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"He said he needs me to love her without condition. I'm the golden boy whose eyes hold darkness. I'm the perfect temptation for the woman who will walk in shadows to see the light," Ela quoted.
I nodded slowly, making him look at me. "Whose eyes hold darkness. The woman who will walk in shadows to see the light. Ela, think about that. She doesn't see your darkness. She sees your light. You're fine. Stop worrying. Stop thinking you have to be like everyone else. Do you think Zeal picked you because you're fucking pretty? Anver's pretty. Shit, a lot of the guys in our year were. Instead, he pickedyou,the most dangerous man possible, and he gave us to her. Not her to us. We're hers, Ela, and Nari surrendered herself completely to make sure she could keep us. Now, when you start worrying about whatever bullshit's going through your head, you remind yourself of that. She fucking fought for us, just like we did for her, and Zeal noticed."
"But that was before Talin," he pointed out. "She didn't ask me to fall in love with someone else."
My lips split into a grin because he'd just admitted the truth. "She kinda did. She gave you every chance. When we get in there, don't you dare hold back. You take that prissy little noble boy and you make him your bitch. Give Nari a show that's going to leave her panting, and when you're all done - no matter how many people you end up fucking tonight - there's one thing I want from you."
"Ok?" he asked.
"Believe what you see. Accept it as truth. I mean, I get it. I know what it feels like to have the most beautiful girl in our year step up and lie about kissing me. And when they asked her to prove it, she did. I know exactly how terrifying it is to pull her closer, take her lips, and let her see how stupid I could be - while everyone elsewatched!It was like my worst nightmare and greatest fantasy got rolled up together, and I figure that's where you are right now, hm?"
"Pretty much," he admitted.
"Yeah, so go with it. Let go, Ela. Let us see the real you. Not the lie you tell your trinkets. Not the bullshit you wear like a second skin. Tonight, all you have to do is let go, and I swear we will be there to catch you."
He pressed his forehead to mine. "I chose you too, Wraythe. That's why I told you to be her guardian, because that was all I could do to choose you." He let out a sigh. "I don't deserve you, you know that? I do love you. Not like them, but different doesn't mean less."
I gently turned him to the mirror. "I know. Now finish up, because we want to get there first. It's going to be a big night."
The kind of big that might change us forever, but I wasn't about to tell him that. No, he'd take that wrong, but I had complete faith in him. If he could let go of his fears for just a few hours, I had a feeling they'd never have power over him again. My best friend might hate stronger than most, but he also loved so much harder - and that was what made him so strong. He just had to figure it out for himself.
Chapter 36
Nariana
For once, I wasn't the one who had to worry about taking off my clothes in a few minutes. We also had to make it across the temple without giving away our big plans. Talin wore a nice suit with a few layers. It was all black, but just a little nicer than what he usually wore as my guardian.
It also looked fucking good on him.
I'd gone with a short but loose skirt, tall boots that I could move in, and a shirt that laced all the way down the front. It was both beautiful and functional, but looked like something a man would want to unwrap. Talin strapped on his weapons belt, carrying only a pair of short daggers, but I knew he'd take that off when we got in the room. His sword and pistol were staying behind, just like Wraythe's.
"Ready?" I asked.
He pushed out a breath. "It's not like this is the first time I've been with him, so why am I nervous?"
I snagged his arm. "Because we're going somewhere, and that puts expectations on it." Then I turned him toward the door. "You sure you're ready for this?"
"To have him shove me around?" he asked. "Sure. To have you and Wraythe watching? It's a little intimidating."
I paused before opening the door. "Talin, I know you two have been together. I know this semester has been hard. I also remember him sucking you off while I went down on Wraythe and he fucked me. When we watch, it's because we're entranced, not because we're judging. I promise. I have been waiting to see the pair of you together since you showed up as my guardian."
"You sure he's ready for this, though?" Talin asked.
"I'm pretty sure that he's not going to get the option of taking his time. The temple is on a schedule, and they don't care how long we take. We can bend or we can break. Action always needs more priests, right?"
He huffed at that. "Good point. Unfortunately, I think Ela's as close to breaking as you are. It's the only reason I'm doing this."
"Only?" I asked.
"At this time," he clarified. "Nari, he's terrified of hurting us. He's scared of himself, but my gut says that he's not going to get over it unless we make him. That means I'm not going to be nice in there. I'm going to set him off, and he's going to come after me. Let. Him."
"How will I know if it's too much?" I asked.
Talin turned to cup my face. "You will know. The feeling will come from the center of your body, not your heart or your guts like everything else. It will burn in your spine in a way nothing else does, and you'll feel it like it's your own. A panic, or the grip of fear. When that happens, look at me. If I'm looking back and don't stop you, then step in - but we'll be fine."
"I've never done this either," I reminded him.
He reached for the door. "Then it's good practice. And when someone asks about the marks on me, just tell them I tried to pull your partner off you. He tried to make me regret it."
