10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"C ome on, Eira," Dorian said, his skin slick with sweat from working outside. "Don't be that way."

Lightning tipped my fingers, and my heart raced. "You told her! After you said you wouldn't."

He reached out, his face full of remorse. "But she's your family."

The pounding on the door grew louder, and Aunt Celeste called my name. She was here to drag me back to that gala, where she would pretend to care I existed. Pretend to love me.

I hadn't wanted to go. He'd known that.

Dorian took my hand, and lightning slithered from my skin and arced up his arm. His hand locked around mine. I shook my head, trying to jerk away. The lightning subsided, and he crumpled to the floor.

I jerked up from my bed. Cold sweat made the silk sheet cling to my naked body. I'd stripped off the bloodied dress and bathed away the grime and tears of the previous night before climbing straight into bed. Late-morning sunlight shone through my round bedroom window. Marus had probably thought it best to let me sleep in.

With a huff, I lay back and draped my arm over my eyes. Killing Dorian that day had been an accident. The memories of him from the dream faded, only for the events from last night to come swelling back to the surface.

Killing Klareth had been different. I'd chosen to kill her. It had been so easy, and I almost wished I had done it sooner. Tryssa would still be alive if I had. But both their deaths haunted me all the same.

I turned onto my side and faced the wood-panel wall, pulling the sheet over my shoulder. It did little to warm my body from the chill of the nightmare, but I was content to spend the rest of my day in bed and hiding away.

Yet I would need to face what I'd done, eventually.

Marus seemed to have a plan to keep me from being implicated in Klareth's murder, at least, even if it was a lie. Not that she would be missed. He wouldn't let the temple have any additional reasons to be afraid of me.

There was a knock at the door, and I groaned, trying to ignore it.

Another knock. This time the lock clicked, and the door opened.

I sat up, clenching the sheet to my chest, and faced the door, expecting Marus, Alissa, or even Esteban. Instead, Caelus was there, in a fitted deep red tunic. He strode in with a tray of food and a pitcher in his hands and set them down on the oval cedar table in front of the small fireplace. On a plate was another of those chocolate pastries and sliced fruit.

"You shouldn't be in here," I said.

He smiled all too playfully. "Sulking doesn't suit you."

I frowned.

Caelus took in the room and picked up the narrow vase from the table, eyeing the single lavender rose in it. He sighed when I didn't acknowledge him further. "That was my attempt at a joke."

"Why are you here?" I asked, lying back and covering my eyes with an arm. Last night he'd been comforting. Gods, even now, his presence eased the dread of facing the day. But I wanted to be alone.

"There's no water," he said after a moment.

I sighed, removing my arm. He was still looking at the rose. "Why are you here?" I asked, ignoring his statement.

He set the vase down without a sound and faced me. "Marus sent me. Thought you might be lonely." He strode toward the bed. "And you need to eat."

"You're free to go. I'll eat later."

"You see"—the edge of the bed shifted—"I don't believe that for a moment."

I glared at him.

His grin was full of mischievous arrogance.

"I said you could go," I reminded him.

"But you didn't specify where to. Problem?"

I turned away and closed my eyes. Fine. Let him sit there . He'd leave eventually. When he did, I'd take the time to get ready and indulge in the pastry at my leisure.

"Do you always sleep naked?" he asked.

My eyes flew open. The sheet had dipped low, revealing the upper swell of my breasts. My face heated. I tugged it up, closing my eyes again. Gods, surely he would leave. Or at least sit in silence.

"And do you always sleep with a dagger stashed in your bedside table?"

How did he — My gaze fell to the drawer I'd left open, revealing the dagger. He'd seen me in that bloody gown last night. Would he think I'd killed Klareth, between that and the blade? Not that he would have been wrong, but . . .

The bed shifted, and Caelus pulled the blade from the table and dangled it in front of me. "That got your attention," he said. "Why is it you have a dagger in your room? Should I be worried, since they announced the high priestess is dead this morning?"

I shot up and out of the bed and grabbed his wrist. His eyes widened, and I squeezed, freeing the blade from his hand. It landed on the bed. I grabbed it and pointed it at him. "Unless you've forgotten, I train with Selena. The dagger was a gift."

His mouth parted a fraction, and his eyes churned, traveling down—down to where the sheet had fallen away, revealing my naked body. He stared for a moment before he tore his gaze away. My face burned, and he smirked. "You're rather ill-tempered this morning," he all but purred.

"If you have questions, you should ask Marus."

Caelus grabbed my wrist, mimicking the move I'd used, and pulled me to him. Surprise loosened my grip, and I attempted to back away but stumbled. His other arm wrapped around my waist, pressing my breasts against his hard chest. He released my wrist and threw the dagger, the tip sinking into the wooden shelf several feet away. "I found you covered in blood coming up from the catacombs, where she was found dead. And you're trained by a member of the Copper Jackals. Suspicious, isn't it?"

