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Chapter 1
Nariana
The snow sparkled in the moonlight as the five of us headed towards the back side of the Temple of Compassion. The air wasn't just chilled. It was downright cold, and my breath fogged before my face. Talin's hand was pressed against my lower back, guiding me forward. The heat radiating from his touch seeped into my skin, making me overly aware of the contact, and in the distance, voices could be heard. They all sounded happy.
Beside me, Ela and Wraythe hugged themselves against the chill. Since it was a short walk across the grassy area between temples, we'd decided to leave our coats at home - one less thing to worry about. Anver didn't seem to mind the weather as much, but the wind was biting tonight. I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to end this year. Hopefully, in a few hours, the start of next year would be better. After all, they called this holiday the Fresh Start for a reason.
But just as we reached the stairs, the small door at the back cracked open, and a face I recognized poked out. "Nari?" my brother Cesyr asked.
He shouldn't have known I was coming. Maybe in a general sort of sense, but the mere fact that he'd opened the door exactly as we reached it made me give him a confused look. Cesyr just pushed the door open a little wider, inviting us into the temple he called home.
"Merci said to come get you," he explained.
"So we're getting personal greetings from the goddess in charge tonight," Ela said, sounding a little impressed.
"And a request to join the High Priest in his office before you attend the festivities," Cesyr added.
My stomach twisted at that, but I tried to ignore it. "We're supposed to find the Baroness of Temptation," I told him, making it clear we were expected elsewhere.
"After this," Cesyr assured me. "Our High Priest simply wants to meet the woman who can speak to gods. Formalities, Nariana."
Which meant this was ok. Merci had already told me that her High Priest was on her side. From what I'd heard, he was a good man - and nothing like the leader of our own temple. Just because the High Priest of Temptation wanted to see me fail didn't mean the High Priest of Compassion would feel the same, so this wasn't something to worry about. It would be fine.
I hurried up the stairs, relieved at the heat inside. Without thinking, I let out a sigh of appreciation, feeling the muscles in my body relax as they warmed. Talin kept me moving just enough to let the others in, and we all turned to face Cesyr at the same time. My second-oldest brother's eyes ran across my dress, then he nodded, a boyish smile touching one side of his lips in something I could only hope was approval.
What I wore was sedate for my own temple, but most would call it salacious. The deep-purple dress hugged my body. The delicate cyan trim wasn't obnoxious but drew the eyes to my cleavage and the curves of my figure. The cutout at my throat showed off the symbol Zeal had marked all five of us with, and the impossible black gem around my neck made it clear that I had been claimed by the divine. I wasn't here to seduce, though. Tonight, I simply wanted the chance for a fresh start, because my morning had been a nightmare.
"You certainly belong in Temptation, little sister," my brother teased, lightening the mood a bit. "Even your companions make me feel underdressed."
Because all four of my guys wore stylish black suits. Unlike most men in society, they had no white or splashes of color to go with it - except for the dark purple pocket squares that matched my dress. It made them look like my guards instead of my dates, yet both descriptions were accurate.
"Just let me know when you need style advice," my partner Ela offered as he inspected Cesyr's navy suit. "Clearly looks run in Nari's family, and I can only imagine what a little tailoring would do to show off your..." He smiled, refusing to finish that thought.
Cesyr laughed. "I'll take you up on that, Ela." And then he turned to Anver, offering his hand. "Cesyr, Priest of the Heart for Compassion, and Nariana's second-oldest brother by blood. Well, half-brother."
"Anver, Priest of Protect - " He paused. "Priest of Temptation," he corrected. "I'd like to think I'm your sister's friend."
"More like the fifth head of the snake," Cesyr said, proving he'd been keeping up. "Well, I've been told that all the temples are laid out the same inside, so I'm sure you know that High Priest Viyan's office is this way."
He gestured up the hall, and we all followed, my guys falling in behind me. After a few steps, I reached over and took my brother's arm. Cesyr crooked his elbow, making it clear he was used to escorting someone, then smiled at me proudly. Still, it was strange to see him like this. In my mind, he was still stuck as the boy he'd been when he left our family home, but that had happened years ago. Fourteen now?
"The rest aren't mad at me, are they?" I asked, needing to be sure that my distance from my siblings really hadn't caused a problem. Especially now that they'd had time to think about it.
"No," he promised. "Jeerad is proud of you. Kynsana is excited to no longer be the only sister around. Xakiri?" He groaned. "Yeah, he's been bragging to everyone who'll listen that his sister is the priestess with all the Paths. Someone told him he was a liar, so he punched them for talking bad about his family."
"That sounds like my little brother," I admitted, somehow not shocked to find out that Xak, of all of us, had grown into the wild one. "And you?"
Cesyr just rubbed my hand on his arm. "Nariana, I missed you. We're also Priests of Compassion, and we've been trained not to hold grudges. You're fine. Stop worrying that you may have messed up. You have so much on your shoulders, and we are not going to add to that. Family is supposed to help carry the burden, not add to it."
"Carrying it is our job," Wraythe muttered under his breath.
Cesyr just glanced back at him and nodded. "I know. I'm just saying that not even the four of you have to shoulder the weight of the gods on your own. When you need help, we'll help. We also aren't trying to dismiss your claim to my little sister." Then he leaned his head toward me and dropped his voice, but not enough to hide his words from the others. "I think that one's a little smitten with you."
"We all are," Talin admitted. "That includes her god."
Cesyr turned into the nave, the office of the High Priest visible just beyond. "I'm going to guess it's not just one god," he said, just as we reached the door.
Then he knocked.
