My solitude didn’t last long.
Surprisingly, Elex wasn’t who had broken it. It was Drez. “Kimber, wait!”
I slowed just enough to let him catch up. He took my arm and guided me into the shadows. There was quiet for a moment, and then he spoke.
“Kimber. Acting like this is making you more of a target. You were already ontheirlists, but being so vocal… Well, you’re going to get your ass killed. I don’t pretend to know what’s going on with the temple, but I do know what’s going on out there.” He pointed to the city beyond the shadows. “It’s damned dangerous.”
“She was murdered.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, Drez was frustrated with me. “I know she was murdered. Look, Kimber. You’ve been delightfully naïve and sweet our whole lives. I would love to let you stay that way. But I can’t. You’re one of my best friends, and I don’t want to lose you.”
My jaw dropped open. “I’m naïve?”
A rueful snort escaped him. “Woman, you have no idea. Our world is not a utopia. You’re finding your magic. You’ve got a purpose. And that purpose goes against what other people believe and want for this world.”
“But—”
“No. There are no buts. Not everyone likes our supposed utopia. Watch your ass. Watch your front. Make sure you can trust anyone you confide in. I’m safe. Elex, Jennila, Arik, and Jellina are safe, too.”
He wrapped his hands around my shoulders. “I wish I could spare you. You are a sweet soul, but the magic picked you, and when the magic opens to a person, the black and white you see becomes gray.”
“Wearegood people.”
“How do we know? How do you know we aren’t the bad guys?” A quirk of his eyebrow punctuated his words. “Be careful. Don’t paint a target on your back. Don’t mourn Mistress Danai’s death in the public eye beyond today.”
Dropping a kiss on my forehead, he gave me a grim smile. “I am sorry. Your sweetness has always been a bright spot. I am going to be sad to see it go.”
Drez was out of the shadows and back to the group in a moment, and all but Elex quickly walked off the temple grounds.
Elex was with me in the shadows a moment later, and took my elbow, leading me away.
“Is what he said true?”
“S’Kir is not the utopia we imagine.”
“You knew all this.”
“Not until recently. Drez…” He cleared his throat and looked around, then continued in a hushed voice. “Drez has been part of the underground group that protects and spies for the temple for years. His parents were too. They believe we are on the right side of history.”
“Who wouldn’t believe in the Lost God?”
Shushing me with a finger to his lips, he started to lead me through the streets back to his apartments.
A glance back at me, and he quietly continued his explanation. “It’s not that they don’t believe in the Lost God. Very few people doubt the veracity of the stories. What they doubt is his benevolence.”
“Why would anyone doubt his benevolence?”
We scurried around another corner, just a few blocks from his front door.
“You, and Jellina, Jennila, Arik, and I all grew up with very few bumps and bruises along the way. Some people aren’t so lucky.”
“My parents were killed in the sea.”
“When you were grown. Some people lose loved ones for reasons they want to have explained and no one can. Perhaps they were told one too many times it was the will of the Lost God.”
The door of his apartment appeared, and we scurried forward. He put a hand on my back to guide me in.
“Elex, no one believes the Lost God can do anything about an accidental death, do they?”
