Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I shake my head, trying to look over at Faith even as the god plays with my hair, his fingers tracing over the ribbon I laced into my dark hair this morning. I always look as good as I can, because my value is in my appearance. I dress each morning knowing that Aron has forgotten about me, so I have to charm Solat, or Markos, or even the quiet Kerren into falling for me. If I’m married, after all, I don’t have to return to the slave-yards. I deliberately wove that ribbon into my hair this morning because Solat said red looked good on me.
I wonder if the Spidae knows the meaning behind it as he fiddles with my dark braid. He leans in, and I could swear he sniffs my hair. Goosebumps prickle over my skin, but I’m resolute. This is the best path for me. Like Faith, if I’m an anchor to a god (even a terrifying trio of gods), I’m safe from a life of drudgery.
And best of all, if I’m serving Fate, I won’t meet the same terrible end that most anchors do.
“I want to do this, Faith,” I tell her. She needs to understand. I meet her gaze, trying my best to ignore the god that hovers over me and strokes my hair so unnervingly. “Here, I have a purpose. I can serve the gods. Once we leave this tower, I’m just an unnecessary whore for a god who is in love with his anchor. I cannot fight in Aron’s army. How long do you think he will keep me around?”
From the look of despair in Faith’s eyes, I can tell she’s starting to get it. She looks ready to cry. “You’re my friend. Aron would keep you as long as I want. You’ve been good to me, and to him.”
That’s sweet of her, but friendship can only carry someone so far. I reach out and squeeze her hand, comforting her. “You have been my friend, too. Thank you for making me feel like your equal in all ways. But now I must find my own path.”
She looks stricken, and I find it ironic that I’m comforting her even as I’m making the biggest decision of my life. Even now, my purpose seems to be to serve others. I bite back the stab of resentment that shoots through me, because Faith has been kind. She could have ordered me killed or sold off, but instead she’s befriended me. It’s not her fault that Aron fell in love with her. It’s not her fault that I’m simply looking to secure my future. So I give her hand a little shake. “I can see the guilt on your face. Don’t. I’m choosing this, just as you choose to be with Aron.”
And I don’t know if I’m convincing her or myself. Because the reality is that I’m utterly terrified…as much as I am resolute. I know this is the best path for me. A pretty face and a willing mouth only gets one so far, and both grow less appealing with age.
This is an opportunity not to be squandered.
Behind Faith, one of the Spidae extends his hand out to me in a silent invitation. The blue-eyed one. The dark-eyed one watches with a hungry, yearning sort of look, but he does not move, his hands tucked into his long sleeves. The other brother, the pale-eyed one, continues to toy with my braid, standing over me. I want to shout at him to step away, but one doesn’t shout at the gods. And if I go into this, I belong to him.
“If you’re sure,” Faith begins.
“I’m sure,” I say, my voice quavering. Am I trying to convince myself or her? But I take the pale hand extended out to me and step forward. The god’s grip is feverishly warm, but he clasps my hand in his and it doesn’t feel so terrible. We look like a study of contrast, he and I – me with dark, sun-warmed skin and chilled fingers, and him with burning skin and ice-cold looks. I say nothing as he draws me forward and then all three surround me.
I step forward into my new life.
Two
The tower swirls around me in a haze of mist, and my eyes unfocus. When they focus again, I’m in an entirely different place, a room covered in spiderwebs, but no door. There’s no window, either. It’s just shadowy and cool and remote.
A hint of terror curls in my belly.
The Spidae are still looming over me, the one toying with my braid as the other hovers far too close. The third one is behind me somewhere, but he’s not touching me, and for that I’m absurdly grateful. I can’t breathe. It’s too much too quick, and the fear I’ve been fighting bursts into full-blown panic.