She sees through me at once. “But you were not raised attending temple services? You have not formed a deep personal relationship with the goddess or any of her stewards? You do not let her grace guide your life in all matters?”
My stomach twists. My first interaction with the woman who is supposed to oversee my coronation, and I’m failing a test I didn’t prepare for.
“No,” I say, mouth dry. “But I hope my lack of a past relationship with the Sect of the Faceless Goddess will not impede my future one. I have an open mind.”
“Hmm.” The Mother Priestess’s hands tighten on the crown, and I get the sudden urge to yank it away from her.
Instead, I hold out a palm. She considers it for a moment and then slowly gives it back. I resettle it on my head.
The Mother Priestess brushes past me, walking swiftly toward the castle with her guards trailing after her. The castle attendant gives me a startled look and then trots after her, shouting, “Let me show you to your chambers, Mother Priestess!”
I let out a tense breath.“What the fuck was that?”
“A zealot,” Anassa replies.“One of the most dangerous types of humans to exist. We must keep an eye on her.”
I nod. Turning back to the castle, I ruefully think of the good first impression I was hoping to make.
Are any of the leaders in Nocturna remotely normal?
The next day, Venna and I have an appointment with a contact she’s found in the Bonded City. He’s a collector; someone who might be able to tell us about the bracelet around my wrist.
Siegrid continues to insist that the engagement bracelet is a nonissue. Once Tormun captures Killian, we can get it removed and thestrangenessthat’s been corrupting the pack magic will go away.
And he’ll no longer be able to reach any of the Bonded through our pack communication—though so far, the mental barrier Anassa and I erected has held strong.
The way she tells it makes it sound so neat and tidy.
Still, I need to do something. I’m barely sleeping, so worried I’ll end up back in that shadow realm, trapped with Killian. Every time my eye catches on the darkened ruby, it reminds me of the ruinous mistakes I made with him.
A painful shard of grief, encased in an exquisite lie.
If we can figure out what the bracelet is—or, better yet, how to get it off immediately—we can ensure that something like this will never be used again.
Venna and I meet in the back courtyard that faces toward the Bonded City. Izabel, Tomison, and Nevah join us. When I realized where we were going, I insisted that everyone come along. It’s been too long since my friends have had a break or seen their families.
It’s a quick ride to the Bonded City. Izabel and Tomison lead the way on their direwolves, bickering in a way that is obviously flirting, like normal. But Asteio and Filikos are standing closely, their tails occasionally swishing together.
And then… Tomison grabs Izabel’s hand, lacing her fingers with his.
Well,that’snot normal.
I look at Venna and Nevah in shock and sign so that I can hide the question from Izabel and Tomison’s ears.
“Are they…” I don’t have the sign language vocabulary for what I want to say. How have I not asked Venna for a crash course in sex terms? “…together now?”
“For at least a week,” Venna signs back, eyebrows raised.
“And they’re beingdisgusting,” Nevah shouts at their backs.
Izabel’s head whips over her shoulder, a pissy look on her face. “Are you talking about us? You know, you’re being kind of a bitch for someone who kept begging us to ‘just fuck already.’”
Nevah throws her hands in the air. “Yeah, I thought the two of you would get it out of your systems and then move on. But no! It’sIzzythis andTomtomthat and sexeverywhere! I am so tired of seeing your tits, Izabel!”
I burst into laughter. “Izzy? Tomtom?”
Tomison grins slyly, although his face is about as red as his hair. He holds out an arm, beckoning her. “Aww, Nev. Sorry if we’ve been making you uncomfortable.”
Nevah and Agmatta spring toward them, and Nevah gives him a playful shove. Tomison almost topples off Filikos. “I’m happy for you two, I swear, but it would be nice if your lovefest was just a little less in my face at all times.”
