There is a line to the temple that wraps around the building and down the streets, despite the multiple warnings that the temple will see no one if they do not have a sizeable donation. The sun is just peeking past the clouds and warming the day with its rays. The smell of freshly baked bread spreads as far as the forest. There is chatter, some hopeful, and others distraught. I stretch my leg out along the tree branch and lean back against the truck. Sleep eluded me st night. It was difficult with how restless Megan was. She spent most of the night tossing and turning. Not even my arms were enough to soothe her.

  The faster we depart from this pce, the better. I do not care for how it is affecting my mate. I watch the line of citizens for a moment longer before jumping down from the tree. It is as Zika spoke; the temple is crawling with guards during the day. The wards glow, an eerie green like that of a poisonous toad, but every so often, the glow flickers, and the wards go down. It sts for less than a minute.

  The temple is losing power, and the citizens of the capital are too x to notice. They have grown used to the comforts of having everything at their fingertips. Too used to the peace. It is only a matter of time before that power runs out and the capital is overrun with the monsters they once kept at bay. I gnce back at the balcony where I met the saintess, but there is no one there. Not even a shadow. The door remains closed with a curtain pulled closed. Perhaps she is busy being propped up like a puppet, doing the bidding of those in charge.

  Unease coils around me. No, this feeling is guilt. Should I have taken the saintess to Zika? It is obvious to me that she does not belong to this world, but if I had taken her to Zika, then what?

  I turn away and head back to the inn. Dwelling on the past will not help me. Kidnapping the saintess from the temple will send the capital into chaos. It is not something I can decide on my own. There are others I must consider now, though I know what Megan’s answer will be. Her heart is rge, and she is the type to give her st if it would bring someone else’s happiness. I shake my head and push open the door. The first scent to greet me is blood. Megan gnces at me from her pce in the tub while Apollo lies on the bed. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun, with curls sticking every which way.

  “Are you hurt?” I sniff. It is not a rge amount of blood, but I do not care for it either way. There are no signs of a struggle. Megan does not look upset or fearful. Did she cut herself on the dagger? “I smell your blood.” Did Apollo do something? No, that is not right. If he had, then the fight would have stained the floors.

  “Oh? You can smell that?” She frowns. “It’s just my menstrual... I don’t have anything for it.”

  Her what?

  Megan rolls her eyes. “I’m human, so I bleed every month. I need like a pad or a cloth for the blood so I’m not ruining my clothes. There should be human shops here, right? They probably have something I can use. Be nice to buy a lot of it, just in case.”

  “And you go through this every month. Why?” I sit next to the tub and look up at her. I was not gone that long. She was not hurt when I left.

  “Long story short, because I’m not pregnant. There’s some other expnation, but I don’t think it really matters.” She rests her head on her arm and traces the shell of my ear with her other hand. “I’m not hurt. It’s just something humans go through before ovution. Guessing it’s not common for demons?”

  “Female foxes go into heat, but there is no scent of blood that accompanies them when they do. I will send Katsuro and Chloe to gather these supplies you require before we head off to the temple. The line is quite long, so we will want to make haste so we are not wasting the entire day standing in line.”

  “Line? Is that where you disappeared to?”

  “I was curious about the wards. There is more security during the day than at night.” I press my head closer to the cool porcein of the tub, giving Megan easier access to my ears. Her touch is soothing. “The capital is silent at night. It was not like this in the past.”

  “Makes sense to have more security during the day if there is already a line to meet with the saintess or whoever there. Most people sleep at night.”

  “Bat demons do not.”

  Megan spshes water on me and turns her back. “Ha Ha. You know what I mean, most are asleep at night. They must experience more erratic behaviors during the day for them to focus most of their efforts during the morning than at night when people are up to no good.”

  “How long do you pn to soak in the tub?” I drag my hand down my face and flick the excess water away. If I join her, then we will end up wasting another day here.

  “Until Chloe comes back with the goods. Just tell her I need feminine products, and she’ll figure it out.”

  “And you are fertile every month?”

  “Is that what you got out of everything I said?”

  “It is a valid question. More things to consider before we make our way back to the vilge. I would prefer to keep trips to the capital to a minimum, considering the state of things.” I stand and crack my neck. Apollo does not move from his spot on the bed. His breathing is heavier than normal. This must be too much for a kelpie or too much for him. I have no idea how old Apollo is or just how much he can handle. In the dungeon, he was immune to death through normal means, but out here, he is not nearly as strong. “I will let Katsuro know of what we need, and I will return shortly. Do you wish to eat in here?”

