“What?” I gaped at him. “Now?”
“Yes, now.” He gathered his clothing and got dressed.
“Why? Shale!” I grabbed his arm and shook it. “Where are we going?”
Shale clasped my cheek, kissed me, then declared, “To get my love back.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
It was a warm night, but I shivered and nestled closer to Shale in the carriage. Head lifted confidently, Shale pulled me closer and stared out the window. It was too dark for me to see anything, but I knew he could. Still, his gaze was distant, focused on a place neither of us could see. And he remained that way until the carriage stopped several hours later.
It was late by then, full dark. But the temple was lit like the day. As if they were expecting company. A group of hooded Eljaffna men stepped out of the ancient structure, the stone overhang carved with fangs to make it appear as if they stood within the jaws of a giant. A woman walked through the center of their ranks and approached the carriage.
Shale climbed out, helped me down, then led me over to her. “Mother,” he said and embraced the tall, white-haired woman. “How did you know?”
“Ranu summoned me,” she said, then fixed her dark stare on me. “Hello, Sebastian. I am Thera, Shaleros's mother.”
“Your Grace.” I bowed.
“Don't bow to me, warrior.” She took me into her arms. “Thank you for what you've done and will do for my son.”
Her words confused and scared me, but I whispered, “You're welcome.”
“Father?” Shale's tone went shocked.
I looked over to see a man come out of the shadows. A Dragon. A big one. He was thickly muscled, deeply tanned, and had Shale's eyes. Or rather, Shale had his eyes. The man hugged Shale, clasping him tightly.
“I cannot go in, but I will wait here for you, Son,” he said.
“Thank you, Father.” Shale stepped back and gestured to me. “This is Sebastian, my consort.”
“Hello, Sebastian. I'm Naven. Thank you for coming.”
“Uh, nice to meet you, Your Grace.” I bowed to him.
He nodded at me, then gave his son a heavy look. “May the Dragon Gods be with you both.”
“Not here, they won't, my love,” Duchess Thera said.
“They are everywhere,” Duke Naven said. “Even in your holy place. And they will protect our son.”
“Hopefully, he will not need their protection. Now, come, both of you.” Duchess Thera turned and led Shale and me into the temple, between the robed men.
Shale's father remained where he was, Shale's knights behind him, all of them staring after us as if we were headed for war.
The priests—I assumed they were priests—fell into line behind us. We entered a stone vestibule and the temple door shut with a thud. The walls were stone, carved with scenes ofworship. Eljaffna on their knees, hands lifted toward the sky. There was nothing scary about the carvings, but still, another shiver ran through me.
Shale squeezed my hand and whispered, “I will do whatever it takes. Do not be afraid. I will survive.”
“What?” I whispered back in horror. I hadn't considered what Shale would have to go through to regain his love, but from the look on his face, it would be grueling. “Shale, you don't have to do this.”
“I can't live without knowing what it is to love you, Sebastian. And you deserve more.”
“Shale,”
“Enough,” his mother said over her shoulder. “The decision has been made. It's in the God's hands now.”
We fell silent and followed her through the cold corridors. The deeper we went into the temple, the colder it got until I was shivering from that instead of fear. The warmth of the night felt far away. Reality felt distant too, as if I had stepped into a dream. Or a nightmare. Shale put his arm around me, sharing his heat. Even being held by him didn't reassure me. I was afraid. So afraid.
