Wake the Gods (Dying Gods Book 3) by Elisha Kemp

Author:Elisha Kemp [Kemp, Elisha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Kitanetos

My goddess is a wild, beautiful thing when she dances.

It’s not just her graceful movements, timed perfectly with the beat of the drums. Not just the way her movement seems to highlight the curve of her ass, the perfect shape of her breasts, the dip of her hips.

No, it’s her face. The way she smiles, her eyes glowing with more than just firelight. The way her skin glitters, pulse fluttering, lips parting with exhilaration.

I know others see it too.

“They say she is Astarte born again,” someone says, the words slurring and half hushed, as if the speaker intended them to be a whisper, but had drunk too much blue lily wine.

“I heard she called up a storm when they were at sea, on their way from Crete.”

“Impossible.”

“No, it’s true,” a woman says. “I met with one of the seafarers in Astarte’s temple the other day. And he said he saw her face Poteiden himself.”

Someone gives a derisive scoff. “If she is a goddess, then why is she letting Kitanetos court her?”

It’s a masculine voice this time, though I don’t recognize the speaker. My cheeks heat at the sound of my name, but I don’t dare turn around. Instead, I keep my post by the brazier, my eyes fixed unseeingly on the dancers, my back to the whispering crowd.

“He’s an oath breaker, without men, without ships. And, after failing to pledge himself to the Minas Crete, completely without honor. No woman of worth would accept him.”

“She’s already allowed Jadikira to pledge himself to her,” the woman says, tone dripping with disdain. “The master killer. The Death Bringer.”

My spine stiffens. It’s something I would have said myself only a few moon cycles ago. The thought has my ire turned inwards, even as it’s almost impossible not to turn and say something to these ignorant fools.

Only, we aren’t supposed to draw attention to ourselves tonight. Don’t make Adrienne a target, Jadi had said. And, whatever my concerns about him might have been before, I know without a doubt that he will always put Adrienne’s safety first.

“I think she is a fraud,” the man says. “I think it’s all a ploy for Kitanetos to save face. The precious son of the Minas Thera. And you know what–I bet the Minas Thera will let him get away with it too.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, nostrils flaring wide, anger burning like Velchanos’ lifeblood in my veins. The heat of it makes the fire in the brazier next to me seem cool, and I have to take several long breaths to tamp it down.

I’ve only let that fire burn a handful of times, and it’s never been without its cost.

“The high priestess for Astarte thinks we should have a trial. A test, to see if she is what she says,” another man says.

The fire within me thrums, violent and demanding. I clench my teeth. I should move away. Should put space between myself and their idle gossip. They aren’t important. They can’t do anything.

“But–isn’t it unwise to test the gods?” the woman asks.

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