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"No, it's..." Peyron stammered, looking more awkward than I'd ever seen before. Then he swallowed. "We're allowed sessions this year, Priest Edrik."
"So, both?"
"All three," Peyron mumbled.
"Wraythe's incredibly straight," Talin explained. "Anver is asexual. Peyron's met all five of us. The rest is none of your business, priest."
"You're right," Edrik agreed, reaching over to clasp Peyron's shoulder. "You should know that Rebexa also approves of this friendship. Enough that she might make allowances so you can continue it."
Peyron just nodded, then looked over, relief taking over his face. "Wraythe," he called out, lifting a hand in greeting. "Ladies."
Wait, Ladies? Maela was standing beside Ela, biting her lips together so she didn't laugh at the embarrassed priest. Trying not to be rude, I turned to see who Wraythe had found, and a laugh simply fell from my lips.
"Savi?" I asked.
"What?" Yamina gasped, turning to look all around her.
Wraythe just bumped her forward. "You can't see her and don't spill the food."
But Savi was giggling at the girl. "Oh, she's wonderful." Then she stretched her legs, hurrying over to Peyron. "And you see me?"
"You're..." Peyron's breath fell out. "You have the most amazing eyes."
"What?" Edrik asked, turning to follow Peyron's gaze just as Savi stopped beside him.
"You," she told Peyron while I clasped Edrik's arm hard enough that he wouldn't speak over the goddess, "are my Chosen. Be sensual. Be proud, and shy, and brilliant. Notice all of it for me."
"Always, Savi," Peyron promised. "I knew you had to be real, I just never thought I'd see you."
Then the goddess cupped the side of his face. "More than see." And she leaned in, her mouth pressing against his.
"Kiss back," I said gently. "Let her in, Pey."
He relaxed, and Savi took over, sweeping her tongue through his mouth as Peyron's eyes slipped closed. When she pulled her lips away, he sighed as if some weight had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"And now you are truly mine," she promised before looking back to me. "Nari? Please make Edrik see me too? Do what you did with Rebexa?"
So I tugged my date to look at me. "She's standing right before Peyron," I told him. "She's amazing, beautiful, and your goddess. You know she's real, Edrik. There's no way for us to fake Peyron seeing her - or Rebexa's reaction. Just close your eyes, let go of the last of your doubts, and then she'll be right here."
"Just like that?" he asked.
I nodded. "You're already worthy. Look at the patterns on your hands. I'm sure there's plenty more on your body. You are so worthy, and she wants you to do this. She told me to make you try."
So, just like Rebexa had, Edrik pulled in a breath and closed his eyes tightly. He held it for a moment, his body softening as if he was coming to terms with this, and then he opened just one eye. Immediately, he huffed out the air he'd been holding.
"Goddess?"
"Oh, Edrik," Savi said, turning to clasp both of his hands. "Always so strong, so wise, and so determined. Yes, you see me."
"You're more beautiful than I imagined," he whispered.
"Then kiss me," Savi begged. "Let me claim you as my priest. Let me touch your soul?"
He bent, she stretched, and their mouths met. From the corner of my eye, I saw Maela bump Ela's arm, a look of confusion on her face. He lifted it to wrap around her shoulders, then leaned toward her ear.
"I know you can't see it, but there's a god there. Probably Savi, and when a god enters our bodies, they don't touch skin. They touch something deeper. Zeal says a kiss is the smallest part of that, but it grants our gods permission to push a little harder, bend our minds to the right place, and help us in subtle ways. This? It might look odd to us, but it's good, because it means Zeal's no longer the only one gaining power."
Savi leaned away from Edrik and added, "It won't happen fast, but three who believe means I can breathe again. They will convince more." Then she looked at me. "Merci has eight now. As soon as your brother told the other siblings about her, they all believed. She met each one in their rooms late last night."
"So Temptation, Compassion, and Perception are healing now?" I asked.
"Yes," she said, sounding relieved. "And we can help you convince the rest. Merci's High Priest is excited to be the next. Rebexa is a respected leader in her temple. Now that she believes, more will come to me fast. As we get stronger, we can help Zeal more."
"Which means helping Nari," Peyron realized.
"It does," Savi said, her tone sounding like praise. "And that's why I wanted you. I also need you to be Nari's date, because I have things to talk about with Edrik. Enjoy the evening, my Chosen. Be silly, kiss the boys and the girls, and plan for a future where it doesn't matter. Today, the future doesn't seem so bleak."
