Page 80 of As Above, So Below

“Of course. You’re more than welcome,” Eve says softly.

She looks at me with pity in her stare, and it forces me to look away.

“What is the Abyssal? And why would you be offered as a prize?” Aenwyn asks, her voice low.

The question earns her the sharp stares from everyone at the table. She recoils, pulling back in her seat.

“Forget I asked,” she relents, eyes wide.

Eve clears her throat. “I’ll swing by your room and grab you after night prayer.”

“What should I expect?” I ask, sweeping past the tension now looming over the table.

“Well, it will be at The Lioness,” Eve begins, drawing small circles in the condensation on her glass of water. “Tarron will draw a large crowd. He’s from Ollora but has been in Aeros for the last year.People are excited to see him.”

“You know him?” I ask.

“We grew up together. I used to kick his ass around the yard as kids.” She laughs, shaking her head. “Now he gets paid to fight and I’m… here.” She gestures ambiguously with a shrug.

Cora leans against Eve, hugging her arm. “We won’t always be here,” she says softly.

Words of encouragement, I realize. They have planstogether.

At the other end of the dining hall, behind Opal, the doors swing open. Artemise strides into the room, donning heavy, dark blue robes I’ve never seen her wear. A chain of silver hangs from her waist, littered with silver charms.

As she makes her way down the length of the room, voices fall quiet, becoming hushed whispers as they stare. Behind Artemise a line of four others file in behind her, all wearing the same attire. A dark-haired fae female, a balding human man, a blond-curly haired fae male, and—

“Lilith.” Her name escapes me in a whisper as her eyes lock with mine. She gives me a playful wink as she tosses her blazing hair over a shoulder.

“Why is the council here now?” Opal whispers heatedly, her head whipping between Eve and the line moving toward the head table at the end of the room.

Eve shrugs. “You’re Artemise’s right hand. She didn’t tell you anything?”

Opal shakes her head with pursed lips. “No. Nothing.”

“Would Artemise have called a council meeting without telling us?” Aenwyn asks in hushed tones, watching the entourage move past.

The council members take their seats along a rectangular table at the far end of the dining hall, but Artemise remains standing. Flanked by the members, she surveys the room before a smile curls her lips.

“Good evening, Children of Celesta,” she greets with the same powerful voice she’d used during the induction ceremony. “The council and I would like to announce wewillbe celebrating the lunar eclipse at the end of the month.”

Cheering explodes from the surrounding tables, but the table of Priestesses and I remain silent, waiting for Artemise to continue.

Gesturing for the crowd to calm, she turns her gaze in our direction. “This year, Celesta’s chosen is none other than her own daughter, Vestaris.”

My breath hitches in my chest as more than a hundred heads swivel in my direction, and the cheering grows deafening again.

Celesta’s chosen?

What in the nine hells does that mean?

“Next week will begin ritual preparations. Expect to see those tasks in your rotation. This means readying the temple to welcome the whole of Ollora as all will be welcome to witness our great goddess.”

“Her light illuminate our heart,” voices call out amidst the cheers.

“Her shadow reveal our path,” others answer.

“What does all this mean?” I whisper, leaning close to Eve.