Chapter 37

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

I lock myself in my chambers for the remainder of the evening. My daze carries me through, my muscle memory taking over as I bathe and prepare to meet in the safe house all while thinking of what Leema said, how afraid she looked to ask for help.

I focus on my sister, because if I think of what else transpired today with Crixa and knowing for sure she is responsible for countless deaths, I will lose my composure and jeopardize any hope of helping Leema altogether.

By the time Calliape folds the distance into my chambers, I'm practically crawling out of my skin to get to the others and demand we remove my sister immediately, investigation be damned.

Calliape knows something has happened, even though I have said very little other than a greeting to her. She all but body blocks my view of Selene when we get to the safe house and keeps sending August panicked glances over her shoulder, like he needs to join us in the dining room.

Selene mindlessly stirs a pot on the crude hearth and looks as close to how I saw her on Frith—the picture of her stirring the bulb stew has imprinted itself into my mind.

"When will 99 arrive? I need to speak with all of you."

"He shouldn't be much longer. I just received his update that he is in transit." August smiles flatly at me, his concern written all over his face.

"Would you like some tea? You seem out of sorts," Selene interrupts, not taking her eyes off her stirring.

"No. Thank you."

My anxious nerves take all the air out of the room, not allowing any other topic or emotions smother them. My leg began bouncing wildly the instant I sat in the wooden chair at the head of the table.

The three of us sit in silence, waiting for 99 as Selene hums to herself, either completely oblivious to just how much on the outside she is from our family or unbothered by it.

99 opens the door, walking into the safe house, not realizing what awaits him until his visor finds me. "I came as soon as I could."

I stand and hug him. "I saw Leema today. She knows something is off in the temple. I need to speak with you all. It's important," I choke out.

"Alright," he soothes and directs me to sit at the table again, moving a second chair close to me and taking the seat himself.

"When we were going through the ledgers, I saw my mother's name written."

I can feel 99 press his side protectively against mine.

"I'm so sorry," Calliape says.

"I knew it was more than likely that my mother was a victim of that temple, but we have all been under the impression it was at the hands of the elders who run it."

Selene finally turns her body fully toward me, her attention no longer on the simmering pot.

I continue, "Leema invited me into the Temple of Divine Mothers. Crixa was there as well. She made us sit through a strange conversation, but she also said something alarming . . . that she would be present when Leema was in labor. She has told me before she was with my mother when she died. When I questioned Leema about Crixa's attendance . . . She is there when any of the women go into labor."

"You believe the highest priestess is responsible for the deaths in that temple?" Selene crosses her arms, putting together my meaning suspiciously fast.

"Is that what you are saying, Ferren?" 99 asks me a little more gently.

"Yes, I think she is."

"Did you know?" Calliape demands from Selene.

"I had my suspicions but no proof," she admits.

99 straightens. "Without proof, I don't know how we will submit it for the investigation."

"I am not bringing it up for the investigation. I want to get Leema out. Before the conjunction," I say, ignoring Selene. Calliape may be shocked by her confession, but I am not.

"Removing her in a panic is not the solution." 99 sighs. "What I am about to say will not come out how I intend."

I hold his hand and brace. I wish we were tethered, then he would not have to explain he is struggling to find words for me to understand.

"She is not in any more danger than she previously was with this new information. She is safer behind a temple during the conjunction, and that one will be heavily guarded."

I hate that he is so calm.

"It will set off a lot of alarm bells if she disappears. It could jeopardize the entire investigation," August adds, planting his chair back onto the ground from its tilted recline.

My first instinct is to say that I do not care about the investigation or anyone else in that temple, that I want her out at all costs. I clench my fists, realizing I am just like Selene in that sense, when she fled with Calliape's mother and did not look back, knowing what was happening.

"She has noticed strange behavior in the temple, and her instincts are telling her it is dangerous in there. 99, she asked if I would help her leave. She sought me out."

He sighs. "If we take her, it will cause a ripple effect across the entire Estate, the priestess order."

I nod and try to ground myself with an inhale. "Then so be it," I whisper and stand from my seat, resolved in the fact that it may be messy, but it has to be done.

"Ferren." 99 shakes his head.

