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"You are," she promised. "Ela, you're one of my best friends."
To most men, that would've hit hard. It would've felt like ice water dumped over their heads. Those words were usually used as a brushoff to make it clear a woman didn't want more. Not from Nari. Coming from her it meant more than anything else. She would have many lovers in her life. It was part of following the Path of the Body. She would work with him and others, so not even the title of partner meant enough. There was nothing about our lives that was ours to keep, except our friendship - and from the look on Ela's face, Nari had just said the right thing.
"Promise me you'll give me time to adjust to being so close?" he asked. "No listening in. No hanging out in Talin's room to spy on me? At least, not at first?"
"I swear," she told him. "I'll even go so far as to spend your first session at Amerlee's, but I have a condition."
"Ok?" He looked wary.
"I think Wraythe needs to show Talin how to help you too," she said.
His eyes jumped to me. "Not at first."
"When?" I asked.
"Third," he decided. "The third lesson I have with her across the hall, then you can come. I need to get used to this too."
I just nodded at him. "I think that's more than fair. I also think that the more you talk about it, the easier it will be for all of us. This is you, Ela, and there's not a single thing wrong with you."
"Personally," Nari said, flopping down on the bed, "I just want you to feel ok with being who you are. And I love the room, guys. Maybe I'll even be able to stay out of your way tomorrow morning."
Just like that, she changed the subject, making the tension dissipate. I chuckled and stepped back to rest my rump against the dresser. "Does this mean that you're going to do the sexy eyeshadow thing again tomorrow?"
"He likes that," Wraythe said.
"You like that," I countered.
Wraythe shrugged, but the smile on his lips destroyed his attempt to look nonchalant. "Nothing wrong with that. And we should put the bed in the corner, move the dresser beside Ela's closet, and make this space more open so we're not having to push past each other."
"I'll help lift," I told him. "Those two can lie on the bed and make out or something."
"After we move it," Wraythe told them. "So up, Nari. Don't want to strain Talin's muscles or anything."
Chapter 5
Nariana
We'd barely finished moving the big pieces when a gentle tap on the door announced that we had company. Ela shot me a confused look, then went to answer it. The rest of us followed. On the other side was Anver, and Zeal stood just behind him.
"Um..." Anver stepped inside, and glanced nervously at the rest of us. "I was told you all wanted to talk, and that it applies to me."
"You do know you can come over without him," Talin said, clearly trying to set Anver at ease.
Anver just huffed what was supposed to be a laugh. "I figured you all have enough stuff to worry about."
Ela casually stepped back to let both him and Zeal inside. "Thank you for pushing him," he told the god. "I'm guessing this is why you took a bit to show up?"
"Yeah, although bringing him is partly for my own benefit," Zeal said. "But that invitation goes both ways."
"Not really," I said, making them all look over. "I don't want to knock on his door and set Tishlie after him again."
"What's up with that, anyway?" Wraythe asked.
Anver blew out a heavy breath and took the empty chair. "Ciella has her convinced that guardians are all but servants. Tish keeps saying that since I have a ring on my dick, it means I'm only good for making her life easier. When I don't..."
"She hits you," Wraythe finished for him. "So why don't you hit back?"
"Because she's myward," he admitted. "I..." He glanced at Zeal, almost like he was hoping for a little support. "It..."
