Pleasure by Jacquelyn Frank

others.
    â€œHe’s bored. Take him for a walk. He is well enough and clearly he needs someone to talk to and you are the only one he would ever trust,” Dae added. “I will be in our rooms waiting for you.”
    She ducked out from under his arm, skipping out of reach before he could grab hold of her by her sari and pull her back.
    â€œOh, and knowing that is supposed to help me to focus?” he demanded.
    â€œNo. But it will help you to expedite the conversation,” she said with a wink before trotting off with a laugh.
    Magnus wasted no time in arranging to free Sagan from the infirmary. Despite any ulterior motives, Sagan did deserve his attention and he was happy to give it. The two priests walked out into the rear courtyard, the large area empty at this time of night because students were in their classes.
    Once he was certain of their privacy, Sagan wasted no time getting to the point.
    â€œI have defied one of the tenets of my priesthood,” he said, forcing himself to meet his superior’s eyes. He had expected surprise or even a frown of recrimination, but Magnus remained calm and all but expressionless.
    â€œNot something I ever thought I would hear you say,” Magnus mused neutrally, “but if I have learned one thing throughout this fight within Sanctuary, it is that anyone can be tempted into doing anything if the circumstances are powerful enough. My relationship with Daenaira itself has forced me to see sides of myself that I can’t always control.”
    â€œI have no excuses to offer. I did what I did willingly and, I admit, with a great amount of ease.”
    Magnus took a seat straddling a marble bench and Sagan followed suit across from him. It kept them eye to eye and on equal ground.
    â€œAre you saying you don’t regret what you’ve done?” Magnus asked.
    No regrets. Not one…not until I left her. That is what I regret.
    â€œI am sorry to have besmirched the sanctity of the oath I took. I love this temple and all it has given to me. I respect every law and rule to the utmost. But I disrespected this one and that’s what I regret.”
    Magnus narrowed thoughtful eyes on Sagan.
    â€œYou regret breaking the rule, but I am hearing more. I am hearing that you don’t regret everything you did after crossing the line. You don’t regret the sin you’ve committed in the least.”
    â€œThere was no sin,” Sagan whispered.
    â€œThen I am confused, Sagan. How can breaking religious law not be a sin?”
    â€œBecause it was meant to be.” When Magnus frowned, Sagan slid closer to him and became heated in his confession. “Fate and free will. Every man walks the line between fate and free will. You have said so yourself time and again. This was a matter of using my free will to absorb a moment of fate into my life. How can it be coincidence that this one precious being should be where and when she needed to be—so perfectly poised to become a part of saving my life? Why would she be so…so…” Sagan exhaled in frustration.
    â€œA woman,” Magnus said with clarification dawning in his golden eyes. “You mean you’ve been with a woman outside of the sanctity of the relationship you are only supposed to share with a handmaiden.”
    â€œYes,” Sagan said softly, knowing by the tone in Magnus’s voice that he would never understand. So he ceased trying to explain.
    â€œI should never have let you go so long without one. You needed a companion to keep you away from these kinds of temptations.” The head priest sighed roughly. He studied Sagan carefully. “But, Sagan, you have to repent all of it before I can give you penance and forgive the sin.”
    â€œIt was not a sin!” Sagan hissed through gritted teeth. “Do not call it that again or I swear to our gods I will hit you for it.”
    Magnus was so taken aback by the sheer savagery of the threat