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"You didn't seem bothered when they had the session with Tishlie," he countered.
I turned, looking at him as if he'd lost his mind. "They hate your ward."
"I hate my ward, so I can't blame them. Seriously, what's the problem?" he pressed.
"They don't hate Peyron, Priest of Protection for Perception." I couldn't help but sneer as I spoke his P-filled title.
Anver's lips curled into a smile even as he ducked his head in a weak attempt to hide it. "Lemme give you a great piece of advice," he joked. "Try not to pick up any idiots because you're feeling left out, ok? It doesn't work well."
That actually made me chuckle. "Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna believe you on this one." Then it was my turn to order food.
I listed off dishes for Nari, Ela, Wraythe, and myself, then gestured to Anver. He added what he wanted. The Priest of Obligation before me nodded with each one, making a note of it. When he told me it would be delivered to our door in half an hour, I slid a silver coin across to him.
The man smiled at me, then pocketed it. Stepping aside, I let Anver place his order for Tishlie. When he pulled out a few coppers, I passed another silver to the Priest of Obligation. Anver huffed, but put his money back into his pocket, then turned me toward the exit.
"I can tithe for myself," he grumbled.
"The Baron still gives me an allowance," I reminded him. "My desire has been passed purses of money all summer long, and Ela isn't any better. We're not broke, and Obligation deserves every copper they get. Keep your coin and spend it on yourself, not that sniveling little bitch."
Anver clasped my shoulder and nodded. "Deal. As for your little jealousy problem, my advice is to ignore it."
"Pretty much what I'm trying to do," I assured him.
But his feet paused. "No. I'm saying that it's pointless. This is Eladehl we're talking about. It's Nari. They get excited about things together because they'resharingit. Notbecauseof it. The sharing is what matters to them, Talin, and I have a feeling you were one of those many things. So is Wraythe."
That actually made me feel a lot better. "Thanks. I know it's stupid. I honestly do. I've just never seen him look at anyone like that before. Nari? She looks at everyone that way. It's what makes her so powerful. Those big gold eyes of her are so sensual, and everyone they land on dares to believe they have a chance. Ela?" I shook my head.
"Ela gives people what they give him," Anver explained. "I've been on both sides of that. When I fawned over him, he fawned over me. When I betrayed him, he made sure I paid. He is cold, cruel, and beautiful in so many ways. His heart, however, isn't just locked away. He's lost the key to it."
"I know," I promised.
"You really don't," Anver assured me. "Ela doesn't love because he doesn't think he deserves it. He's filled all the space he has with the three of you. Nari? Her heart is endless, but Ela's is a steel trap. It's how he keeps himself from being hurt. He has his family, and he sometimes makes a few friends. That's it."
Ok, I could see his point, but I had a problem with it too. "So you think this priest is just a friend?"
"I think that being friends with Eladehl is what most people call love. I think Ela's love, however, is something that would awe a god." He tipped his head. "I've actually heard a certain god say pretty much that exact thing."
"My problem isn't that I doubt him," I promised. "It's that I can't make this feeling go away. It's stupid, and I know it, but I don't know how to stop it."
"Why?" Anver asked.
I sighed, because I knew I would answer. "All my life, I've been given everything I wanted. I'm the one everyone else is supposed to chase. I'm the Ranndor tithe. I'm the Baron's brother. I'm the man with the impressive connections - until I became simply Nari's guardian. I'm having to unlearn a few very bad habits."
"Like loving too much." Anver nodded. "You talk to Wraythe about this?"
"He said to let them have it, and I agree. They have a crush on a priest they met years ago. They've clearly carried a thing for him for a while, and the guy wants a session with them. He's also been marked by Savi; she stopped in to talk to Nari, and thus it's one ofthosethings. I'm fine with the idea. I kissed the guy to prove it. I just don't feel..."
"Fine," Anver finished for me. "Yeah. So what does that dark fear say?"
I almost turned away. If it had been anyone else but one of Zeal's most trusted friends, I would have. Instead, I answered, "It says he'll get bored of me because I can't keep up."
"It's a lie," Anver assured me. "In all my life, I've never seen Ela look at any man the way he looks at you. The closest I can get is Wraythe, and we both know that's different."
But my lips were curling. "Yeah?"
"Honest truth," Anver promised. "I knew Ela was in love with you before I knew your ring didn't work. He's not subtle - to those of us who know how to read him. The trick? It's his eyes. When he looks away and smiles, you know it's real. When it's not, he stares them down like a predator."
"Because he is," I pointed out, turning Anver back up the hall. "He's also beautiful, honest, and the most sensual man I've ever met."
"And Wraythe?" Anver asked.
I just laughed. "Is still straight. Sadly. Love him too, though. I don't know how he makes this work, but he always does."
"He's the glue," Anver said. "I think he always has been."
"No, that's Nari," I countered.
Anver shook his head. "It's really not. She's the addiction. He's the glue that keeps all of us from falling apart. That's why I slipped away, Talin. I pissed off Ela and broke Nari's heart, but when Wraythe stopped caring, I never had a chance. I spent years thinking his strength was in his muscles. Zeal's made me realize that it's in his heart."
