“You’ve read my soul, you know I’ve nowhere else to go.”

True, and if he saw the destruction the Heliacal Priestess caused, it might help him with his decision. She pulled the key to the cuff around Jayden’s ankle from her pocket.

“Don’t try anything, or I won’t pull my punches this time,” she said as she moved closer to him.

“Of all your skills, your fists are the least of my worries,” he said with a grin. “Don’t forget, I’ve a hard head.”

“I didn’t forget. My elbow still hurts,” she mock-grumbled as she freed him from the chain. Shyla braced for his reaction, but he only rubbed the raw flesh around his ankle.

Then he straightened and said, “Where to?”

“Where else? Level ninety-seven.”

She led him through the city. Keeping to the edges out of habit, she wondered when she’d be comfortable in crowded, public places. Perhaps never, or perhaps when the people embraced their new sun-kissed priestess.

Only two guards watched the entrance to the complex.

“Any trouble?” she asked them.

“A contingent of elders from the wealthy families has demanded to speak to the person in charge,” the man on the left reported.

That didn’t take long. “What did you do?”

“We reported it to Captain Rendor, and he escorted them to Hanif.”

“How long ago?”

“Ten, maybe twelve angles.”

“Thanks.”

She hurried through the door with Jayden right behind her. The meeting would not go well and she needed to be there to help Hanif. But where should she take Jayden? Perhaps Gurice was in their conference room. Shyla spotted Mojag instead.

“Mojag,” she called.

He turned and froze when he spotted Jayden.

“Hi, Mojag,” Jayden said.

Ignoring Jayden, Mojag gazed at her, his expression as hard as stone. “Do you need something, Shyla?” His words were clipped with anger. Mojag had been the only one who disagreed about Jayden.

Oh boy. “Can you take Jayden to one of the empty guest suites? I need to rescue Hanif from a bunch of entitled elitists.”

“That traitor is dead. Excuse me, but my darling sister has assigned me to rubble clean-up duty.” He left without glancing at Jayden.

Wow. She didn’t need to read Jayden’s soul to know that Mojag’s comment had to hurt him like a knife thrust into his heart.

“That’s—”

“All my fault,” Jayden said, staring at Mojag’s retreating form. “And something I’m going to have to get used to.” He turned to her. “Do you have someplace I can get cleaned up? I’m going to join that meeting.”

“Does this mean you’ve made your decision?”

“Yes. I’ll sacrifice my magic to become the Water Prince of Zirdai.”

“I thought you needed time to think about it.”

“I’m doing it for Mojag.”

“He might never forgive you.”