." I chewed at my lip. "I don't know why you'd ask that of them - "
