Creed #2
Nero appears stunned, like he can’t possibly believe what he’s hearing. The quicker his ass gets over this whole righteous taurnshit standard he holds the gods to, the better off he’ll be.
I’m going to make Derivius bind his ass after this until I firmly believe he doesn’t run home to Mommy and Daddy and tell them everything.
Ellian’s face stays serious as he cups his chin and rubs his finger over his lips. Before his promotion, he’d take anything we told him in stride, offering a comforting smile or a pat of loyalty against our backs.
The loyalty is still there, but he doesn’t spare any comfort. The more Kyzen speaks, the more distraught he looks.
Rage glares back at me when I make it to Derivius. Even his barely functioning black eye holds hatred. He’s not the least bit shocked that our father or Seveous stooped to this. This just adds another thing to his list.
“Where…” He pauses, clearing his throat and taking a sip of tea. As he sets the mug down, his gaze lands on Thayla. “Where did you hide the second Binding?”
“Somewhere safe.”
He arches a brow. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“I will once you hand yours over.”
“I have nothing to hand over. You already possess my Binding.”
A hush falls over the house, and Derivius smirks.
“You motherfucker.” Riven laughs, something between true humor and anger. “You stole that bitch’s Binding, then lost yours along with hers? What the hell were you doing?”
“Drowning my sorrows. Besides the point,” he shifts his attention back to Thayla. “Do you plan on using it?”
She adjusts in her seat. “I don’t know yet. We’re a ways away from another Veiling where you all will release more power, and I don’t see how we’ll succeed at anything with the level we have now.”
“That’s a fucking petrifying thought given your Valtrue is already the strongest in the Godsdawn,” Yemi chirps, wide eyes flashing over everyone.
“We individually will never be stronger than the Beginning Gods. Even with all of our power. What will set us apart is our closeness. And how we function as a unit. We will overcome everything together. You and your Valtrue need to get on the same page. We need you all, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, everyone, to get on the same page,” Amick says.
“I want to kill my father,” Sevryn growls as he cuts his eyes at him.
“Understandable but unachievable at the moment. A lot has to change before we’ll be ready to face either of our fathers head-on. Today made it glaringly clear how unready we truly are.”
My teeth grind together as my soul rebels at the notion. It wants to be set free to prove him wrong. Thank fuck my mind knows better and isn’t ruled—completely—by my power.
Ellian clears his voice, dragging our focus to him.
“I’m sorry for everything you all experienced today. Truly. What happened in the Abandon this morning can’t…” He tightens his lips and shakes his head as he stands.
“There’s not much we can do about it right now, but we won’t forget it happened.
You’ve all had enough for today, but tomorrow, all of you will come to my house for dinner.
We need to talk and discuss some things prior to me addressing the Godsdawn.
That’s a conversation best had after food and hearing children’s laughter. ”
We all stand as he pushes his chair in. The hurt and disappointment on his face are clear as the sky. I’m sure the shit running through his mind, and all the High Chancellor nonsense he has to worry about now is flooding him.
He bows to all of us before turning and heading to the door without another word.
“If you all are okay, I’m going to go as well. I need to go hunt down Consequence and attempt to pry information from him. Plus, I can only imagine the delight and rage Obliteration is feeling right now. I need to try and figure out his next move.”
“Before you go,” Thayla says as she steps toward Derivius. “What did you mean you felt the call of my power?”
He gives her a small smile as he lays his hand on her shoulder. “Anytime there’s an abnormal spike in Chaos, I’m made aware. One moment, I felt nothing. The next…all I sensed was you.”
She nods, dropping her gaze from his as he steps back.
“If any one of you needs me, call. I’ll come. If not, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
His starshoot whisks him away, and for a heartbeat, none of us say or do anything.
My fists clench tighter at my sides as we fucking stand here.
“Would anyone like some food?” Yemi timidly breaks up the stillness as though she’s afraid we’re all going to shatter.
We might.
The offer of food hangs in the air like a kindness and an obligation. She felt rude not offering, but none of us are capable of accepting right now. There’s collective strain in the way everyone is holding themselves together. Not just my brothers, Thayla, and me.
Staying would mean making pointless small talk or a fucking big-ass conversation.
I don’t want to do either.
“We’re okay,” Thayla mutters. “We…we’re going to head home.”
Yemi nods, relief and worry warring across her face. “Of course. We’ll see you all tomorrow. If you need me, though.”
