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In truth, she was why. A part of me hoped to see her again, but I knew that was unlikely. Mostly, she just made me realize there were some temptations worth worshiping. Since I'd been pulled out of my tenth year because of my father's declining health and eventual death, I was offered the chance to have my Choosing with the next class. I'd considered not coming back to the temple. Every day, I thought about it, contemplating the options for a man like me.
My family had money, but that didn't mean I did. Oh, they offered me a tolerable allowance, but mostly because I was making them proud. As a Priest of Temptation, we were carrying on a centuries-long tradition. The baron's seventh child was always surrendered to the temple as a tithe. Lucky me.
But after that night, I'd honestly believed my Path would be the Body. I'd loved that girl for those few moments we had, giving her everything she needed. I'd struggled to be gentle, and I was sure she'd enjoyed it. I'd even stopped those idiots before they swindled her out of all her coin! My shadowed beauty had looked so out of place in that common inn that she had to be from some very prominent family. And while, yes, I had considered pursuing her - because marrying into wealth would certainly solve my problems - it had been fleeting.
Instead, I'd let the moment of passion convince me that I belonged in the temple. I'd made it to the Choosing Rooms just as that year's instructor, a woman named Saval, reached the room beside mine, the last one for those who'd declared ourselves for the Path of the Word. My mentor looked honestly surprised that I was there, but so was I. Then, as soon as the door was locked, I'd walked into the water and submerged myself, expecting to see the marks appear across my hips. They hadn't.
Thinking about it, I could understand Zeal's decision. I'd protected that girl with temptation. If that didn't explain the large, dark patches behind my shoulders, then I didn't know what would. At least they'd allowed us to see our lace before the ring was applied - after all, I could always opt for a lower Path. Yet when I held the mirror up to see the body-length reflection showing my back, I knew that wasn't going to happen.
Our god-marks were called lace because that was often what it looked like. Mine didn't. Harsh geometric shapes, each of them interlocking and solid black, covered from the end of one arm to the start of the other, straight across my back. Below my shoulder blades were swirls of intricate lace, which I assumed matched my ward, and then more black lines extended below. Straight ones. Nothing like lace.
Now, here I was, limping along, trying to keep my steps small so the teeth would stop digging into my cock, with Saval leading to where my ward was supposed to live now. She'd promised me that it was a good choice, and her eyes had sparkled with excitement. The only problem was that we'd passed the initiate wing and headed right for the hall that typically housed only adepts of the Body.
"Here we are," Saval announced as she reached up to rap at the door.
"I thought we were paired with students from our Choosing?" I asked.
She smiled. "I think that nothing about today has been normal, but - "
The door opened, cutting her off. "Hey, Saval," a guy said, stepping halfway into the hall to greet her.
And he was the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. From his pale golden skin to the dark golden hair, he should've been a statue. His lips curled into the easiest smile, but his dark eyes were heavy, as if there was a storm brewing behind them. Wearing casual clothes, I could see the outline of his broad, muscular chest, his impressive arms, all the way down to the kind of thighs I liked on a man. Thick ones. I had a feeling his ass would be just as impressive.
So if this was who Zeal had assigned me to watch, I could definitely handle it. Men like him were called eye candy, and the sort that appealed to anyone, regardless of their sexual preference. I'd always preferred the more masculine boys, and he definitely fit the bill.
"So," Saval said, interrupting my appreciation of this man, "we've compared all the marks. Wraythe is a match, and I would like to introduce your other guardian."
Wait,otherguardian? Was that what Saval was about to tell me when she knocked? The match had always been one to one, I thought. A guardian and a ward, bound together until Zeal agreed to let them part. Usually, that was because one or both were allowed to change their Path. Often, when the Priest of the Body ascended to the Path of the Word - but that didn't happen until they were well into their forties, usually.
And nothing about this was normal, she'd said, but the gorgeous man had turned his attention on me. Returning the inspection I'd just given him, his eyes slid down my body, lingered on the general area of my cock, then back up to my face. Thankfully, my robe hid almost everything, but I could feel those teeth getting dangerously close. I did not need a partial right now. Dropping to my knees would be thecompletewrong impression.
Then the man smiled at me, an offer written all over it. "Well, aren't you a pretty one. Almost makes me want to trade with my partner."
"Partner?" I asked. How could a brand-new initiate already have an approved partner?
The guy leaned back to look deeper into his suite. "Guess this means you aren't your own guardian," he teased someone. Then his eyes returned to me. "Come in."
Ok, I was honestly confused now. Accepting the invitation, I stepped into the suite, careful to move slowly and not stretch my legs too far. I also couldn't pull my eyes off the dangerous way this man smiled.
"I was under the impression you were just chosen," I told him. "How can you already have a partner?"
"Well, she and I have been together since the end of our seventh year." His eyes jumped over my shoulder, and he lifted an open palm, gesturing behind me.
I turned, letting the pieces fall into place. This beautiful man already had a guardian. Of course, he did. If he'd managed to bond with someone enough for his instructor to accept their declaration of a partnership, then he probably had a big, strong protector who was as willing to die for him as I now wanted to be.
But it seemed his partner didn't. I figured he was bound to some effeminate man who had that wonderful, fragile beauty. The kind that did nothing for me, but which worked so well with many guys. Turning, I saw boxes, proving they must've just been assigned the room, a horrible rug, and then...
"Talin?"
The voice hit me at the same time my eyes found her. Long, inky hair hung loose down her back. Lips the color of roses were parted in awe. Skin so perfect it looked like marble proved I hadn't imagined her. I just hadn't expected to find herhere.My shadowed beauty lifted a lace-covered hand to her lips, and her golden eyes opened wide.
And there was only one thing I could think to say. "Fuck."
Saval chuckled. "Talin, would you like to see your room?"
I couldn't make myself acknowledge her. "Why didn't you tell me you were a priestess?"
And the man decided to interrupt. "Nari? You good?"
