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“Liessa, look at me.”
“What?”
A salty breeze lifted the hair from his shoulders as he said, “There is no shame in needing help.”
My cheeks warmed.
“And there is only strength in accepting aid.”
“I can climb stairs,” I persisted, even as my muscles screamed in denial.
“I know. That doesn’t mean I can’t help you.” Eather spun in his eyes. “Allow me this. Please.”
I swallowed a curse. “I think you’ve caught on to how I can’t deny you when you say please.”
One side of his lips kicked up. “I have no idea what you speak of.”
“Sure,” I muttered, but I didn’t resist when he lifted me into his arms. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could’ve made it to the top.
And that truth didn’t only make me feel pathetic.
It also scared me a little.
Ash reached the main floor of the Temple within a few heartbeats, immediately placing me on my feet as Bele strode past, dropping Elias by one of the pillars. I half-expected her to make a comment, but she said nothing, her features pensive as she stopped at what appeared to be the base of a statue that must’ve once stood proud. I scanned the Temple floor, seeing several blocks of marble in varying stages of ruin, leading to the far side of the Temple, where there was an enclosed space.
“Thank you,” I whispered under my breath.
Ash pressed a kiss to my cheek then straightened as several figures appeared along the back columns, passing the enclosed portion of the Temple. As they crossed the floor, my shoulders tensed in recognition of most of them.
Saion and his cousin Rhahar walked together, their similar, striking features a rich brown in the sunlight. Both wore silver armor over their chests, and like Bele, all manner of weapons were visible on them.
Both drew up short, stopping at the Temple stairs. Behind them, the fair-haired god Kars that I knew as one of the Shadowlands guards appeared, along with another god I remembered seeing in the training fields.
Saion was the first to break free of the small group and approach Ash. I could’ve sworn the god’s dark eyes glimmered as Ash moved to clasp his forearm. Saion didn’t stop there, though. He pulled the larger man forward, into a one-armed embrace.
Surprise rippled through me. I’d never really seen anyone but Nektas get close to Ash, let alone touch him. And anytime they saw me touching him, it seemed like they were witnessing some sort of magic.
Ash hesitated, clearly not expecting the response. I bit down on the inside of my cheek, waiting and hoping he returned the embrace. These people. Saion, his cousin, Bele—all of them—were Ash’s friends, even if he hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge that since Lathan’s death. Even if he wasn’t supposed to form bonds with any of them, they already had them. In my mind, not being able to see the journey of a soul or impact where they went wasn’t more important than what one experienced while alive.
So, I disagreed with the Arae. Eternal afterlife wasn’t more valuable.
A shudder of relief went through me as Ash finally moved, folding an arm around Saion’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you,” Ash said roughly.
“Same, brother.” Saion’s voice was no less hoarse. He clapped his back. “Same.”
Rhahar quickly replaced Saion the moment his cousin stepped back. I then saw Lailah making her way forward, her long braids swept back. Her lips curved into a smile, and my gaze shifted to who walked just behind her. It wasn’t her twin, Theon.
It was Rhain.
Gods, he looked leagues better than when I’d last seen him. Gone was the blood and the bruised, mangled flesh.
Rhain’s gaze landed on me. His steps faltered at the same moment my heart did. I looked away, lifting my free hand to Aios’s necklace.
Ash was getting a lot of hugs in, so I focused on that. A faint grin tugged at my lips. I could’ve sworn his cheeks were a deeper shade by the time Rhain made his way to him. It was good seeing this—seeing Ash accepting them and their obvious love for him. The next breath I took was easier and steadier.
Ash wouldn’t be alone.
Breathing through a sudden slice of pain in my temples, I went to where Elias had been dumped. Kneeling beside him, I brushed a lock of brown hair back from his face. A thin trickle of blood cut through the golden paint. He was still out. Lifting my head, I looked across the expanse.
