Free Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin

in a night’s worth of sleep once the chores are done.”
    “Amen to that,” he murmured.
    BENEATH her hand, Kymora felt Varian still, even his breathing stopped. The crackling of the flames consuming the wood in the fire seemed amplified in the silence that stretched between them. Had her admission shocked him?
    Her heart ached at the scorn and contempt in his voice when he’d refuted her claim that the
Na’Chi
were a blessing. His aversion to religion made for some awkward moments, but most times with her he’d kept such conversations light, often giving her more latitude when it came to remonstrating him for his behavior. She wasn’t sure why he allowed that. Perhaps this time he’d lost patience.
    Giving him a more personal slant had been the right thing to do. Deep down she knew it, even if she’d erred in her timing. Ready to accept whatever his response might be, she lifted her chin. Her insides quivered as she struggled to keep her anxiety from showing on her face.
    “How am I a blessing?” Varian asked.
    Derision coated every word, the timbre of his voice harsh, but beneath it she detected the smallest quaver of hope. Against her fingertips, his heart pounded in his chest. Hers beat just as hard and fast as she tried to decide how to best answer his question. She exhaled, slowly and deeply.
    You’re my friend
hovered on her lips. She shook her head. Too shallow. He was a friend, but the connection between them was deepening. Other explanations flitted through her mind. None of those were appropriate, either. He deserved more than platitudes.
    Walk the path you start and discover the reward you seek at the end
.
    The passage of scripture surfaced amidst her thoughts.
Lady of Light
, how many times had she advised petitioners to speak the truth in their hearts when faced with a difficult situation?
    But should she? Her friendship with Varian was evolving; into what, she wasn’t sure. Certainly there was a growing empathy and respect for each another; it’d been there from their first meeting in the Temple. Now her feelings for him were becoming more complex, more profound, more sensual in nature.
    A small spark of excitement flared in her stomach. Was
this
the reason for her Fourth Journey? Many of her previous Journeys had focused on events in her life as the
Temple Elect
, so when the
Lady
had warned her to prepare for a change, she’d assumed this latest one would relate to it, too.
    Kymora reached for her amulet. She traced the wavy lines of the sun symbol. What if this Journey turned out to be more intimate in nature? What if her attraction to Varian resulted in something more than friendship?
    Should that happen, her actions would have wider implications beyond what unfolded between them. Her role as
Temple Elect
was so interwoven with her personal life, and vice versa, that sometimes separating the two wasn’t possible.
    Deep inside her, resentment flared.
    As a young acolyte, she’d taken on the position in ignorance. Time had shown her the delicate and often difficult juggling act that accompanied her role.
Mother
forgive her, but it proved a burden she still struggled with.
    “Handmaiden, your Fourth Journey begins soon. Don’t be afraid to take the path I’ve chosen for you.”
    The
Lady
had spoken those words to her just before she’d met Varian and he’d asked for sanctuary on behalf of the
Na’Chi
. Very rarely did
She
speak to a Handmaiden or Servant about their future. At the time, she’d believed the
Lady
had been warning her about the existence of the
Na’Chi
, certainly an unprecedented circumstance in human history.
    Had
She
been preparing her for this more personal experience instead? Kymora worried the edge of the amulet with her fingertips. Just once she wished she could make a decision based purely on what she wanted and not have to worry about how it would affect everyone else, yet in good conscience she couldn’t. Could she?
    Frustration burned in her