AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Nari? She took my breath away. She was everything good in my life. Not better than Wraythe, but also nothing like him. She completed me while he accentuated me, and I was so glad that Zeal had never made me choose. I was pretty sure I never would've left the Choosing Room if he'd tried.
Unfortunately, Nari wasn't done worrying about this. "Should I have told her that I've never been with a woman?" she asked us.
"But you have," Anver countered. "You had that session with Tishlie."
"I didn't really do anything with her," Nari reminded us. "I mean, she did things to me, and I kinda fingered her, but that's not the same."
"It's enough," Talin promised. "And you can just be honest when you have your session. I have a feeling that she won't mind you experimenting on her."
"You can also talk to Maela," I pointed out. "I mean, I'm sure she and Yamina have..." I grimaced. "Sorry, Talin. Don't mean to talk about your little sister like that."
"Doesn't really bother me," Talin promised. "I mean, you fucked my brother and you want to fuck another. I also think that's a good idea. Maela knows what a first time is like, Nari, and I have a feeling that she'd love to be the one offering you advice."
"Yeah?" she asked, looking excited at the idea. "Because I really do like this girl. It's just chemistry, so don't go worrying, Talin."
"I promise I'm not," he told her, but there was a knowing smile on his lips.
Nari's curled to match. "Mhm," she teased.
I could see they were sharing something between them, and I could even make a guess as to what, but that didn't matter. I just liked that my woman seemed to feel the same way about her guardian as I did about mine. She and Talin were such an amazing match. They worked, and the guy had done exactly what Wraythe had told him to. He loved Nari so much his heart bled for her. He'd given himself over to her completely, and I loved him more for it.
Yet Anver was the voice of reason here. "Have you considered talking to Yamina too?" he asked.
"Her birthday party is this weekend," Talin pointed out. "If one of those two isn't available, I'm pretty sure the other will be. I also think they'd love to see you like this, all giggly over this crush you have."
Nari swung her legs off the couch and sat up. "Shit, Talin, we don't have presents."
"It's not that kind of party," Talin assured her. "The point is to acknowledge that she's now a legal adult. In truth, these things are done as one last push to get her married off before she's considered too old to be a viable prospect." He made a disgusted noise. "Most well-born men prefer their wives to be as young as possible, and I find the practice disgusting."
"So does this mean Pia will stop pushing her?" I asked.
Talin just shook his head. "No, it means my mother is going to be in a panic now. All of my other sisters were married off by the time they were seventeen. Most of them after a year-long engagement."
Then there was the real problem, and while I didn't want to bring it up, going back to Sandrest meant I needed to get it out there in the open. "What about Tath?" I asked.
"He would never say anything in public," Talin assured me.
"Doesn't mean he won't say it in private," Wraythe countered. "We also don't know if Kinen's exemption to their status as initiates still stands."
"Planning to fuck him again?" Anver asked, looking right at me.
And for a moment, I felt that darkness filling my mind, remembering just how easily I had broken that man. "No, Anver. I don't, but if he ever tries to touch Nari without her permission again, I will make it clear that the last time was just a warning."
"Are you so sure he didn't like your brand of depraved?" Anver countered. "The man has been sulking for a month. He's been drinking worse than those tempted by drink as their vice."
"Maybe itishis vice," Wraythe pointed out.
"Possibly," Anver agreed, "but my point is that Tath withdrew from society. Society has a notoriously short attention span. That's why Ciella's lack of lace is just a way to describe her now, not a reason to be shocked that she's still here. People adapt, and if the nobility got used to life without Tath, then maybe that's what the baron is doing? Could he be getting ready to announce that he's gay, setting Maela aside, or something else?"
"Shit," Talin breathed. "And if he acknowledges both children as his, he has his heir and a spare. There isn't a single thing society could reallydoto him. Maela would be kicked out once she weans the baby, but her children would stay at Sandrest."
"No," Nari said. "We can't let that happen."
"Can we really stop it?" Wraythe countered. "Nari, that's the problem. Wives have no power. While Zeal's laws say they should be equal to men, the reality proves that it's not that easy."
"It's legal to only loan money to anyone the lender feels is a safe investment," Anver pointed out. "If that lender thinks women are too emotional, then he's still within the law. Everything in Calseth is like that, and I don't know how we can stop it. Have the gods write more laws? Make it so that people don't need to think or wonder about anything? If we try that, then what happens to the gods? Look at Will and how hard he had to work to get the miniscule amount of faith Xenia has. Worse, what happens to Charisma, who has no one? Most importantly, no matter which way we go, what happens to Zeal?"
"The bigger problem," Talin said softly, "are the rumors. If that man at your session was willing to push you around, then what will the nobility do? The popular merchants Maela has invited? This party is going to be nothing but high society, Nari, and they blame you and Maela for ruining their lives."
