Rezal showed up with our food before Gesai could reply.

  We spent the next twenty minutes eating in silence. I could see the wheels turning behind Gesai’s green eyes as she thought about the offer. On one hand, I knew it was everything that Gesai had ever dreamed of, to be a part of a Dungeon party that pushed as deep into the Dungeon as they could go. On the other, I couldn’t see her leaving our party.

  “Well!” Celia slapped the table with her hands and stood up. “I think we need to get back. Savyn, go get the car started while I collect rocks-for-brains over here.” She bent over and tossed Gileon over his shoulder like he weighed nothing. She turned to Gesai. “Think about what I said. You can give me your answer tomorrow at the Cathedral.” She glanced around the room, then lowered her voice. “Trent might trust Mavery, but that doesn’t mean you should trust everyone from the Temple. Remember that.”

  I watched her walk away without saying another word. Once she was out of the room, I turned to Gesai. “You’re not thinking about it, are you?”

  Gesai’s silver skin paled as she looked down at her hands. “I mean, yeah, I’m thinking about it.” She looked up at the ceiling. “It’s hard not to think about it.”

  “But you’re not going to do it, right?” Aelin glanced at the door, then back at our teacher.

  “She’s not wrong about the Temple.” Gesai sighed. “We know the Temple in Mive sold us out and Rix just had a problem with a Priest who was part of the Judas.” She shrugged. “I don’t know of any other organization that would accept me and let me keep my job working with Trent.”

  I snapped my fingers. “Can’t Trent back you?”

  “Trent never registered a family organization once he left adventuring.” Gesai shook her head. “He signed with the Temple once he got back from his accident.”

  “What about your dad?” Justia looked at Gesai. “You’re the heir now, so wouldn’t it be a bad look if you signed with the Temple or the Taray’s?”

  “The declarations aren’t permanent and you can easily be dropped if you cause too much trouble, which will keep you from being able to travel.” Gesai shrugged. “There are lots of people who will sign with a group like hers to push their levels, then go back to their own family and take the top seat.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Oh…” I glanced at the other women at the table.

  “Say something.” Ether hissed under her breath.

  “If you want to do it, I won’t tell you not to—”

  Ether and Aelin both kicked me under the table.

  “OW!” I glared at the woman on my left. “I wasn’t finished!”

  “Then lead with the other part first!” Aelin scooted lower in her seat.

  “I’m… OKAY!” I scooted my chair back, out of the range of her feet. I turned to Gesai. “I don’t want you to leave, but I won’t stop you if you want to.” I turned to Aelin. “Happy?”

  “Nope.” Aelin shook her head as she sat up in her chair. “You should have said you want her to stay and have your babies and—”

  “Aelin!” I sighed. “Never mind, that’s on brand for you.” I looked at the woman on my right, who was almost as white as my skin. Her blood ran white, so the more embarrassed she got, the paler she became. My own blood was black, which made my white skin turn darker the more flushed I became.

  “Gesai…” I started to take her hand but remembered the night before, so I simply slipped mine over hers. “Aelin has baby fever; you can ignore her.” I saw Aelin stick her tongue out at me out of the corner of my eye. “Trent trusts Celia too, so I’m sure he’ll support you if you want to take this opportunity. And I know we can’t be together because of the difference in our levels, but…” I ran my hand up the elbow-length lacy glove. Gloves that she wore to cover the scars she’d earned while killing Sipher. “Just don’t think that doesn’t mean that we don’t treasure you.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes, then Gesai pushed her chair away from the table and stood up.

  “I’m going to go wait in the RV.” She nodded and walked away.

  “What did I say?” I looked at the others.

  “You reminded her of how long it’s going to be before the two of you can get together.” Justia sighed. “And who knows how fast you’ll eclipse her in power once you start power leveling. Then the roles will be reversed and you’ll still not get to be together.”

  I swallowed. “I hadn’t thought about that…” I looked around the table. “Is this something that people have talked about?”

  Every one of the women nodded.

  “I…” I thought about Oz and Ren. Ether would be able to keep up with my stats and strength now, but neither of them had divine heritage. It wouldn’t be until after we graduated, but eventually, I’d eclipse both of them. I shook my head. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

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