Thayla #2
That’s definitely not right.
Let’s get you cleaned up, you powerful little fucker.
Another chuckle slips free from the being in front of me, and I spare the goddess—Willow. Damn, I got to call her by her name—a quick glance before focusing back on the task at hand.
I call all my power forward, and each spot ignites within me. My mind, tongue, throat, hands, upper and lower stomach, and spine all tingle. I breathe through the normal fullness.
That familiar sensation eases my worries that there’s any tainted power left in me.
Now, what do I want to say…
“Don’t think, just speak,” V orders.
Damn, okay.
“By the Valories we do serve. Cleanse the taint this creation preserves. I, Thayla Godrun, command it.”
All seven of my powers puncture the Binding.
A whirlwind of white swirls within the globe as though it’s corralling the corrupt essence in a ball. My whole body vibrates from the force of my powers, and pressure builds to unimaginable heights once again inside of me.
I’ve never felt both so empty and heavy at the same time.
The flow of white and gray smoke shoots from the Binding, directly up, snatching a surprised gasp and grunt from my mouth. The stream seems endless compared to the small space and size of the globe it was just contained in.
“The snap’s coming,” Willow says, and this time, I know what snap she’s talking about.
I lock my knees and tighten my grip.
All my power slams back into me. At first, it’s like a Veilatara has kicked me in the chest, then that pressure liquifies, flowing through my body unrestrained until each power is back in its place.
My struggling, gasping inhale echoes around us, and I wish more than anything I were out of this water so I could bend over and breathe.
This is so much worse than the first time.
I think I pissed the Valories off with my demand.
“Very good, Thayla. Here, this should help.”
My fingers wrap around the glass vial Willow passes me, and I toss it back. My eyes flare as I swear, sparks zap down my throat, clearing the ash and dryness, then it flows through my bloodstream.
“Gods damn it, Thayla Godrun. Get the fuck out of that water and stop putting unknown shit in your mouth,” Riven screeches at the top of his lungs.
My shocked gaze whips between him and the empty vial in my hand.
Fuck me, I didn’t think twice about drinking that.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, narrowing my glare at the smirk on Willow’s face.
“My grandpa’s notorious healing tonic. Truthfully, I have no clue what it’ll do to your powers, but your body should feel glorious,” she says as her smile grows.
For fuck’s sake. I hope Riven’s little friend isn’t her grandpa.
Four splashes send water cascading all over me, and I don’t have a moment to blink before my men snatch me out of the hot spring. Someone grabs the Binding from me, while three other sets of hands tug me around.
Their shouting clogs my ears, making my head spin and my chest cave in.
“Guys, please. Give me one second to breathe,” I yell, tossing my hands out in front of me.
The four of them fall silent and stare at me. I exhale.
“Thank you.”
“Are you okay?” Kyzen asks as he cups my cheeks.
“I…think—”
We whirl around as Willow clears her throat. With a wave of her hand, the water is sucked from our bodies. Hair, clothes, everything. My jaw drops as more confusion tramples through me, and the guys shift on their feet.
She gives us no explanation, only a tight smile as she bends down and sinks her fingers back beneath the surface of the hot spring.
“If you all wouldn’t mind stepping back for me, that’d be great. They’re about to lose their shit, and it’d be best if there’s some distance between us.”
“They who?”
Creed’s question goes ignored as power cascades through the air. We have no choice but to backpedal when V flaps his wings in front of us, hooting, and the energy around the hot spring intensifies.
The gorgeous luminescent blue we’re so used to spins faster than my eyes can track until energy surges from the surface of the water.
What the…
My men jump into position around me, power and even weapons at the ready as four gods charge out of the water as though they had been there the whole time.
“Calm yourselves. They won’t harm you unless you harm or threaten her,” V orders with a tinge of urgency and reverence I don’t believe I’ve ever heard in his tone.
I lay my hand against Creed’s arm, encouraging him to lower his sword. My attempt to step in front of him is futile. He snatches me back to his side faster than I can blink as the others crowd closer to me.
They allow me to stay in the center, though, and my gaze widens at what’s happening in front of me.
The four new men don’t pay us a lick of attention. Their glares stay plastered on Willow.
Okay, so…they won’t hurt us if we don’t hurt her.
Just observe them. Figure out the threat now, Thayla.
“You’re in so much trouble, princess,” one of them says low as he pinches her chin and tilts her head back.
Princess? Didn’t the mortals have people who held those titles?
“Nonsense, your highness. I warned all of you it’d be a minute before I could let you through.”
“A minute, my ass, Primary. That was over ten,” another one says.
He and the first are twins, I think. Possibly.
They resemble each other greatly, aside from a few features and their voices.
“You may want to introduce us to your…friends, Will. They’re contemplating killing us.”
Another—for the Valories—that man is huge.
He isn’t quite as big as Gladian, but pretty damn close.
Our words didn’t give him that impression, but our body language must have.
Creed stands in position, spinning one of his death swords at his side.
Riven’s cracking his neck with a smirk on his lips and his fingers are tapping his thighs.
Amick’s gaze roams over each of them in measured passes.
Kyzen is still as a statue, two swords clenched in his hands with his time sitting on his skin.
My gaze holds Willow’s, although the pressure from the glares of the men surrounding her weighs on me. On all of us.
“Thayla, Riven, Creed, Amick, Kyzen, it’s nice to officially meet you,” she says as she steps fully out of the circle of men.
My scowl deepens as I realize her gaze bounced to each person correctly.
“Again, I’m Willow. This is Corentin, Tillman, Caspian, and Draken Vito.
My Nexus. We’re from Elementra, and we’re here to help you. ”
Nexus…Elementra…
Holy shit.