Page 205 of The Sins of Silas

SILAS

Lena was behaving…oddly. Perhaps it was an attempt to play things off.

Guilt consumed me every time I looked at Era or held her against me. It was wrong to be unfaithful to her. The only thing I kept telling myself was, 'Pretend like it was one more time you made love to Lena in the past,'though I knew it wasn’t the same.

And I couldn’t get her out of my damned mind.

I loved Era, and I knew she loved me. But our relationship had started out as a mutual benefit. I was required to get married. It was difficult enough putting it off as long as I did, and Era needed an escape from her shitty family.

I had grown to love her, but it was never like what I had with Lena. Had I known she was alive, I never would have touched another female.

All the Mages, alongwith Dani, were glamoured again—rounded ears and, in Dani's case, eyes with pupils. Lena's long hair was kept in a braid that was resting on her chest.

I couldn't help but stare at her from the side and note the ease on her face. How was what we had done not eating her alive? Not just the guilt, but the overwhelming desire for more?

I couldn't keep my hand off myself when I showered this morning, biting my lip to contain my moan as I stroked myself to the thought of her naked body and the faces she made while I was driving myself inside of her.

I am a wretched man.

My arms were around my wife's, holding the reins of our horse as we headed for Wrendier. After spending my last moments at Saoirse's grave, we left. Torrin had mentioned how one of the ancient temples was on our way—Temple Celluna—and that it would be a good place to take a break.

Every night that passed until we got there drove me mad. Lena continued to ignore me, hardly even flitting her eyes in my direction. The only bit of peace I had was that she remained in her own tent, not sharing one with either Roland or Torrin.

I didn't initiate with Era, and surprisingly, she didn't initiate anything with me. Just a few soft kisses every night before falling asleep.

Temple Celluna was unlike anything I had ever seen. The white, concrete building was enormous, the very top shaped like a dome. In its intricate design, thousands upon thousands of flowersand leaves were etched into the material. It was miraculous. It had to have taken years to complete.

It had been five days since we left Faltrun, and by some miracle, it had been an easy, danger-free trek.

“Each of the temples has nine points…nine exits,” Elowen began.

Lena loosened a breath. “Nine points…for nine Gods.”

Elowen's head was craned, studying the architecture just as Dani spoke. “I never knew why each temple was designed in such a way. Now, it makes sense.”

“Who runs these temples?” Hendry asked Dani, who sat in front of him.

“Human clerics,” she responded. “As I'm sure you all know, humans worship the same Gods we do…same names and all that. They just believe the Gods had no hand in creating us magic folk…that we are abominations. Anomalies.”

“Sounds like a great place for us to visit,” Merrick drawled with a fake smile. Era turned her head, smiling at his humor.

“Why are they constructed in such a way, then?” Erabella asked. “The nine pillars…”

“These temples were constructed hundreds, if not thousands of years ago,” Viola answered, “when our kinds coexisted. It is only in the recent centuries that humans have shifted their beliefs.”

“Will we even be welcomed here?” Hendry narrowed his eyes as we were getting closer. “What if they have grown corrupt?”

Dani shrugged. “Then we kick their asses. I dunno.”

Roland chuckled. “Can you imagine? Fighting clerics? That just sounds wrong.”

As we approached the looming building, the summer sun beaming down on us, no one came out or attempted to stop us from getting closer.

“It's quiet,” Lena noted, those stunning eyes searching.

We halted our horses before one of the nine entrances. Pausing for a few moments, and still no sign of life, we hesitantly dismounted our rides.

“Now, be a good little horse for us, Donut, and wait out here,” Roland cooed as he stroked his horse's mane.

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