AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Not that many," Ela told me. "Most desires are rabidly jealous of their protectors. From the people I've talked to, it's like they're the one thing we get all to ourselves. I mean, we have to share our partners with patrons, but our guardians? They get to be ours."
That entire idea made no sense to me. We'd always known that this would happen. It was covered in our early classes, even if they didn't mention that the sharing would be for sex. I remembered Saval talking about it when we were first-years. She'd called it "responsibilities," and I hadn't even thought about what that had meant. In my childish mind, I'd imagined cleaning or something.
"Amerlee and Shalsa are ok with it," Wraythe said. "Sounds like Irila and Jamik like both of them."
I scrunched up my face. "It's so weird to think about them like that."
"Not really," Talin told me. "Jamik's hot, and Amerlee is gorgeous. Shalsa is sensual, and Irila is so easy to talk to. Pretty sure every man in this temple has thought about Amerlee and Jamik going at it at least once."
"Or you and Talin," Ela teased. "Yeah, even the ones who aren't into women. Sorry, but pretty has that effect."
I stuck my tongue out at him, doing my best to ruin the "pretty" he was talking about. But Ela's reaction wasn't what I was expecting. His eyes flared for a split second, then he sat up straight and glared. It was just enough warning for me to brace before a hand slammed down on the end of our dinner table.
It was my least favorite person in the world, Ciella. She'd bullied me as a child, had tried her best to cause problems throughout our primary education, and had tortured Eladehl. Zeal had taken over my body to teach her a lesson, but it seemed that it didn't stick. Her once-burned hair was now grown out, but it still wasn't as long as it had been when Zeal had helped me burn it off.
"Well, well," she sneered, looking over at me. "I figured you were too good to eat with the likes of us normal priests now."
I lifted my chin and met her eyes. "And I'm surprised that you're still as shallow now as you were at sixteen. Are those wrinkles, Ciella?"
She sneered, then forced the expression away. "I just want to let you know that your newfound interest in women doesn't mean I'll fuck you."
My eyes narrowed and my mind spun. What newfound interest in women? How was she twisting things this time? Most importantly, what the fuck was she talking about?
But I couldn't say any of that to her. "Don't worry, you're not my type."
"What interest in women?" Ela asked, lifting a hand like he was waiting to be noticed.
"Oh, so I guess she even kept it from you, huh? Seems Nariana has been fucking the baron's wife. Figure the High Priest will be interested to hear that a student is having illegal sessions with patrons."
"First," Talin said, "it's not illegal. Wrong word. Prohibited works, but there's no actual law against it, just tradition. Secondly, all priests and priestesses are allowed to have intimate relations as they choose. The prohibition on penetration ended with our Choosing." He raked his eyes over her, making it clear he wasn't impressed. "Third, my sister-in-law was more interested in fashion than fucking. Try harder."
"And you honestly think you'd know about it?" Ciella asked. From her tone, it was clear she was trying to stir up doubts between us.
"Pretty sure, yeah," Talin said. "That's the funny thing about being able to see someone. You can actually see what they're doing. Not a really difficult concept."
Ciella huffed. "Says the man who got held back for his Choosing, as if you have any room to talk."
Talin actually laughed at that. "Blondie, do you even know who I am?"
And for the first time, I heard the same arrogance in his tone that his brother had used. It was the disdain of high society for anyone beneath them, and Talin did it a little too well. Clearly, Ciella heard it too, because she slapped the table in her annoyance.
"You're the baron's little brother. So what? Everyone knows about you four. The entire temple has been talking since you went for that week-long liaison over the holidays." Then she turned her focus back on me. "Was that when Eladehl lost interest in you, or did you run away because he was tired of sticking his dick in you after the first time?"
"Is that the best you have?" I asked, blowing it off.
Unfortunately, Ciella wasn't done. She turned to Ela. "Look, we get it. Nari's always been too prissy and prudish. Heard you're taking lessons with a submissive. Do you honestly think your partner's going to suddenly start to be obedient? Because..." She smiled at him. "I'll gladly share mine with you."
"You don't have a partner," Ela reminded her. "That's why you're still in the initiate wing."
"Oh, but we're so close. She's always in my room. Poor Ryshie can barely take it, which means plenty of time with no one to watch over us. You're welcome to drop by."
Ela just gaped at her, slowly shaking his head in disbelief. "Did you miss the part where I like a little dick to go with the pussy? Ciella, go away. Your teenage drama should've stayed in school. You, of all people, are too old for this shit."
"Don't say I didn't warn you," she taunted before sauntering off like she'd just won that round.
The four of us looked at each other, sharing our mutual befuddlement at the entire ordeal. It wasn't like Ciella had ever been my friend. According to Anver, that woman she'd been spending time with was Tishlie - who also hated us. I couldn't fathom what she'd hoped to accomplish with her little visit, but I had no doubt at all that she had some kind of nefarious plan.
"Fucking bitch," Talin finally breathed, breaking the tension. "Has she always been like that?"
