pressed his lips against the line of her rib cage. “We’ve only just met, but for some reason you make me wish for another life.”
“You should do that anyway.” She stroked his hair softly. “Hope gives strength and makes it easier to survive.”
Calder sighed. “So does surrender.”
“Have you surrendered?”
“No, but it would be in my best interest.” Calder sat up, and then he turned back and let his gaze run over Sari, still resting in Taryen’s powerful arms. He closed his eyes as if the image affected him. “We should discuss some of the rules of our society, which apparently is very different than the rest of Auroria. For one thing, females do not go around in male robes.”
“They don’t do that outside the gates either. It was just a way I discovered to avoid attention.”
“Your body is sacred. Covering it like that is an insult to the gods.” Taryen seemed concerned by her natural inclination to rebel against society. “Following the rules and adapting will help you gain influence.”
“You’ll have to find a way to make alliances,” Calder went on as he ran both hands through his wet hair, pushing the light strands away from his face. “If you make the proper friends, even the lack of family power won’t stop you from having a voice. You’re strong-minded. If you played the correct political cards, you could end up on the council.”
“Council?” Sari asked distractedly, forcing herself to look away from Calder’s broad, muscular chest. “What is it, exactly?”
“It’s the leadership council that was set in place to make up for the queen’s disappearance,” Taryen explained. “They make the decisions usually reserved for her. Thirty of our strongest females vote on all the issues that affect the people we serve.”
Sari huffed. “Not very effectively. How many of them use your talents as consorts for their amusement?”
“All of them.” Taryen ignored the way Calder punched his thigh, causing water to splash up around Sari. “Being on the council earns them priority in our training.”
Sari gave Calder a dark glare. “So you think I have the potential to be corrupt enough to serve on this council?”
“I think you have the potential to change things on the council,” Calder countered, giving her an appraising look. “You have an outsider’s opinion. It could be compelling to them if presented correctly.”
“I see.” Sari considered the suggestion. She could run away as she always did when things got difficult, or she could somehow find a way to blend with these people she disliked and try to make a difference for all of Auroria. “That’s an interesting idea, Calder.”
“I have a few of those on occasion.” Calder smiled before his tone grew serious once more. “Every night, our sisters and brothers gather for dinner in the grand banquet hall. You should consider attending. Not tonight, of course. You won’t have enough time to get ready, but perhaps tomorrow once you’re settled in your new apartments. Whispers of you are flying all over the Sacred City. Trust me; they’ll be curious to meet you. Attending the assembly is a good place to start making alliances.”
“Perhaps I will.” Sari remembered the clothes Calder had brought into the baths so she could change once she was healed and clean. She looked to where they rested on top of the dressing table in the corner. She spied the golden threads laced through the rich green gown, although there wasn’t much material to call it a real gown. It reminded her of the clothing she wore when serving the Order. “Is that what they wear to the assembly?”
Calder followed her gaze to the clothes he’d brought her. “No. That’s just afternoon wear. You’ll have to dress more extravagantly for the assembly.”
Sari knew she’d have to tap into a person she was long ago, one who was bold and immune to showing her body because survival demanded it. “How do I prepare for an
“You should do that anyway.” She stroked his hair softly. “Hope gives strength and makes it easier to survive.”
Calder sighed. “So does surrender.”
“Have you surrendered?”
“No, but it would be in my best interest.” Calder sat up, and then he turned back and let his gaze run over Sari, still resting in Taryen’s powerful arms. He closed his eyes as if the image affected him. “We should discuss some of the rules of our society, which apparently is very different than the rest of Auroria. For one thing, females do not go around in male robes.”
“They don’t do that outside the gates either. It was just a way I discovered to avoid attention.”
“Your body is sacred. Covering it like that is an insult to the gods.” Taryen seemed concerned by her natural inclination to rebel against society. “Following the rules and adapting will help you gain influence.”
“You’ll have to find a way to make alliances,” Calder went on as he ran both hands through his wet hair, pushing the light strands away from his face. “If you make the proper friends, even the lack of family power won’t stop you from having a voice. You’re strong-minded. If you played the correct political cards, you could end up on the council.”
“Council?” Sari asked distractedly, forcing herself to look away from Calder’s broad, muscular chest. “What is it, exactly?”
“It’s the leadership council that was set in place to make up for the queen’s disappearance,” Taryen explained. “They make the decisions usually reserved for her. Thirty of our strongest females vote on all the issues that affect the people we serve.”
Sari huffed. “Not very effectively. How many of them use your talents as consorts for their amusement?”
“All of them.” Taryen ignored the way Calder punched his thigh, causing water to splash up around Sari. “Being on the council earns them priority in our training.”
Sari gave Calder a dark glare. “So you think I have the potential to be corrupt enough to serve on this council?”
“I think you have the potential to change things on the council,” Calder countered, giving her an appraising look. “You have an outsider’s opinion. It could be compelling to them if presented correctly.”
“I see.” Sari considered the suggestion. She could run away as she always did when things got difficult, or she could somehow find a way to blend with these people she disliked and try to make a difference for all of Auroria. “That’s an interesting idea, Calder.”
“I have a few of those on occasion.” Calder smiled before his tone grew serious once more. “Every night, our sisters and brothers gather for dinner in the grand banquet hall. You should consider attending. Not tonight, of course. You won’t have enough time to get ready, but perhaps tomorrow once you’re settled in your new apartments. Whispers of you are flying all over the Sacred City. Trust me; they’ll be curious to meet you. Attending the assembly is a good place to start making alliances.”
“Perhaps I will.” Sari remembered the clothes Calder had brought into the baths so she could change once she was healed and clean. She looked to where they rested on top of the dressing table in the corner. She spied the golden threads laced through the rich green gown, although there wasn’t much material to call it a real gown. It reminded her of the clothing she wore when serving the Order. “Is that what they wear to the assembly?”
Calder followed her gaze to the clothes he’d brought her. “No. That’s just afternoon wear. You’ll have to dress more extravagantly for the assembly.”
Sari knew she’d have to tap into a person she was long ago, one who was bold and immune to showing her body because survival demanded it. “How do I prepare for an
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