“There will be no staying out past lights out,” continues Maida, unruffled, “and no leaving temple grounds without permission and an escort. There will be repercussions if infractions occur, doled out with increasing severity in the instance of recurrence.”
“Sorry, Tiss,” Cordelia mouths, glancing between me and the Second High Priestess’ retreating back.
She noticed my goose egg as soon as I stepped inside Sanctuary Hall. Once she asked about it, Sadrie couldn’t quite conceal her laughter. Whatever excuses I tried to give, Cordelia saw right through me, and we ended up filling her in on the way to class.
My head snaps to the front of the room, aggravation prickling my scalp.
Delia lays out the final caveat: “Most importantly, regardless of what color sphere anybody draws, you will all be expected to maintain chastity. There will be nomisconductwith any members of the outside world, any staff here at the temple, and certainly, goddess help you, none between yourselves.”
It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, but it’s different hearing it from a sister in front of a classroom. My heart hammers against my ribs, and I swallow, suddenly parched.
Elodie is leaning against her wall again, eyes on Delia. I’mconvincedshe can feel my heated stare boring through the side of her face.
The murmurs swell to a frenzied rumble, then everyone is talking at once.
Somebody says, “That’s not fair at all!”
“None of this is fair!” Another initiate raises her voice.
“Do we get a choice?”
Even Sadrie seems agitated. She mutters something I don’t catch before leaning back to exchange words with Cordelia—who doesn’t seem troubled at all.
In fact, Cordelia’s countenance isserene, of all things.
“The goddess will decide. What she ordains is final.” Elodie’s words cut through the buzzing classroom, her attention bouncing between Delia and the disjointed complaints. “Pleasecontrol yourselves. The quicker we get through this, the sooner we can address your concerns.”
It takes a few moments, but everyone settles down enough for Delia to continue. “Now, you all knew what you were signing on for when you came here. Doubly so when you offered yourselves for ritual purification.” The way she grips the lectern, the dark brown skin over her knuckles tight with strain, clashes with her light tone.
Maida speaks up again: “As part of the proceedings, the Five will be attending as witnesses. They’re all undertaking long journeys to be at the Ceremony of Induction. We expect each and every one of you to be on your best behavior.”
Somehow, between the priestesses and Sister Delia, we are placated. Our lottery concerns are addressed and suitably smoothed over.
The lesson wears on, and a “protocol” is laid out. Elodie gives me a wide berth. For the remainder of the morning, she limits her intermittent pacing to the other aisles and perimeter walls—everywhere, pretty much, but my immediate vicinity.
Chapter 9
Itissa
When lunch finally rolls around, I take the others’ satchels, volunteering to drop them in our rooms. Sadrie and Cordelia tell me to meet them in the atrium to eat our lunch.
I’m sweating, heaving for breath, and whipped into a perfect frenzy by the time I reach my third-floor bedroom. Standing at my washbasin, I barely manage to splash water on my face before the room spins out from under me.
“Gods.” I waver, collapsing onto my bed.Water. I should have been drinking more water.
This altitude is going to kill me if my libido doesn’t first.
Since yesterday, I’ve beenachingwith everything Elodie and I started and didn’t get a chance to finish. I tried relieving the ache myself, but it somehow made the unrealized craving even worse.
Back downstairs, I’m muttering to myself while I scan the laden sideboards. As if summoned by my raging desire, the refectory door opens and closes again.
My posture goes immediately rigid as I watch the Second High Priestess enter the dining hall and weave fluidly between groups of chatty initiates. She halts when she sees me staring.
That adorable, contemplative crease forms between her eyebrows, her expression otherwise unreadable.
I’ve taken all of two steps in her general direction when she turns and leaves. The door slams behind her, prompting nearby initiates to cut their conversations short and stare.
Oh, hell no.I bolt forward, following like a hound on a trail.
