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Chapter 75
Nariana
Maela tried to convince me to change clothes, but I wasn't interested. The distress humming across my bonds was like a humming in my ears. I was waiting for Ela to crash any second, and I wasn't sure it would be safe for him to do that here. Then there was Talin. His jaw was clenched in fury. I'd never seen him this angry. He was supposed to be my calm one. The man who thought first and found a way to posture through it.
"We need to go," I told her. "Maela, everyone saw that. There's no way we're welcome in this house anymore."
"Yes, you are," Maela assured me. "They all heard him consent. They all saw what he did to you. Pia wanted to stop it, but I told her it was not her business. She'll take that out on me."
"And Tath?" I asked. "What's he going to do to you when we're not here? Haryth?"
"Nothing," Ela said. "Your family is safe, Nari. Even if that means he has to spend his power to make sure of it." Then his lips curled and his voice deepened into Zeal's. "I'm not a weak god anymore. I also needed my revenge, and the golden one makes it so sweet. The mark will scar."
"Zeal, is Ela going to be ok?" I asked.
"He's fine," Zeal promised. "He's finally realized he has control." And Ela's face turned to Talin. "Let the anger go. It's the perfect night to start over, and you've done nothing wrong."
"Shit," I breathed. "The Fresh Start. Oh, Maela, did I just ruin that for you?"
"No," she promised, gesturing to someone behind me. "Tath made his own decisions. Yamina and I are going to the Temple of Compassion. I'm taking Haryth with me. If any of the family wants to join me, then they're welcome, and we'll see where they truly stand."
"We'll be there," Talin promised. "I'm sorry we can't stay longer."
"Go," Maela told him. "Danis has your coats. The carriage is out front. Branstan will make sure all of your things are packed and we'll send them to the temple this evening."
"Drandir," I told her. "He's a Priest of Obligation. Have the staff ask for him, and he'll make sure it's all put away even if we're already at Compassion's temple."
"Drandir," she repeated. "That helps, because the men won't need to rush. I'll make sure he has a good tithe too." Then she hugged me. "I'm so sorry, Nari. I can't imagine how terrified you must have been, or how brave you were to stand there, taunting the man who tried to force himself on you."
"Our price is always less," I reminded her. "That includes the trauma. Be safe for the next few hours, Maela."
"No, I'm going to be a bitch," she said. "That? My husband just betrayed meandyou in one stupid act. He just lost what little respect he had left. No, this house needs someone to take charge, and that's me. Zeal put his trust in me, and I will not let my gods down." Then she turned me to the door. "Find me tonight?"
"Promise," Wraythe told her as he helped me get my coat on and buttoned up enough to hide the rip in my dress.
Ela was helping Talin. All four of us were in a state of shock, but we had this. Each of us could hold up the others just enough to make it work. Outside, the freezing air helped a little more. A half-dressed footman waited beside the open carriage door, and the driver was wearing common clothes instead of the uniform I usually saw these men in.
"Excuse our attire, priests," the footman said.
"Doesn't matter to us how you look," Wraythe assured him. "We just appreciate the haste."
The moment we sat down inside, Ela leaned back and sighed. His eyes slipped closed, and just when I was sure he was about to start crashing, his lips curled into a smile. Lifting his arm, he pulled Talin against his side, and the carriage jerked into motion.
"Zeal's gone," Ela said. "He was sitting in the back of my mind - or side. I'm not honestly sure. He just wanted to use my arm so he could carve the snake."
"That was my brother," Talin said.
"Your asshole of a brother," Ela reminded him. "The one you've spent your life fighting against."
"Which is why I never should've left Nari's side!" Talin snapped.
Ela just caught his face in both hands, making Talin look at him. "Do not do that. You can't be everywhere all the time. None of us knew he'd try that, and Nari doesn't need to be made into a prisoner so we can keep her safe. Talin, Zeal doesn't want to climb into any of our bodies unless he has to, because we're strong enough to fight for ourselves now. He..." Ela tipped his head, pressing his brow to Talin's. "He's proud of us, babe. Proud, and you know how pissed he'd be if he thought you'd failed her."
"Are you really ok?" Talin asked, pulling away so he could see me.
I nodded. "I am. I knew I could fight him off, but if Ela and Wraythe had been any later, I may have killed him in the process. That would've caused so many problems."
"Which is what Kinen was hoping for when he made the exceptions for you both," Wraythe pointed out. "Two birds, one stone."
