Chapter Sixteen
I bolted up the moment the sun warmed me to the point of waking. I didn't want to admit it aloud, but a ball of panic welled up inside me.
"I need to get back," I blurted the moment I thought Abu was listening.
He reached up and drew a finger down my cheek.
Despite the urgency of my thoughts, I closed my eyes, enjoying his touch. I was going to make the most of it, especially as this had to last me another week. And that was so long as I didn't get caught sneaking back into the temple.
"You don't have to go back," he told me.
"I do."
"You could come with me, Rhodopis," he whispered. "We can have a bonding ceremony, and we can talk to Ma'at about doing some kind of truth ceremony to uncover whether or not you're truly a goddess."
"You aren't going to let the goddess
