20. Chapter Twenty #3
“When Porter died, I had my suspicions, but I couldn’t prove anything.
It was little things, things that didn’t add up.
But he was my dearest friend, and the godfather to Melrose.
I was torn between the obvious signs Avaris was trying to show me and my heart, desperate not to lose another person.
Thus why I followed her vision out to the temple; I had to be sure.
I found the body and the candle, all evidence of his crimes.
Then to return to the Cathedral in disarray, he claimed there was an attack.
I knew what happened before Melrose arrived.
Janus, even before his prime, could make ruffians think twice of attacking him.
Much less in a garden. I simply needed to find Melrose first before accusing him. ”
I nodded, dropping my attention to my knotted fingers.
Letting the information absorb into my body was hard.
Janus was my mentor. He raised me. He also pit me against the others.
He made it hard to see other clerics as anything other than competition.
I needed to be the best. The hardest working.
Perfect. If I wasn’t, then I wasn’t worth the faith he put in me.
Something moved and I picked up my chin in time to witness Melrose climb out of her father’s arms. I sat back instinctively as she crawled into mine.
She smiled at me, and I realized how far out of the bag this particular cat got.
I paled, glancing at Leonardo. Melrose curled up in my arms, head nestled on my shoulder.
Her hooves delicately dangled off the side of the chair.
Warmth seeping into my chest, she eased every inch of tension in my body and caused my heart to race at the same time.
Leonardo smiled. “I was wondering how you got my fiery, tempestuous daughter to behave with a single look.”
Melrose scoffed, but my beloved never stopped smiling.
Ruby painted her cheeks as her fingers fiddled with the fabric of my robes.
My heart fluttered in tandem to her finger’s swirling.
She peaked up through her eyelashes and I was in love all over again.
We’re being brave. We’re not ignoring Our Lady’s blessings. We’re…I am in love with Melrose.
“Sir, I really wish I could explain,” my voice trickled out of my mouth, wavering with nerves.
Despite what Delainey said or that Melrose physically protected me, I saw what he did to Janus.
I replayed the rage in his face. But, in that moment, I leveled my gaze on him and heard Melrose in my head.
Coward. I took a deep breath in. Coward.
I’d been a spineless fool before—Looking her in the eyes and lying to her face, saying that our dalliance meant nothing, it stung.
It dug a trench in my chest that hadn’t healed.
Then in the courtyard, Melrose was the brave woman who held a bowl over me, protecting me from the venom the best she could.
The least I could do was be worthy of her strength.
Worthy of her heart. “But I have been in love with your daughter for the last six years and I cannot suffer another day where I do not admit that to myself. Let alone you, sir.”
Leonardo chuckled, nodding his head slowly. I wrapped my arms around her in finality. This was me; this was my life, this was my devotion to the goddess. I loved Melrose St. Augustine, and I wasn’t about to let fear of repercussion stop me.
“I’m glad you too have finally accepted Avaris’ guiding touch and seen the truth.”
“Pardon?” I blurted out.
“Keida, you are a wonderful cleric, a powerful friend, and an even better ally. You are terrible at hiding your intentions. You think I don’t know pining when I see it?
You couldn’t have been more obvious than I when I first met my late wife.
When she walks by, you follow her with your eyes.
I’ve known your intentions for a long time, Keida of the Frost. Now, the question is how deep do those intentions go? ”
“What do you mean?” I curled my fingers around the woman in my arms. My intentions went to the bone. They were a part of my veins! She was blood pumping through me.
“I will need to appoint a Cardinal to the temple in the mountains. Historically, the Lunar Cleric from the Cathedral is considered first. But as I am Hierophant Rex, I am commanding you now, you will not leave with my daughter.”
“Papa!” Melrose scoffed, sitting up sharply.
“My church, my rules, Melrose!” Leonardo scoffed.
“Sir,” I opened my mouth only to stop. So, it is true. If I love Melrose, I can never climb the ladder in the order. And yet, that didn’t stop me from gazing at Melrose, eyes full of dreamy delight. I do not need position. I like where I am right now.
My troublemaker had a point. Why would I leave the life I have, the one I love and enjoy, for another just because of the promise of a ‘better life’. I have a better life right here.
“I would like to kindly decline your offer of Cardinal. I think Our Lady Avaris has seen to cement me here, in The Cathedral, where I am needed. Where my heart is.” I spared a kiss to Melrose’ heated cheek.
Her shoulders melted. Honey orbs searching my face, she inspected me for any speck of doubt. There was none. Not anymore.
“Let it be done.” Leonardo slapped a palm against his desk. “Now, who is hungry? All this official Hierophant Rex business has robbed me of my proper snacking time.”
Melrose snorted, rolling her eyes. She scrambled out of my hands to scold her father for his need to snack at all hours of the day. But I couldn’t find any other words, not as her hand found mine and dragged me up to her side. Exactly where I belonged.
My Lady Avaris preserve me…I’m going to love this woman to my grave.