“Don’t move,” the Maha said, and both Mehr and Amun froze as he reached for Mehr’s chin and tilted her head up. From a distance his eyes were the light hazel of Ambhan nobility, but this close Mehr could see that the dark pupils of his eyes had points of light within them, light as sharp and jagged as shattered glass.

Whatever the Maha was, he was not entirely human. Mehr was sure of that.

“You have the Amrithi look,” he said, tilting her head to the side for a closer inspection. Mehr’s skin burned where he touched it. “Once there were many of your ilk among us. But there are so few of you now, and still so much work left to be done.” He paused, looking at her. “You will need to learn quickly.”

“She already knows a little,” Amun said. “She’s teachable.”

“Good.” He released her. “A storm will be upon us soon. Make sure she knows her duties before then.”

“Maha.”

Mehr thought he would let them leave. Instead the Maha turned his attention on her again, gaze intent.

“Are you glad to be among us, Mehr?” he asked, his voice dangerously kind. “Does it please you to serve the Empire? Speak truthfully.”

“No,” said Mehr. “I’m afraid.” In horror, she smacked a hand over her mouth to stop herself from speaking on. She hadn’t intended to be truthful. She’d had no choice.

“The fear you feel is simply the first step toward awe,” the Maha said gently. “And awe is what is required for true worship. Embrace it. Let it subsume you, and you will learn your place.”

The Maha brushed a hand over her head, smoothing her tangled hair. Mehr held her breath. Held still.

“Yes,” he said tenderly. “I do believe you’ll learn soon enough.”

He spoke as if he could transform her feelings along with her will, as if he could make her fear turn into awe, reshaping her nature to his whims. In that moment, staring into the refracted light of his eyes, Mehr’s fear deepened and grew, stretching its dark limbs. She was afraid that he could.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Amun took Mehr to his room. It was high in one of the temple’s many spires, a circular room with windows on all sides. When they entered, Amun unbarred the shutters, letting in the vast blue of the sky. Mehr waited for him to finish, then walked over to the nearest window. She leaned out and held her face to the sun. There was no perforated screen to hold her back; she could lean out unimpeded. She drew in deep lungfuls of air, one after the other, trying to calm the panicked beat of her heart.