Different Temple, Possible hope

Kataya’s POV

The abuse I suffered under the guise of training at the Primate temple lasted for a few weeks. Elder Sanchez never went beyond his sexual gratification. The worst he had done to me was grope my developing breast.

I was demented to think that, but Sanchez left the sacred text near me during that brief timeframe. I read what the previous elders did to the shifterless before. Only HE was called “the sun’s bastard.” Before I could find out more, Sanchez came back into the room.

“That’s where I left it.” Relief filled his voice, then suspicion. He noticed I was a few feet from it. Narrowing his eyes at me, his voice rang sharply. “You didn’t read that, did you?”

I had to feign ignorance, so I furrowed my brows while tilting my head. “What?”

He pointed to the old tome with shaky fingers. “That book! That one right there. Did you touch it with your filthy, undeserving hands? If you did, you’ll be staying here longer to repent