Free Pleasure's Offering by Moira Sutton

“Dezira’s magic is powerful, especially when there’s so much lust here already.”
    Jeric looked down at the captain, still pale as death, stretched out on the bed and Zoa bit her lip as she saw him put the pieces together.
    “No,” she said before he could speak. “This was my fault, not yours. I was sent here to bring you into your power and guide you, and I failed.” She looked at Izar and gave a solemn bow from the waist. “I am sorry, Captain Izar. Because of my negligence, you were put in danger.”
    Izar glanced at her, and then, to her complete surprise, he began to laugh. The laughs were short and breathy, as though they hurt him, but his pale face was split with an enormous grin. “I don’t even want to hear it,” he said, slurring the words like a drunk. “Don’t you ever apologize for something that amazing.”
    “This is nothing to make light of,” Zoa said, crossing her arms with an annoyed look. “You could have died.”
    That only made the captain laugh harder still until he was wincing from the pain of it. “Lady,” he said at last. “I would count my life well given to go out like that.”
    “Don’t say that, sir,” Jeric said. “I could have—”
    “Enough,” Izar said. “Didn’t I just tell you? Nothing to apologize for. Now,” he said, glaring at both of them. “Why don’t you explain exactly what the hell happened in words I can understand.”
    Zoa nodded and raised her fingers to her forehead. The moment she touched it, her white moon lit up like a lamp, filling the dim room with radiance. “I am Zoa Ionera,” she said. “No city courtesan, as Rosa told you, but an Avatar of Dezira.”
    Izar’s dazed eyes widened. “A godtouched?” he whispered. “ Here? ”
    “I was sent here to find one of our Own and bring him into the goddess’s hands,” Zoa said, glancing at Jeric. He caught the hint and touched his own forehead. The moment his fingers brushed the skin, his mark blazed to life, a blinding white crescent rich with power. It was so bright, even Jeric winced a little before he hid it again. For his part, Izar was staring at his lieutenant as if Jeric had just grown a second head.
    “You’re one too?” he nearly shouted, his voice hurt and reproachful.
    “I didn’t know until last night!” Jeric protested.
    “He didn’t,” Zoa said, backing him up. She reached out to take Izar’s hand. “I came here specifically to find him. Now that he’s awakened, we must return to the Imperial Capital.”
    “What?” Jeric said, jerking away from her. “But, my duties—”
    “Forget them,” Izar said with a sigh, closing his eyes. “An Avatar,” he muttered. “In my Legion, and of Dezira to boot. Doesn’t that just burn all? I thought I’d at least get a Chosen of the Great Sun with all the heroics going on.”
    Zoa bristled. “Dezira is not a goddess to be underestimated.”
    “Peace, Chosen,” Izar said, grinning weakly. “I meant no offense. Honestly, after this morning and last night, I’m ready to take my oaths as a follower of Dezira myself.” He opened his eyes again and his face broke into an enormous smile. “You know what this means, right? I’ve had two of the Moon’s Own at the same time. Twice even! Most men would sell their own mothers for one night with an Avatar and I got you both.” He began to laugh again. “I’m almost sad you didn’t kill me. Life’s going to be nothing but disappointment after this.”
    “Captain,” Jeric said warningly. “This is nothing to make jokes about. I really did nearly kill you.” He looked at Zoa, his face desperate. “You’ll teach me how to control it, right?”
    “Yes,” Zoa said. “I’ll be with you until we get to the temple in the Capital.”
    Jeric shook his head. “I can’t just pick up and leave,” he said. “Do you know how hard I worked to get this position? Izar’s the best in the Legion. Making second under him was a dream come true. I can’t just—”
    He