“I know. Same for you.”
They exchange quiet goodbyes and a tight hug as the rest of us share heavy looks. Well, I only glance at Sevryn.
With his small nod, I turn and head out the door.
Get to the house.
Get this fucking armor off.
Bathroom.
Kitchen.
None of us speak as we make our way across the short distance, and I barge through Thayla’s room as soon as I’m inside.
“Guys.”
I grunt as my fingers twitch around the door handle that leads to the hallway. The strain in her tone is just as rough as the strain on her soul.
“What’s wrong, little goddess?” Kyzen asks.
I exhale sharply as I pivot back around.
She curls her fingers by her sides and shifts on her feet as her eyes flick to each of us.
“I…” She tears her gaze from ours as she glances at her bathroom, then at the floor. “I’m not trying to make this about me. Today was—”
She stops, and her jaw tightens. The pauses between her words give away more than her body language does. She’s choosing each one carefully, afraid of what will happen if she doesn’t.
I fucking hate that.
I want her to say whatever is on her mind.
“What’s wrong, Thayla?” I ask more forcefully than Kyzen did, and her face twists.
“I’m drained. More than I led on.”
My chest tightens from her low tone.
“I don’t want it to seem like I’m using you. Or like this is just…” She rubs her forehead before tossing her hands up and letting them slap down on her thighs. “A solution. Because it’s not. That’s not what this is.”
She finally looks at me, eyes bright with something she doesn’t want to let spill.
“I need you.”
Her words tumble out. Vulnerable in a way she hates being.
“And I don’t know how to say that without sounding selfish, or broken, or like I’m trying to erase what happened today.
I’m not. I swear I’m not. I know that if something else were to happen, you all would protect me.
I know that with literally every fiber of my soul, but I need to feel powerful. Whole. Right now, I’m so…empty.”
Empty.
That’s the right word.
Behind the guilt, the grief, the pain, there’s nothing but an empty shell of myself.
The truth settles into me slowly, viscous and undeniable. I’ve been telling myself I need distance. Routine. A place to break alone like always. That was my first instinct. Get out of her room and get to my bathroom.
But standing here, looking at her—drained, feeling guilty, but still reaching out to us—I understand how wrong that habit is. How wrong all our habits are.
We should’ve learned this the last time.
I believe we did somewhat.
That’s why we all hesitated the moment she called us down.
This is our chance to run to her, not away.
The air grows heavy as she takes our silence as rejection immediately. I step closer to her without a thought, drawn to her and her soul.
I exhale as I hold myself steady.
“V. Let go.”
His hoot vibrates my mind rather than the room. “Are you certain?”
“Completely. She’ll make me whole. And I her.”
He and his power flash from the room.
The pain I’ve been avoiding settles in with each step I take, sharp and real, and for a heartbeat, I think it might undo me.
Then my lips crash into hers.
My soul sings in my chest as it devours hers. It’s as consuming as our kiss, but it doesn’t block out her pure, addictive essence. The light that flares from her soul cuts through my tainted stain even as it surrounds hers completely in a…hug.
Our mouths tear apart as one of my brothers pulls her armor over her head. I follow suit and strip my top armor, groaning when my eyes land on her bare chest. The lust pouring through our gazes snatches us back together.
She steps out of her pants that are pushed down for her, and I walk her backward until the backs of her thighs hit the edge of the bed.
As she tumbles down, I sink to my knees and lift her feet.
No words are shared between my brothers and me.
Amick and Riven grab her legs, spreading her thighs wide, and I drive my tongue inside of her. From her core to her clit, I lick her pussy in long strokes that have my name falling from her lips like a prayer.
Each gasping, desire-drenched breath that falls from her fills the emptiness in my heart and soul.
The sound of my belt coming undone sends a shiver down her body. Unfortunately for her, I’m only doing that to relieve myself. I’m not fucking her until I’m done feasting on her.
Her back arches off the bed as she screams through her release, but I don’t stop. I don’t relent.
She’s nowhere near close to being refueled and I need her to be.
She attempts to shove my head from between her thighs, and I growl my displeasure.
“Please. I want more. I need more, but not of that,” she begs.
Fuck.
As much as I want to continue devouring her, I can’t ignore that call. I drag my tongue through her wetness once more, then rise, flipping her over to all fours before she can catch her breath.