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"You are," I assured her. "And Talin's happy that you and Yamina are happy. He really is."
Maela smiled. "She told Thiemo, you know. He was so proud of her. Not shocked. Not worried. He told her that he was proud of her because he knew how hard that was to admit, and now they've gotten so much closer." She laughed. "Thiemo. The rake of the family is the brother who honestly cares the most. I mean, in the house. I think Talin cares just as much."
"He really does," I agreed, moving over to rest my hip on the desk before smiling at her. "And I met someone this week. Her name is Xenia, she's a Priestess for Ambition, and I have an official crush on a girl."
Maela just gasped with delight. "And the guys don't mind?"
"We don't," Anver promised, moving to take the chair. "We think Nari's adorable when she's smiling like that, blushing, or even telling us all about Xenia for the millionth time. And, in case you're wondering, her hair is exactly the color of fresh-brewed coffee, and it shines with blues and golds in the sunlight. Oh, her eyes are the best shade of brown." Anver grinned at me. "Should I go on?"
"No," I told him, "because I get to tell Maela all about her. You just, I don't know, prop your feet up and guard us or something."
So Anver kicked his feet onto the desk, and I proceeded to tell Maela every single thing. We laughed like young girls. Anver picked on us both. The best part, though, was that it no longer mattered if the people at this party wanted to give us the cold shoulder, because we were having plenty of fun on our own.
Chapter 55
Talin
It was late when we finally got back to the temple. Nari had taken her hair down in the carriage as we told her all about the cluster of men who kept trying to lure my little sister into dark corners. They hadn't been impressed to always find a priest or priestess waiting. Jamik and Amerlee had swooped in twice. Shalsa had pushed a man against the wall and made it clear that she liked men who talked back. Irila had pretended Yamina was needed elsewhere at one point.
Then there was us. Ela danced with Yamina a lot. Wraythe openly flirted with her. When Yamina had flirted back, I'd been a little worried until he assured me that it was all an act. He was more likely to fall into my bed than hers. One guy, however, had been wonderfully polite. It took most of the party before I realized that he was the Baron of Inspiration's younger brother. He also spent a lot of time talking to Thiemo.
Of all the matches Yamina could make, I was rooting for him, but only because I had a feeling he was the same guy Thiemo had been caught in bed with. Clearly, he would understand her desires, and hopefully he'd be willing to look the other way when Yamina was too close with her sister-in-law. But the better option would be for Yamina to never have to marry at all. I simply wasn't convinced that was possible.
And while he doted on my little sister, Thiemo's friend was very careful to never be alone with my brother. Still, too many people looked at them, so Ela stepped in when no one else would. When Amerlee hung on the man's arm, my mother visibly relaxed. Then Shalsa made Thiemo dance with her, and for the first time in far too long, I saw my mom smile.
We told Nari about all of it. She, in turn, told us about her talk with Maela, and how they'd hidden out in the office for far too long, pretending like it was business. Anver was more than happy to let us know that they were really talking about Xenia. Immediately, Nari began to blush.
And that was the strange thing. Yes, I was jealous of this woman. She made Nari giggle in ways I'd never had the chance to. Narilikedher, and I knew she fantasized about being with her. Oddly, I also liked it. I liked how my desire made this crush into something that we all shared. I adored seeing her get nervous about it, and loved how she came to me with her fears just as much as she did the other guys. Most of all, I just liked that she seemed happy.
Once we were back in our room, I helped Nari out of her dress, then she helped me out of my suit. When she stole my shirt to wear, I was hit with a rush of pride. It was stupid, and it was just a shirt, not something worth anything, but I still liked it. Even more when she caught my hand and dragged me with her, back to the sitting room where the guys were already dressed down and relaxing.
"So," Ela said, "I'm hoping that you didn't hear half of what people were saying about you." He was looking at Nari.
She dropped onto the spot closest to the fireplace. "I did. I also noticed the way they pretended not to see me. People who were begging to be considered after my graduation suddenly have forgotten my name. It's like I've been blacklisted in the course of a month!"
"Just don't let Ciella and Tishlie know," Anver grumbled. "That would make their lives."
"I know," Nari groaned, flopping back into my lap so she could toss her long, bare legs over the arm of the chair. "The strangest thing is that I don't honestly care. I'm more worried about how things are going with Arion and Bode, or if Xenia is really trying to see Will. I'm curious about that priest in the Temple of All Gods. I have more to do than worry about how much society cares about me, you know?"
"Ela doesn't," Wraythe teased.
"I'm also not on the shit list," Ela pointed out. "While those people sneer at Thiemo for being caught in a man's bed, they casually ask what type of patrons I accept. They pretend that being sucked off by a man is the most disgusting thing ever, but they secretly want to try it. I'm not even sure half of them are attracted to men! They just want a moment of doing something so taboo."
"Welcome to high society," I grumbled. "Those people are willing to smile to your face and stab you in your back. Never mind all the talk about the tithe! They love what Maela's doing, but for all the wrong reasons, and hate that it took a woman to do it."
"How many barons will refuse to tithe next year, do you think?" Nari asked.
Ela grunted as he tossed himself back to take up the entire loveseat. "Yeah, that's a problem I didn't think about. And what happens if the High Priest does..." He paused. "Zeal, are you busy?"
For a moment, nothing happened. We all looked at the corners of the room, but our god could no longer come every time we mentioned his name. I had just decided this was one of those times, and opened my mouth to explain what I knew of the laws when Zeal leaned over my shoulder to run his hand up Nari's leg.
"I do like that shirt," he told her.
She smiled at him. "It's Talin's. Still smells like him."
"He does smell nice." Zeal leaned toward my neck and inhaled, his face so close I could feel the heat of his skin. "And I promise I will take care of your sister, Talin. No matter what."
"Thank you," I told him, glancing back to find those eyes of his waiting.
