Eyeing Ward and scanning our horses, I asked, “You got everything, right? Purse, keys, magic talismans?”
“Viper?” He unconsciously pulled at the chain even though it sizzled against his flesh. I couldn't blame him for being uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable holding it, especially after our chat last night.
“If she's coming with us, I don't think we're going back to the Clam. That madame didn't strike me as the type to wait for a detailed explanation of how we didn't run off with one of her girls.”
“We only left behind your orgasms.” He smirked, and I pressed forward to hide my blush. Not well enough to prevent Noora from giggling.
Those citizens out on the street parted for Noora and startled at Ward. By the third block, my shoulders drooped, and I realized our brief interlude was over and we were still on this quest. Ward grumpily followed behind, grumbling to himself, but the thing he wasn’t doing was staring at me in horror. Or immediately falling into my sister's arms. Which, granted, would be hard in Vinguard. I was unconvinced he would last through actual sex, but some broken pieces fused together in my chest. Just maybe, I deserved what I got last night and if I could get this relic, maybe I would believe it. The day was really looking up! Now I just had to find and destroy a Goddess' relic. Again.
The temple squatted as unfriendly as ever. Not helped by the ominous, growing clouds darkening the sky.
“After you,” Ward said, a bit of sarcasm in his voice.
“Before we get up there, I have a relevant question. If the relic really is in the temple, how are the cat ladies not losing their minds?”
Ward looked up at the women who appeared at the lip of the stairs. “The brides only have one form so they cannot shift. That should make them immune to Veretis’ call.”
“Just checking. We're good now. Let's go quest shit up.” I turned to Noora, who should have been looking at me like she had second thoughts. If she was any kind of sane. “This is your last chance. We haven’t exactly had a tranquil time questing so far.”
“I’m either going to find him or die trying,” Noora said.
I sighed. That was unnecessarily intense, even for a Mate. I looked over at Ward and had the sinking feeling I would say something dumb like that next. “Up we go then.”
The stairs must have been endless. My breath came in big gusts, my legs shaking as I tried to lift my foot up to the next step. We had to be close to the top. Staring at the line of people we passed, I dredged up some motivation. I didn't dare glance up. I had to anyway. We only made it a quarter of the way up the staircase. I really should have eaten breakfast this morning.
“Viper?”
It was embarrassing enough I couldn't make it up the stairs. I wouldn’t admit it.
Ward’s voice went low behind me. “Are you being stubborn again?”
“I can—” Ward didn't let me finish before he lifted me off my feet by the back of my pants so we could maintain the illusion I was doing it on my own. The somewhat undignified yelp I let out was only slightly less embarrassing than the completely undignified wedge he made of my underclothes and pants. At least he paid me the courtesy of letting me step up the last few on my own. I don't know if I would ever get used to his sheer strength.
Facing the cat women was anticlimactic once they saw the collar and chain around Ward's neck. Not even a menacing step in our direction. We strolled into the front of the Temple and an acolyte unlike any I'd ever seen met us at the portico. His fresh, boyish face was almost feminine. His bright-white curls cascaded down his neck in a graceful line. He bowed to me and Noora, acknowledged the chain, and led us further into the temple.
For a temple of flesh, it was decidedly cold—barely a tapestry or pillow in sight. The halls were clean but barren; the stone was intimidating as the ceiling towered over us. I would have called it eerie if our sylph-like guide wasn’t with us.
“Slow… sacrifice day?” I asked him.
“Oh, it’s been a bit more depressing than usual with all the shifters being offered. None of them come here particularly sane, or in the mood.”
Is the Flesh part of her title a euphemism for what I think it is?
My bear kept his pace steady.You should describe what you think it is and I can tell you if you’re right.Ward’s sexy, sly tone tried its best to distract me.
So that was a ‘yes’.
We stepped into the throne room. Apparently, every yard of fabric in the place draped this space from ceiling to floor. Color blended together as the sheer hangings drifted in the breeze. My eyes darted everywhere—the throne, the pillows as big as I was, and then finally all the others in the room.
No one said the Queen of Flesh came with her very own harem. A guy harem but a harem nonetheless, and they did not believe in covering up perfect bodies. I didn’t know where to put my eyes. This wasn’t a shifter’s unconscious nakedness from changing form—this harem wore just enough to direct your eye to some very visible bits. Straps, drapes of fabric, even tattoos made Noora blush, and she saw it for a living.
Sweat collected under my arms. Ward’s gaze bored a hole in the back of my head—I refused to turn it to take in any more man body than I had to. I never believed I was a prudish person, but I really tried to will the wall of man flesh into background noise because the woman before me looked as deadly as they came. From her wicked black nails down to her cherry-red lips, she screamed, Queen.
Long black hair shifted like a living thing around her, framing blazing green eyes. Her green corset and skirt showed more than they hid. If I was ‘fluffy’ she was a plus-sized Goddess with acres and acres of flesh that moved in hypnotic ways even while she sat. Delicate finger bones, bound by pulsing, wet, warm red magic, formed the crown atop her head. I looked around for anything that might resemble a relic and found nothing but yards of silks and satins. Guess I was going to have to play this through.
“Hey there! Goddess, Queen, ma’am. I’m here…”
My throat closed in on itself as she stood from her throne and stepped down to the floor. The whispering of her dude court grew louder. Did I have something on my face? Sweat beaded on my forehead.
