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I glanced back at Zeal, using Talin as my excuse. "And what exactly does that mean?"
Zeal was smiling. "You're fine, Nariana," he said. "You were god-touched before you ever came to the temple."
"It means," Harlin said, talking over him because he couldn't see the god in the room, "that miracles tend to follow you around."
I nodded as I moved to set up for this. "Yep, and gods. Trust me, it's not all it's cracked up to be."
"It is for us," Harlin said, taking a spot across from me. "Means they're coming back. Zeal's been more involved with his temple in the last month than the last century combined." Then he tipped his head at me. "I am going to hit you. It is going to hurt. If you want to make sure that doesn't happen, then put some effort into it. Ready on your call, Irila."
"Hands higher, Nari," she said. Then, "Go."
Chapter 12
Talin
Isnatched my shirt off the ground beside Zeal's foot and gave the arrogant god a warning look. He let out a heavy sigh, but most of his attention was on Nari. To buy myself a little time before everyone decided I was either insane or overprotective, I started pulling my shirt right side out.
"What's the deal with the bond?" I asked softly, because it had come up a few times too many this week.
Zeal hummed as if thinking. "It's complicated."
"Trust me, I can fold this shirt inside out a few million times," I warned him. "Start talking."
"I like you," Zeal said. "Don't like most of your family, but I do like you."
"Zeal!"
"Ok," he grumbled. "Do you know what the lace is? It's a piece of your soul pulled to the surface. Except for that part that once belonged to her. Yes, it's a bond. Yes, you have a piece of her soul. Yes, it's addictive.Yes,it will only get worse. Does that make you any happier?"
"Walk with me," I whispered. "Please?"
"I would've without the please," he assured me, gesturing for me to lead. "Believe it or not, Talin, I do not want blind obedience. That goes against everything I stand for. I want rage and pride. I want you to have strong desires and to chase them wildly. I also want you to love with all your heart."
I nodded but kept walking, heading for the door. "Be right back," I told Jamik.
He looked up to say something, saw Zeal, and then nodded. "Take your time."
"Thank you," Zeal told him before lowering his voice again to speak to me. "And so you know, Nariana isn't the only one who can call me. I gave all of you that ability with the mark."
"Mm." But I couldn't say more until we were in the hall outside the Salle. There, I turned to him again. "What do you mean it gets worse? How can this obsession with her get anyworse?"
"Well, you didn't kill the man who put that bruise on her face," Zeal explained. "You haven't started writing her love letters."
"I fucking told her I love her, and I barely know the girl!"
He chuckled. "Because you love her. Look, this is complicated. I'm working with a lot more information than you humans have access to. I can see that you and Nari are a match, personality wise. You are attracted to strong women. She's attracted to men with brains and confidence. You like brunettes. She likes muscles. You have aspirations, and so does she. I also know that your family nudges you ahead of the other men who fit those qualities, that it has made you a conniving man, and we're going to need that."
"Ok?" I asked.
"The point is," he said, "you would've fallen in love with her if you two were allowed to spend time together. That's how I pick matches."
"Wraythe and Eladehl?" I countered.
The god smiled. "Love each other. It may be like brothers, but it's still love. Their devotion is as pure and honest as everything you feel for Nari. When I make a match, my goal is to find one person who has the potential to care so strongly that they'd die for the other. Nothing more, nothing less. The word for that, Talin, is love."
I shoved my hand up from between my eyes and into my hair. "So it's a one way thing?"
"Ask your real question," Zeal said gently.