Heat flooded my senses, and his warmth seeped in. Caelus's words should have worried me. But with my chest flush against his, all my focus was on his muscled body and his thumb caressing the skin near the underside of my breast.

"Still want me to go?"

Yes? No?

I shoved him away before I made another reckless decision. Thank the gods his eyes remained on mine. I yanked the sheet over myself. "Leave." Figuring out what to do about the temple and about the Golden Child with Marus was all that mattered.

He laughed and stepped away. "Get dressed. Marus wants to see you. If you insist on not eating, we'll go now." As an afterthought, he added, "Malik is with him."

"I don't need an escort."

"I never said you did."

He hadn't, but my thoughts were scattered. I couldn't help but notice he didn't seem appalled at having a dagger pointed at him. He was Marus's assistant. Another scholar. But he'd disarmed me as easily as I had him—more easily, if I was being truthful. "You're not just a scholar, are you?"

He smirked. "I'm whatever I'm needed to be, Eira."

He didn't elaborate, turning and exiting the room instead. After the door closed, there was no sound of footsteps fading away.

A heavy sigh escaped me. There was no point in staying in bed now.

We passed through the gardens on the way to the library. I glanced at the stone doors to the Chamber of Gods as we passed them, unable to stop myself. The doors were closed, and that tug I'd felt was gone. Had what Klareth had been doing and that tugging sensation been connected somehow? My stomach turned at the thought.

I paused and Caelus looked over his shoulder at me.

Before he could make another assumption—albeit an accurate one—I hurried past. Staying near the chamber was only an ugly reminder of what had happened, and it was bad enough Caelus already had a decent guess about the events that occurred in the catacombs. He just didn't know it was true yet.

We came to a stop at the library doors, which were gilded with a symbol for each of the gods in gold and silver. It was a reminder that the gods could decide I was unworthy of the power they'd gifted me.

Caelus pushed open the doors. He held one open, waiting. The musky smells of books and parchment were enough to bring a little ease in my shoulders.

Marus was in his study with Malik. "Finally, you're here," Marus said. He looked over his glasses in our direction, his expression grim. "I'm afraid I have something difficult to tell you. Teeg is missing, and so is Roan."

My heart raced. "Since when? Did he take Teeg?"

"You had one order," Malik interjected from where he stood across from Marus.

I scowled at him. "Does healing your wounded not count, then?"

Malik glowered.

"Placing the blame purely on a Divine is not becoming of a guild leader," Marus said.

"She knew what I requested of her."

"Guild leader?" I asked. But Veth was the guild leader of the Copper Jackals. I looked to Marus, seated on his couch, for answers, but he was focused on Malik.

When neither answered, Caelus leaned in and whispered, "Veth was found dead last night. Poisoned."

Marus frowned, and his gaze drifted to the open bottle of wine on the rectangular table. "The fault doesn't fall to Eira alone."

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is. Find the damn boy."

"Does ‘Golden Child' mean anything to you?" I asked, recalling Klareth's words.

Malik stiffened, facing me slowly. "What do you know?"

I told them of Klareth's mentions of Lord Ebonhammer needing the Golden Child and where I'd been when she'd said it, though I omitted that it'd been me who killed her.

Malik sat in an armchair that matched Marus's worn couch and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "The Golden Child is born once every one thousand years. They're born with a font of esprit and can accomplish amazing feats comparable to that of a Divine. Perhaps more so. But because of their overflowing esprit, they're easily influenced. It could make them go mad from the power inside of them or be manipulated into a destructive force." He cast a hard gaze at me. "That is why I left Teeg in your care, Tempest. You are good. Kind. A positive influence for him."

Teeg was the Golden Child. His talent with esprit made sense now. He'd been able to use it with ease. "But why would Lord Ebonhammer want him?"

"I have no doubts that the Dawn Conclave and the king suspect a Golden Child is alive. Klareth must have been working with Travok Ebonhammer to locate him. The bitch always wanted renown. Teeg needs to be located," Malik said.

"Let me," I blurted out.

Malik's expression hardened. "You failed me once. Why wouldn't it happen again?"

He had no reason to believe in me, but I wouldn't sit back and let someone use Teeg. Not after watching Tryssa die and being helpless to stop it. "He's like a brother to me. Let me help him."

Malik considered this for several moments, but it was Caelus who spoke. "I'll go with her. As crown's guard, I may have a few connections in Tiruhm."

Facing Caelus, my eyes widened. "Crown's guard?"

He smiled, arms behind his back. "Among my other duties, yes."

From the corner of my eye, Marus's brows lifted. It must have been the first he was hearing of it as well. "Why would the king send one of the crown's guard as my assistant?" Marus asked.

"I knew about runes," Caelus answered, as if it explained everything.