Priestess of Truth Read online

  I patted the leather bag containing Ma'at's offering, ensuring it was still safe. No one here would try and steal it. They all had far too much respect for the gods and their powers. But that didn't mean one of the unconnected humans crewing the boat wouldn't try. And I was sure that a solid gold feather would be quite the prize for anyone who could get their hands on it.

  "I did promise we'd meet again," a deep voice said from behind me.

  I turned slowly, knowing full well who I was about to find. "You did," I whispered.

  "I'm Menefer."

  "Edrice," I responded.

  "A beautiful name."

  "Thank you." I shifted from one foot to the other, not uncomfortable from his attention, just unused to it.

  "You're here representing Ma'at?" His amber eyes almost glowed in the dimming light.

  I frowned, pulling my eyebrows down to my nose. "Yes. I'm one of her priestesses. How did you..."

  "There's a golden feather on your robes." He touched the broach, which was sitting just above my breasts.

  I wasn't sure whether it was just me who found the act strangely intimate, or whether he felt the same way.

  "I'm here with an offering from Maahes," he offered. At least that meant I'd been right in my assumption. "Though it seems like I got the more complicated job." He gestured to the ornate spears he was carrying across his back.

  "It's a fitting tribute," I said awkwardly. I didn't want to insult him, but I knew nothing of war, nor about the god of it. Maahes and Ma'at hadn't crossed paths in many years, probably because none of the current conflicts in the world were under Maahes' control. But I knew they'd worked together before. Mostly when war and violence were the only ways of bringing about justice. Most of the time, it wasn't about that at all. Hence the two of them avoiding one another.

  "We have a long boat ride ahead; would you like to get a drink?"

  My reflex was to say no, but I caught myself, remembering what both Ma'at and the tarot reader had said. "That would be lovely, thank you." I flashed him a winning smile. If they were right, this could be the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and I wanted to start this off the right way.

  I laughed and took another sip of the sweet wine. The whole atmosphere around us was electric. Everyone was having a good time. Each and every person here was carrying some kind of offering for a bountiful year, and it was better that we brought them all with joy.

  "Do you want some more wine?" Menefer asked.

  I shook my head. "Anyone would think you were trying to get me drunk," I joked, knowing it wasn't true. I wasn't drunk. I wasn't even sure if I could get drunk. I'd never actually tried.

  His eyes widened, apparently startled by what I'd suggested.

  "I'm so sorry, it was a joke." I put a comforting hand on his arm, the gesture was both foreign and familiar. His eyes darted to where our bodies touched, drawing my attention there too. "Sorry, I..."

  I pulled my hand back, unable to explain what I'd done and why. I just had to hope he'd forgive me for being so forward.

  Menefer reached out and took my hand in his, entwining our fingers and bringing my hand to his lips. He kissed it, his lips lingering, perhaps for longer than they should, but I didn't care. Not with the thrills shooting through me at the small gesture.

  A blush rose to my cheeks, thankfully hidden by the tanned tone of my skin.

  "I just don't want you to think I'd force you into anything. I've been trying to pluck up the courage to talk to you for a couple of years."

  "Years?" I echoed. The concept didn't quite make sense to me. I'd noticed him several times and hadn't been able to keep my eyes off him. But I hadn't thought that meant something. I'd heard rumours that it was different for demi-gods who had the ability to shift into an animal form. It was something about the way man and beast mixed.

  "Yes."

  The one word told me all I needed to know. I could feel the truth of it. Not that I doubted him anyway. His eyes were filled with earnestness.

  "Why didn't you say anything before?" I asked, desperate to know what had been keeping him away.

  "I never had the chance to. I was only half certain which goddess you served, and the only times I saw you when we weren't at a formal event, you disappeared before I could talk to you. Unless Maahes had a reason to seek out Ma'at, it would have been slightly odd for me to turn up at the temple..."

  "All very valid points." I hadn't made myself very accessible on purpose, but now that seemed like it had been the wrong decision. "How far into the years did you know I was your soulmate?" I asked, the winemaking me bold, even if it wasn't making me drunk. Or maybe it wasn't the wine at all. It could just be the attention that was gave me the confidence I sometimes lacked.