"She wants to leave. We are not taking or abducting her. I do not care if it causes issues. If a woman cannot leave that temple of her own free will, then the problem is with that temple, more reason to look into its practices."

"You would have to leave with her. You would not be safe inside the priestess order any longer."

"I know."

"You could not fight for the temple if there is another attack."

"I will disappear with her. No one has to know where we have gone, and if they do, Leema can invoke the sanctuary law."

"And what of you?" 99's tone constricts the muscles in my heart.

Selene perks up. "You and your sister are welcome on Frith. When August returns us home, if you are not safe on Cosima or Viathan, you may find peace with us if you like."

99 visibly bristles at the thought of me going to Frith while he stays here, but it is an option if there is no other.

"Thank you, Selene." I smile but Calliape is glaring at her again. She must have noticed Selene's quick mention of them both leaving for home as much as I did.

"I have no issue transporting anyone to Frith, but only those who truly desire to return," August adds, pointing his words carefully.

99 stands and takes a deep breath, like he is trying to carefully form his words. His gloved palm comes out in a place holding gesture. "I will speak with the lord general of Leema's request for protection and gauge his advice on how to proceed with Ferren leaving before we have started the temple investigation."

"What do you think he will say?" I ask, my eagerness to get started taking over how grateful I truly am that he is agreeing.

"It's unclear."

"Thank you, 99. I know we never expected her to want to leave on her own—" I start.

"You are right, Ferren. If the temple has an issue with a woman wanting to leave, it is only more damning evidence against them. I will include that point in my briefing. I will send a message tonight. The fleet arrives in the morning."

The pit in my stomach deepens.

"Conjunction makes travel between worlds faster every day." August rounds the table and scoops himself a bowl of food from the kitchen.

"We can use the chaos of their arrival to our advantage," 99 says.

"Crixa has asked me to join the rest of the priestess order to greet the fleet when it arrives," I inform them all of that possible complication.

Selene shakes her head. "I did not think I would ever see Viathans and priestesses fighting together in my lifetime. Crixa asks you to fight for the Estate because she knows how strong your gifts are, so she means to tame you. I would not be surprised if she was worried you would be more powerful than her one day. Her position as the highest priestess is finite."

I gape at her, agreeing with the first part but never considering the second. Selene did not deliver the words like a compliment; she said them as if it's written fact of the three worlds. I have no idea how to respond to that and neither does anyone else by the silence in the room.

99 leans forward, capturing my attention again and steering us back from Selene's shocking ramble. "Attend the fleet arrival with the priestess order so you do not raise suspicion. When will you have access to Leema again?"

"After the fleet arrives, there will be a temple service. I told her to find me." I blink away any other thought but what is important in this moment.

"Good."

"Calliape, can I call out to you? I can tell her it is time to leave right then, as soon as we are alone."

"I will fold the distance and bring her here if she is ready, then I can come right back for you."

"Not to the Estate temple," Selene snaps.

"Ferren needs our family right now and all of us will do our part." Calliape looks defiant as she stands her ground.

"I can make sure she is ready as much as possible."

"I will protect your sister as if she were my own," Calliape tells me.

"She is, because you are mine," I say plainly and squeeze her hand. This woman truly does not know how dear I hold her.

99 observes the little exchange then stands, ready to leave and put the plan in motion. "Ferren, you can never go back to the Estate after this."

I stand and smooth the front of my gown, allowing a moment to let the reality of what is now transpiring soak in. I feel a sort of resistance to agree to something so final but nod anyway.

"It will not take long to send Lord General a message from August's ship."

"Should I have Calliape take me back for the night?" I ask, assuming our previous plan for me to stay here has changed.

He guides me out of the dining space and away from the others, needing a private moment. His knuckle runs over my cheek as he shakes his head slowly. "No. No, Ferren, you are meant to stay with me tonight."

I nod while he holds my chin tenderly, once again agreeing to wait for him here. And when he leaves, I stand in the threshold and watch his powerful form cut across the hangar to August's ship parked on the other side.

"Calliape?" I call out to her.

She comes to stand next to me, peeking out at the view of 99 striding away from us.

"Yes?"

"Do you think that ward spell of yours would work to protect me and 99's tether from being noticed?"

She smiles. "I think so, yes."

"I need you to show me how to put up one of my own. "