Unlikely Bonds: A fated mates omegaverse Reverse Harem epic fantasy romance by Mona Black

Author:Mona Black
Language: eng
Format: epub

18

ARIADNE

“Make way!” a man shouts. “Make way for the Temple!”

Despite the lingering hunger in their eyes, the men and women gathering around us move back to clear a path. Flickering flames catch my eye and then I stare as a familiar scene unfolds before my eyes.

The theatrics of the Temple, turning every simple task and rite into a drama taken right off the stage, into a scene from mythology, from the ancient times when the gods walked the earth.

Two acolytes appear first, holding their torches high. They are girls, young and with that androgynous grace of early adolescence, their thin white dresses translucent, their hair loose on their shoulders.

They are followed by a group of acolytes, both boys and girls, dancing a night rite to all the gods and goddesses of the creation.

I remember that dance. I took part in such processions years ago, before I grew into a woman and the priests and priestesses turned to younger girls to train.

And following them is the Temple priest, come from the Summer Capital to officiate over the wedding ritual—something he obviously couldn’t do without an entourage. So humble of him.

Sarcastic, me? I suppose Finnen has been rubbing off on me.

In the same vein of humility, the priest is dressed in one of the fancier outfits I’ve ever seen, all gold and silver and black, a dazzling display from his silver satin shoes to his tall golden hat, eclipsing even the bride and groom on their very special day.

Then again, I was raised in an outpost, a country Temple. Not even our prelate wore garments this rich.

This priest is coming straight from the southern capital, carrying with him a whiff of luxury and importance a small Temple could never dream of competing with.

Strangely, though, he’s not alone in his glory.

A lady is standing by his side—no, not a lady, an acolyte, I think, too young to be a priestess and though her robes are rich, too, threaded with gold, they have the simple shape of a follower of a god or goddess, and…

I know her.

Goddess, I know her and I thought I’d never see her again, but here she is, staring right back at me. She’s stopped walking but the hatred flaring in her eyes is like a punch to my gut.

Ismere.

No.

I try to take a step back but there’s nowhere to go, nowhere to hide, and I’m too flummoxed and winded to move anyway.

What is she doing here? With the priest from the Summer Capital? Why would she be in the capital at all?

And that’s when it all falls into place and all my questions swoop back to hit me, answered, at last.

Yes, she’d been pleased when I was taken to the dungeons and later, when I was sent away to be executed. Whether she’d ever been my friend, that’s still not clear, but it doesn’t matter.

I know that she played a part in this, in my betrayal. Finnen’s, too, I think as her gaze swings to him, full of loathing.

She

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