Page 44 of Songs of Sacrament

I stepped back another step, closer to Lira, which resulted in me pressing against Luz. They didn’t seem annoyed… with me, at least. I’d just about work with the merfolk over Jessamine, but if she really knew where two of my family’s heart stones were, I couldn’t ignore that. “Once we make it out of the temple, those of the group who wish could always give you a hand with finding the heart stones.” I looked around the group and everyone nodded except for Lira who glared at Jessamine with an expression I’d never seen on her. I thought I’d stood under the worst of her ire before, but she appeared ready to snarl.

Jessamine smirked. “I always loved having your hands on me.”

Lira’s eyes lightened in color, and I grabbed her fingers. She froze and seemed stuck between wishing to jerk her hand free and to clasp her palm against mine. It cooled the rise of her magic however as her irises shifted back to sky blue.

Jessamine frowned at our intertwined hands but nodded ahead. “I’ll lead the way in case the merfolk decide to show their malicious selves again.”

“Thank you,” I said.

We followed behind her.

I didn’t let Lira’s hand go, and she didn’t release mine either. With every passing moment, as the energy from the fight waned, a new emotion replaced it. Maybe Lira had some feelings for me; perhaps a small part of her still trusted me. Goddess, if that was the case, I’d lean into it like a man spotting a dot of an oasis in a desert.

When we crossed the last stepping stone, and reached the temple’s island, fog swirled around our ankles as it crept its way through the shadowed windows and doorways. The entire building dipped into the sea, part of it built into the side of a cliff. Vines tangled around the carvings of massive whales, intricately designed fish, curling waves, and the circling spiral of wind.

Jessamine skipped forward towards the archway leading into the temple, paused then kicked. Her foot hit an invisible barrier and she smirked at me.

Damn it.

If only elementals and their Atallas could go into the temple, Lira might get stuck searching the map out alone. If she wanted to do that, of course. The choice was hers, but she hadn’t hesitated to come on this journey. Then again, she’d nearly fainted back with the merfolk, and I hadn’t had time to think about the implications of that yet. Something was wrong with her magic. She couldn’t go into a decaying tomb alone.

Neia stepped towards the door and pressed her hand forward until the ward stopped her. Orman walked up beside her and gave a kick towards it that caused him to stumble back and bounce to catch his balance.

He turned towards me. “I think yourfriendis right, Sai.”

I did not like the way he saidfriend,and neither did Lira from the way her fingers tightened against my hand. “Can you get a reading off it?” I asked.

His eyes lit up and his zevar sparkled against his dark skin as his magic hummed into the air. Jessamine’s gaze raked over him like perhaps she’d shift her interest. That would be welcome, for me if not Orman. His magic faded. “‘’Fraid not, mate. The wards are tight as fuck. Not normally something I complain about, mind, but—”

“Thank you, Orman.”

He grinned cockily and shrugged.

“All right.” Lira released my hand and walked to the front of the temple. She stood before the shadowed entrance and raised her face towards the inscriptions on the doorpost. It was an ancient language I’d studied, but I could only make out a few words, especially with Lira standing there, her soaked blouse sticking to her skin. We’d once stood rain-soaked before a fire, alone in a cabin. She’d looked at me like I was the only being who existed on earth, like she’d jump into a gulch with me if I asked.

Lira stepped towards the massive, curved archway and disappeared into the shadows.

Jessamine turned on me. “Partnered up with an elemental, huh?”

I ignored her as I stepped forward. I’d suspected that I might be Lira’s Atalla. I’d felt unnaturally drawn towards her, my magic seemed bolstered when she was near, and I had this drive to protect her. Those were all signs of that bond—from the legends of it. Many Prasanna didn’t believe in the idea of Atallas. Mother always said those with strong magic had Atallas to help balance their powers, though. There was one way to find out.

I leaned towards the cool breath of the doorway and hesitated.

There might be someone else out there who had some connection and belonging to her more than me. The idea of it was like a knife to the gut and it overrode my still aching head and shoulders.

I released a breath and took a step until I walked across the threshold and into the room next to Lira who stared at me, her eyes wide with what seemed like horror.

Kali’s powers.

I was Lira’s Atalla.

We belonged together every bit as much as it had felt like.

Her forehead rippled as her mouth dropped open.

Fuck.

I was Lira’s Atalla.

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