  He chuckled. "The very first time."

  "But you didn't know me. You still don't," I pointed out.

  "Do I need to know you to know you're my soulmate?" he countered. "Isn't it something you feel deep down in your bones? You don't need to be told when something is right. It just feels right deep down."

  Truth. Every single word of it resonated as truth throughout my body and soul. Alongside it, the realisation that Ma'at and the tarot reader had been right. I needed to be true to my heart and give in to the connection I was faced with.

  I put my goblet down and stepped forward, closing the remaining gap between us. He licked his lips, and I caught myself doing the same. We both wanted this and there was nothing wrong with taking it.

  Truth.

  My eyes fluttered closed as his lips met mine. His kiss was soft at first, steadily growing more demanding as he realised I was responding to him. Menefer's arm slipped around my waist, pulling me closer and leaving me flush against his chest. Not that I minded. This was a perfect place to be, in my mind.

  I rested one of my hands on his chest, and threaded the fingers of my other into his hair, controlling his movements and deepening our kiss. This felt so right that it couldn't be wrong.

  We broke apart, both breathing heavily and stared into one another's eyes.

  "I'm glad we finally did that," Menefer whispered.

  "Me too," I whispered, knowing I'd found my truth. This was my future, and no one could take that from me.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later...

  We approached the altar, each carrying an offering from our gods. I hadn't been that surprised when Ma'at had insisted I was the one to take her offering again this year. Nor was I surprised that Maahes had asked Menefer to take his. If I hadn't known better, I might even have suspected that the two of them hatched the plan together. Though I'd never dare say that in front of either of them.

  I placed the golden feather on the altar at the same time as Menefer placed down an intricately painted shield. I wasn't sure why Ma'at had sent the same thing, while Maahes hadn't, but it wasn't my place to ask those questions. I wasn't a High Priestess and didn't have the ear of a deity, even if she did seem to trust me with important tasks like this one.

  We dipped our heads to the priests, before retaking our places among the rest of the congregation. There wasn't much more to this ceremony than we'd already done, but it was polite to wait until everyone had laid down their offerings.

  Menefer slipped his hand into mine and gave it a squeeze. "I got word just before we left. They've finished our new quarters for us." He kept his voice low so we didn't disturb anyone else.

  "They have?" The question slipped out before I really thought about it. I already knew he was telling me the truth.

  "Yes. We can move in as soon as we get back."

  Joy surged through me. As much as I loved living with Ma'at's other priestesses, I was looking forward to more privacy with my lion shifting demigod. He'd promised me he would show me his animal form when we had space. Something I was particularly excited about.

  "Ma'at has said she should be able to get us a wedding soon. If that's what we want." I'd been nervous about telling him that. Mostly because I hadn't actual
ly asked the goddess to organise it for me, she'd just taken it upon herself to tell me.

  "Is it something you want?"

  I nodded. I wouldn't have told him if it wasn't, and he was well aware of that.

  "Then by all means, take her up on it. I can't wait to be bonded with you for life."

  The corners of my eyes crinkled. I hadn't believed I'd ever be this happy. And yet, I had everything I'd dreamed of and more.

  "I can't wait either," I responded, basking in the joy of our two truths.

  I'd found the person I was going to spend my life with. The love of my life. My soulmate. It was so perfect, nothing could destroy it. Once we got back to the temple, the rest of our life would truly begin. And I had one spur of the moment trip to a tarot reader to thank for that. Along with a little intervention from my goddess. I did sometimes wonder if the two people had been linked, but I'd resigned myself to never knowing.

  Ultimately, it didn't matter to me. So long as I had Menefer and our happy ending.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Priestess of Truth. If you want to read more from the world, you can start with Protectors Of Poison: http://books2read.com/protectorsofpoison or get the entire Forgotten Gods series in one boxed set: http://books2read.com/forgottengods

  Also by Laura Greenwood

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