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"We leave in the morning," I told her. "He won't want his mother to know about this."
"I'll help," Yamina promised. "We'll get you packed early and slip you out while the rest are eating breakfast. Tell Talin to leave a note that you've been called back. No one will question it, and Tath will be easier once you're gone."
"But if he ever tries to hurt you again," I told them, looking from one woman to the other, "or the baby, or anything else, come to the temple. I can call Zeal. Even if it's not that bad, I can help, and this house is tied to our faith. I'm not just being nice. The entire priesthood will help you. All you have to do is ask."
"Then I'll ask if I ever need it," Maela assured me. "You've made me a believer, Nari."
"No, you did that on your own. Both of you. I just made you realize it."
Chapter 60
Nariana
Talin and I arrived back at the temple just after noon two days before classes started again. The carriage pulled up in front, the footmen unloaded all of our luggage, and a Priest of Obligation promised to have it all sent to my suite. That left the pair of us to head home without worrying about it.
And yet heads still turned as we walked through the halls. I knew it wasn't because of how we looked. Both Talin and I had miraculously healed overnight, leaving no bruising or pain from the ordeal with his brother. And still people stared.
It could've been our clothes, since we were both dressed appropriately for Sandrest, not a temple. It may have been the rumors running through the temple about either myself or my guardian. It was impossible to tell, so I decided not to care. I was honestly too tired.
When we finally got to my suite and walked in, I wasn't surprised at all to find Wraythe and Eladehl there, waiting. The giant of a man had fallen asleep on the couch, his head pillowed on one side, his ankles balanced on the other. Eladehl was sprawled in the chair with one leg thrown over the arm and a book in his lap. It looked like a textbook.
"You survived?" he asked, keeping his voice soft.
Wraythe immediately sucked in a breath, pulling himself awake. "Hey," he breathed when his eyes found me. "I missed you two."
"Aw," Talin teased. "Did you really?"
"More her than you," Wraythe admitted. Then he paused, his eyes going to Talin's vest. "I'm willing to bet that chain leads to a watch, huh?"
"It does," he agreed.
Eladehl jerked his chin at Talin. "Going to share what yours says?"
"That her path will always lead her to me. Yours?" Talin asked.
"The light in my darkness, the darkness in my light, and the love in my heart," Ela told him, reciting it from memory.
"Nice," Talin said. "What about you, Wraythe?"
"Says I'm to shelter her from everything but my heart." He glanced over at me. "You did good, Nari. Rumor has it that Jamik got a gift that made him cry."
"He got the fourth watch," I told them. "Its inscription was simple, but I didn't mean to make him cry."
"C'mon," Eladehl insisted. "What does it say?"
"For the father I should've had." I winced, hoping it wasn't too cheesy.
Eladehl just chuckled. "Yep, that would explain the tears. That man adores you, Nari. Sounds like you hit him right in the heart with that one."
"Speaking of hearts..." Wraythe said, looking at Eladehl.
He sighed. "They should at least get the chance to change clothes first. That shit looks stuffy."
"Feels like it too," I agreed. "Ok, let me put on some pants, and then we can talk about whatever you're avoiding, ok?"
"You too," Eladehl told Talin. "Family chat time."
"Bad news?" Talin asked.