  “Depends. Does the menu have anything sweet at this hour?” She turns, so she is facing me fully, and leans over the tub. “Apollo needs more protein. I think maintaining his illusion is taking a toll on his body.”

  “Wait here. Do not open this door for anyone. I will return shortly.”

  ***

  “So, people stand in this line only to get turned away?” Megan asks. “Just how big of a donation do they need?” She pces her hand over her forehead, blocking out the sun. Her hair is braided into two braids with green ribbons at the ends. Her bck pants are loose at the ends, but fitted around her hips.

  In front of the line, a couple causes a scene. They scream and try to rush the guards, demanding an audience with the saintess. I reach for Megan’s hand, not to comfort her, but to keep her from doing anything rash. She gets far too worked up about matters that do not concern us.

  “Leave it.”

  “Roharu, they—”

  I st my gaze at her. “We can get turned away or we can remain silent and make our donation. I am fine with returning to the inn.”

  She blows out a breath and frowns. We stand out enough as it is, even with the diverseness of the capital. Other races, more commonly elves, will branch out and mingle with others, but humans are notorious for sticking to their own kinds.

  “I’ll keep quiet, but I don’t like it. Isn’t the temple like a church? They’re not supposed to turn people away.”

  But who would stop them?

  She leans in closer and lowers her voice. “Aren’t there like lords or someone in charge of the country? Couldn’t they step in and do something?”

  I rub my temple and close my eyes. Coming here was a mistake. I should have never opened my mouth and suggested we come here. What a fool I am. Megan pokes my side.

  “Standing in line is not the pce to discuss such matters.”

  “So, there is someone else in charge.”

  I will not be swayed by my mate’s wishes. Investigating the temple is one thing as they could potentially come after Megan for her power, but involving the royals is another matter. I refuse.

  The line continues to move, with more being turned away and the occasional citizen being allowed access. It would be better to simply have the citizens send in letters. At least they could cling to the false hope that their prayers will be answered. The guards stand on either side of the door with their hands posed over their swords.

  “What’s the py, Fox?”

  I keep my attention focused on the guards in front of us. “We are simply here to pay our respects.” The closer we approach the entrance, the stronger the unease grows. What if they take one look at Megan and know what she is? Perhaps I should have insisted on Apollo coming with instead of resting in the inn.

  No, he would not have done well here in this line. It is because he is a beast that he struggles. The wards, while weak, may have been enough to cause him to lose reason.

  “And to see the saintess if they will allow it.”

  The citizens in front of us, a pair of bird demons, squeak in anger as they are turned away. They fp their wings, sending feathers through the air. I let Megan’s hand go in favor of wrapping my arm around her waist. The guards shove the demons away and then stare at me, waiting for a word.

  “100 thi donation for the four of us.” I motion to Katsuro and Chloe behind me. The guards, a pair of cat demons, nod their heads and step aside, motioning for us to go through the doors. I wonder what happens if someone goes through the doors and does not follow through on the donation amount.

  Off to the side is the staircase that leads to the higher levels. There are guards, archers, stationed along the railing. Is this a temple or a prison? Even the air smells stale despite the hundreds of candles lit around the rge statue of the god Oeus, the one responsible for good fortune and peace. A human male greets us. He wears a rge white hat that is half as tall as he. The symbols glow green like that of the wards outside. His smile does not quite reach his dull brown eyes, and there is a stiffness about him I cannot pce.

  As if his movements are being controlled by someone else.

  “Your donation, please.” He holds a box out with it opened to receive the donation. He does not greet us. Does not inquire what it is that we need. Why does the temple need so much coin? Do they seek to go against the royal family then? I reach for my bag and deposit the amount promised.

  My head throbs. If my intuition is right, then this turning out to be a bigger mess than I anticipated.

  “We wish to speak with the saintess to ask for her blessing.”

  The man regards us with an air of indifference. He closes the box with a snap and then gnces at Megan. His lips twitch downward with disapproval. “The saintess does not meet with just anyone,” he says after a moment. “You may meet with her attendant, and they will rey the message if it is suitable.”

  Katsuro growls.

  I hold up a hand. “That will be sufficient. We understand the saintess is in high demand.”

  The man’s jaw clenches and then he turns on his heel with a flourish. His cape fps behind him as he leads us further into the temple and away from the stairs. I am sure the saintess is up in her room, possibly locked away during the day. The door sms shut behind us. The sound ominous.

  There is no going back.

  AutumnBanks

  Thanks for reading! Hope you have an amazing New Year.