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“But…I have no eggs ready to fertilize right now,” Sky’lar protested. “And even if I did, I’m Mammalian—my kind doesn’t immediately lay a fertilized egg. It would need to grow inside my body for some time before I gave birth.”
“I know that, child. But the idea is to pay your respect to the Mother of Serpents with your passion—not just to leave a fertilized egg on her altar,” the High Priestess said. She ran the flickering flame over Sky’lar’s lower abdomen and it flared yellow. “Hmm…you have no egg ready now—though you may soon,” she said thoughtfully. “But either way, the two of you must participate.”
“Participate how, exactly?” Torin asked, unable to keep silent any longer.
“Why, participate in the Ritual of Fertility,” the High Priestess said. “If your partner, Agent Sky’lar, produces an egg for fertilization before it is your time to copulate in front of the statue of the Mother of Serpents, you must penetrate her and do your best to fertilize her egg.”
“Uh…okay.” Torin nodded. “But what if she doesn’t, um, produce an egg?”
“Well then, she will naturally be the one penetrating you,” the High Priestess spoke as though this should be obvious. “Either way, you display your passion and pleasure before the Goddess and honor the Ritual of Fertility.”
Torin felt himself tense up at once. Damn it—he’d already said no to being penetrated earlier! In fact, he and Sky’lar had decided that the idea of sex was completely off the table for them because of it. And now he had to make the choice again, but with much higher stakes this time.
“High Priestess,” Sky’lar said. “Among the Kindred, the male exclusively penetrates the female. I don’t think Torin is going to be comfortable letting me penetrate him.”
“Then your body had better produce an egg for fertilization soon,” the High Priestess snapped. “But either way, I refuse to grant the two of you access to the Shrine unless you give me your oath to honor the ritual!”
Torin and Sky’lar exchanged a glance and she squeezed his fingers ever so slightly.
This is it, Torin, a little voice whispered in his head. This is where the rubber meets the road, as the humans say. Are you willing to risk getting penetrated in order to keep Sky’lar safe? Do you really care about her that much?
“I understand you may dislike penetration, but it is a risk you must take if you wish to enter the Shrine to keep your partner safe,” the Head Priestess said, echoing the voice in his head. “Are you willing to take it, for the sake of being near the one you care for?”
At the question, Torin felt a deep wave of protective possessiveness rush over him. He knew the answer when he looked in Sky’lar’s large, blue eyes.
“Yes,” he heard himself say in a low, slightly hoarse voice. “Yes, I’ll risk it.”
“Thank you,” Sky’lar said simply. “And I promise, if it comes to that, I’ll be gentle with you, Giant.”
Torin raised an eyebrow at her.
“I’ll make you the same promise in return, Darlin’.”
“Good. Then the two of you may enter the Shrine. Speak with Lunk’or, my head guard—he will give you the proper clothing to wear so that the two of you appear to be nothing more than pilgrims. When you are dressed, one of my acolytes will give you a tour of the Shrine so that you may familiarize yourself with the layout.” The High Priestess gave them both a stern look. “She will also give you the opportunity to draw the number of your order.”
“I’m sorry but I don’t understand—what’s that?” Torin asked, frowning.
“She means the order in which we are to copulate,” Sky’lar explained. “It’s run on a kind of lottery system—as each set of pilgrims comes in, they draw a number which lets them know when it’s going to be their turn before the statue of the Mother of all Serpents.”
“That is exactly right, my dear.” The Head Priestess nodded regally. “Be sure that you do not miss your time—it is a grave offense.”
“What if we catch the killer before our, uh, number comes up?” Torin asked.
“Well then, you will be excused—you’ll have to take him off Shrine property at once,” The Head Priestess said. “I would expect nothing less.”
“We understand. Thank you, High Priestess.” Sky’lar bowed again and Torin did too, copying her motions. “We’re grateful for this opportunity.”
“See that you conduct yourself with proper reverence,” the High Priestess said sternly. “Do not make me regret my decision to allow you to come in during our holiest of festivals.”
Then she turned and glided over the shifting sand, seeming almost to float, Torin thought.
“Well…” Sky’lar released his hand but turned to look up at him. “How do you feel?”
“About what?” Torin growled, frowning down at her.
“About the agreement we just made with the High Priestess,” she said patiently. “You know—observing the ritual?”
