Desiree tilted Teddy’s chin up into a slash of moonlight. “Less humor in the eyes, though. That must come from your mother’s side. What does a young, handsome prince have to be so serious about?” Her eyes slid to Grace, who still had her face cast down toward the floor in reverence. “Lady Farlan, you may rise.”
Grace rose to her feet, her eyes wide.
Desiree smiled and brushed a hand over Grace’s cheek. “Long ago I blessed the Brett line with beauty. Your mother made good use of it. Seems you’ve done the same.”
Grace nodded emphatically. “Of course, goddess.”
Satisfied with their deference, Desiree turned her attention to theend of the line, where Stella stood bouncing on her toes, a wide smile on her face.
“There’s my beautiful girl.” Desiree held out her arms and everyone in the room held their collective breaths as Stella threw herself at the goddess.
“It’s been too long,” the goddess said, pulling back to look at Stella’s face. “Have you seen your other aunties? Am I still your favorite?”
Stella grinned. “Of course you are.”
Desiree looked over her shoulder. “And who have you brought me?”
Stella waved Arden forward. He bowed his head to the goddess.
Desiree pursed her lips. “Ah, I see.”
Teddy waited for her to say more, but her smile morphed from welcoming to playful before she turned and walked back to the center of the room.
Stella and Arden returned to their place in the line of lovers. The curved shape of the temple meant that Teddy could see almost everyone who was present and he was relieved when he didn’t recognize a single face in the group aside from Arden and Stella. Hopefully that meant no one would recognize him and this would stay a secret for now.
Desiree spun in a circle at the center of the room and clapped her hands. “Yes, yes. You’re all humble subjects, but please rise. We have quite a crowd tonight and I want to be certain I get a good look at all of you. I appreciate you all being here this evening and offering up your blood in exchange for my vision. Because I can’t hold my physical form in this realm long, I will bless my priestesses with my vision for tonight’s event, but I will be watching and guiding you as your bonds are formed.”
The room filled with the potent scent of crushed rose petals, and the priestesses in pink robes moved toward the center of the room. The goddess touched each one of them on their foreheads and, one by one, they returned to their section of the room.
Teddy watched as one of them spoke in quiet tones to a couple. She stared at them for a long moment, then took each of theirhands. Her eyes seemed to glow momentarily. Then she dropped their hands and shook her head. The man and woman looked crestfallen, but another priestess quickly came to escort them from the room.
Teddy stared after the retreating couple. His stomach flipped. In a moment, their dreams had been dashed.
A thrilled squeal on the other side of the temple drew his gaze. A short red-haired woman and a tall, lanky hunter were hugging each other tightly, a priestess standing back and smiling serenely at them.
The joy of their union bolstered Teddy. That would be him and Grace, just as soon as it was their turn. He was certain of so few things, but that was something he knew down to his bones. The priestess nearest them was busy with another couple, so Teddy took his time assessing the space. It was an old hunter’s habit drilled into him by his parents and Isla.
Always know all the exits in a room. Always have a plan for the easiest way to fight your way out. Never let your guard down.
The closest exit was behind a large flower-covered altar. He didn’t know where the doorway led—likely to the private residence of the priestesses.
There was also the exit on the far side of the room that led to the swimming hole and waterfall outside, and the hallway they’d entered through, which was the most likely place an attacker would enter. Teddy kept his eyes trained there. It settled his mind to have something to do.
A man rounded the corner, striding across the temple with purpose. Teddy brought his hand to the dagger at his hip. There was no telling what kind of trouble a hunter might want to start in this temple, but Teddy was ready to spring into action.
The man came to a stop on the far side of the room in front of a petite, dark-haired woman. She stared at him, wide-eyed, and Teddy took a step in their direction. Then, the woman threw herself into the man’s arms and he spun her in a circle.
Teddy relaxed and blew out a breath.
Hushed whispers broke out to his left.
“No, you don’t understand. Goddess, please. You’re making a mistake. He’s here with me.”
Teddy turned toward Stella’s voice.
The goddess clicked her tongue. “Ah, my darling. He is meant to be here. Just not with you.”
Teddy sucked in a breath at the brutal, casual tone of the goddess’s voice. It was in such stark contrast to the devastation on Stella’s face.
