9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

C aelus pushed open the gilded library doors, and we made our way through the rows of shelves. The warm light of the high-hanging chandeliers shone on his hair, revealing that it wasn't quite black, but a dark brown. In the wake of the events in the catacombs, it seemed like an odd thing to notice, but I couldn't tear my gaze away.

I hated not telling him about what had happened. Hated the hurt in his eyes when I'd told him I couldn't. But I knew I could trust Marus in a way that I wasn't sure I could with Caelus.

Voices drew my attention at the back of the library near Marus's private study. One was Marus. And the other was . . . Gods, not him.

I tugged Caelus into a shadowy row of shelves and pushed him behind me. I flattened against the shelf and peeked around the corner.

"Where is she?" Roan boomed.

An exasperated sigh escaped Marus, and a book slammed shut. "I already told you I haven't the faintest idea, sir. She was at dinner and then left for her room. After that, your guess is as good as mine."

Caelus's warmth pressed into my back, and he leaned in, whispering, "Is he looking for you?"

I turned and came face-to-face with him. With the slightest movement, our lips would brush against one another. "I don't know," I said.

"And what of my wife?" Roan asked.

"Surely you can keep up with your wife, sir."

"You don't fool me, scholar. Befriending the Tempest wasn't your job. And if you see that worthless excuse for a Divine, alert me. Immediately."

Footsteps stormed toward the row of shelves Caelus and I were between. I pushed him back and flattened myself against the shelf, hiding in the shadows. Caelus pressed his body flush against mine. My heart raced, and it had nothing to do with Roan possibly discovering me—us. Our eyes latched on to one another, and I fought the urge to shove him away and pull him closer all at the same time. The footsteps faded, but Caelus's expression remained unreadable in the shadows.

The doors to the library slammed. I jumped. The shelf wobbled, and a few books clunked to the floor. More footsteps were heading toward us. Caelus didn't move, caging me between him and the shelf.

The footsteps halted. "For gods' sake." Marus let out a deep sigh. "This is a library. Take the foreplay outside!" His voice was harsh, tired.

Caelus pushed away, but his heat lingered. "Sorry to disappoint," he said.

I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent mixed with the musty smell of books, and stepped forward.

Marus's eyes drifted over my blood-covered gown. He headed straight for me. "Eira, what happened?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came. My eyes drifted to Caelus. What could I say while he was there?

Marus followed my gaze and said, "Follow me before Roan returns." He turned on a heel and faced Caelus. "We'll pick up tomorrow," he said, dismissing him.

Caelus's jaw flexed, but he said nothing and exited the library.

I followed Marus to his private study.

Inside, I stood in front of the couch, unwilling to ruin the fabric with my bloodstained clothes, the fire behind me warm.

He made for a cabinet and pulled out a decanter of whiskey I'd only seen him drink from once before. He poured a glass and offered it to me. I grabbed it by instinct and cradled it in my hands. Marus poured another for himself before nudging me to sit. I obeyed.

Tryssa was gone. Klareth was dead. I killed her. And I had no idea what would happen next. Marus sat next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and silent tears trickled down my cheeks. The amber liquid in the glass sloshed in my trembling hands.

"Tell me you aren't hurt," he said after my shaking eased.

"I'm fine." My words were hollow.

"Drink. Then tell me what happened."

I took a sip of the whiskey and welcomed the warm, bitter burn as it moved low into my stomach. I stared down at the burgundy rug, focusing on a golden lotus sewn into a corner. "Klareth took me for her . . . favorite punishment. Teeg found me and told me Tryssa was missing. I sent him to you." My eyes widened. "Where is he?"

"He's in bed. The late night caught up with him."

I nodded and continued, "I found her. She was in the catacombs with Klareth. She killed Tryssa." Marus's arm tightened around me. "Tryssa's still down there. I tried to heal her, but . . ." I closed my eyes to keep more tears from spilling free.

"I'll have her retrieved."

"I killed Klareth," I blurted out, before I lost the nerve to say it aloud.

He said nothing.

I cast him a sidelong glance. Marus opened his mouth to speak but faltered and instead finished the contents of his glass. He took a deep breath and said, "I didn't expect that. Gods, she had it coming—but if I'm being honest, Eira, there will be ramifications. The temple will be in disarray once the news spreads. Roan is already in an uproar looking for you."

"I know. But what was I supposed to do?" I asked. "And what about the gods?"

Marus sighed and rubbed his hand along my shoulder. "I don't know. But I'll help however I can. If the gods haven't acted, I doubt they will. Perhaps they didn't condone her acts either." He paused and set his empty glass on the table. "The guild owes you several favors. Veth and Malik despise Klareth. They may be able to keep your name out of it with a mock investigation." He looked me over and added, "But right now, you need to get cleaned up."

"There's something else," I said. "She spoke of Lord Ebonhammer and mentioned the ‘Golden Child.' None of it made sense."

Thoughtfulness took over his expression. "I'll look into it after contacting the guild tomorrow. But you need rest, Eira."

Marus was right. I hated that all I could do was bathe and sleep until morning, and I wasn't sure sleep would even come despite the exhaustion.

He smiled lightly. "You're acting high priestess of the temple now. Exciting times."

My chest tightened, and I sipped the whiskey. Another title I didn't want. I'd never wanted it. Overseeing the temple was left to me as a Divine without a high priest or priestess, though. Even if almost everyone in the temple feared me.

Klareth's husband might try to claim the status of high priest, but he'd be rejected. He was nothing to the temple. His authority would mean little.

But if my word as Tempest meant anything, then . . . "I want you to do it."

Marus blinked at me, confused.

"As Divine—the Tempest—I want you to be high priest."

"You can't be serious. I'm a scholar. Far from a priest, let alone a high priest." He stood and began pacing in front of the fire.

With Klareth dead, my word as a Divine was all it took to appoint him as high priest, and no one would fight it. He knew that just as well as I did.

No one would be better suited than Marus. He spent his life studying anything there was to know about the gods. All his time researching the Divine would be invaluable to any other temples seeking his counsel. The children we cared for adored him, even if they annoyed him endlessly when he wanted nothing more than to be left to his reading.

He was perfect for it, unlike me.

I nodded. "Please?"

"Consider it with a clear head after you've rested."

There was one last thing. "What about Roan?"

He sat beside me again, his face weary. "Klareth's death is enough to have him removed from the premises. He was only her husband, not a priest of the temple. I'm sure Veth and Malik will help with him too."

I pulled myself from the couch, fighting the desire to collapse onto it and hide away from everything.

I made it to the doorway, and Marus said, "The Tempests in history bring about great change. I don't think you are any different."

The words were so like what Caelus had said before, but I wasn't sure I believed them.