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I was tempted to remind Arkyn that theybothhad betrayed me, so his offer to be in the room at the same time as Soren gave me little comfort, but I didn’t.
“And the second?” I waited for his answer.
“You come to praise again.”
I had avoided going to the temple ever sincethatday, where I was publicly looked down upon. It was the last place I wanted to return to, but if that’s what it took to get me a brain session with the betrayer and the observing betrayer, then so be it.
I smirked. Channeling Von, I said, “You have yourself a deal.”
And with a bit of luck, it wouldn’t be the only one.
Sage
The king was snoring. And no one seemed to mind . . . except for me.
No sooner than he plopped down on his throne had he started performing head bobs. A few moments later and he was fast asleep—not even the choir’s singing could wake him, or the priestess’s boisterous voice.
Thatwas the feared king?
Thatwas him?
The same king that painted Edenvale in bloodshed and killed hundreds if not thousands of people? I was not only having a hard time believing it, but it felt like I had been smacked upside the head—the idea seemed preposterous. Even more preposterous when I noticed there was a string of drool danglingfrom his chin. With each snore, it got sucked back up, and with each exhale, it dropped closer to his expensive fur robes.
I tipped my head to the ceiling.Creator above, I think you made a mistake thinking this male was fit to lead.
Softly, Cataline swatted my thigh. She was sitting on my right, and Arkyn was on my left.
Ah right, I wassupposedto be listening.
I returned my attention to the priestess who stood behind the stone altar that was large enough to lay on. The altar was covered with a white, cotton cloth, a language I could not read stitched into the part that spilled down the front. Sitting on top of the altar was a large bowl and a slender pitcher, both of them solid gold.
“His Royal Highness has requested this week’s praise be devoted to Lady Light, our pure and illustrious goddess. Let us start by worshipping her name,” the priestess’s voice echoed amongst the temple walls.
Wide eyed, I glanced at Aurelius, his golden eyes meeting mine, a slight smirk toying at his lips.
I looked away—not quite sure what to do withthat, with us.
Von had warned me about Aurelius, but he had not been afforded the time to tell me why. Because I trusted Von, I would heed his warning—for now. I would keep Aurelius at an arm’s length. At least, until I knew more.
The priestess began to give praise, her words spoken in the same harsh foreign tongue she has used before. Although I couldn’t understand what she was saying, I couldfeelit, a gentle caress against my sleeping flesh, stirringherawake—the slumbering goddess. She stretched, her joints like rusty hinges, her bones aching and stiff. Her lips were cracked and dry, but the priestess’s praise was like a few droplets of rain falling against them. Even though it wasn’t nearly enough to hydrateher, it was enough to wet her lips, and it was exactly what she needed.
It was empowering in the sense that it reminded her of what she had been missing. And the feel of it, it was seductive—something my mortal body did not understand, but the immortal side of me?
She licked her lips, hungry for more.
When the praise ended, I felt dizzy, my mind swirling, my body confused.
What in the Spirit Realm was that?
The priestess raised her hands above her head, reaching towards the arched ceiling. She began speaking in her foreign tongue as she cupped her hands in front of her chest and a sun made of flame suddenly appeared, floating above her hands.
A waft of magic tinged the air.
My brows shot up—she was Fire Cursed. No different than any other Fire Cursed, and yet she was ahigh priestessinthe king’stemple. It reeked of hypocrisy. I tried not to make a sour face.
I leaned over, whispering to Arkyn, “A bit of a double standard, no?”
“The priestess using fire magic?” he whispered back.
