Thayla #2
Amick laces his fingers through mine, squeezing. I’m not sure if it’s in a show of solidarity or to offer support to me alone for what I just did.
There’s no denying that my words landed heavier than a simple threat.
“The need for this change,” Ellian says, dragging their attention back to him with his calm but authoritative tone, “has just been demonstrated. This division will lead to outcomes that won’t benefit anyone.
I know this is a shock to some of you, but you will adjust. This decree isn’t a suggestion. ”
He focuses on the side of the gods who so loudly had shit to say.
“We will overcome this together, and the Godsdawn will prosper. The lockdown stays in effect until tomorrow morning when we all return to our roles. There will be changes found among those as well for some of you. All but the Attendants are dismissed. That includes Chosen Attendants. Please make your way to the others.”
My Valtrue, Yemi’s, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, and even Gladian’s band of fuckwits stay where we’re standing as the gods leave the Assembly.
Not all the murmurs that reach us are worrisome. There are some who are in support of this change. Others…they’ll need to be watched.
“Gladian, all of your Valtrue may go but you,” Ellian says as he makes his way off the platform.
I keep my face forward, eyes unfocused, but of course, instead of starshooting away, fucking Mellcom has to walk right in front of me. His steps slow, and my glare locks onto him.
I…hate him.
I feel absolutely nothing but that when I look at him.
“Keep it moving, Golden bitch. You don’t want to ruffle our Chaos today.” Riven chuckles, laying his arms over my shoulders as he presses his chest to my back.
Mellcom scoffs, giving me one last lingering glance before he goes.
“Well, that went about as expected. Thank you both for stepping forward,” Ellian says as he approaches us.
Neither Kyzen nor I say anything. We dip our heads and turn in the direction of the Attendants as Ellian does.
“I apologize for springing this on all of you. I’m sure you have lots of questions, fears, and hopefully, well, some hope.
I’m going to do everything in my power to reshape the way your Designation is viewed.
I ask that you give me not only time, but trust. I’m here for you, as are these gods behind me. ”
All their attention moves over to us. More specifically, Yemi and Rose.
A few glance at them with just as much mistrust as they have toward the rest of us. Some, though, have hope shining in their eyes.
“You all are to stay in your homes for the remainder of lockdown. Food deliveries have been arranged for you by the gods in the dining hall. Chosen Attendants, your situations are a tad more difficult than the others due to the nature of your tie, but rest assured, I won’t tolerate you being treated wrongly.
You don’t have to answer a summons from your Attending God today.
“Rising Chancellor Amick, Kyzen, my assistant, Lambrit Armend, and I will be reviewing and going over all of your schedules. Be on the lookout for your new one to arrive at some time today or tonight. If something about your roles doesn’t change, you will still receive a parchment that explains everything we are working on. ”
They all nod or mumble a yes, sir, and Ellian gives them a small, tender smile.
“This is the beginning of a different journey in the Godsdawn for you. I promise to make sure it’s worth it. That will be all for now.”
A breath of silence holds them still.
We each flinch the smallest bit as cheers and clapping so boisterous spread over the Assembly. It makes my chest tight, but not in a bad way.
Ellian releases a harsh breath as he rests his hand on his heart and bows his head.
He makes a great High Chancellor.
This is how they all started, though…
Starshoots flash across the space, and in only a few heartbeats, my Valtrue, Yemi’s, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, and dickhe—Gladian are left alone with Ellian.
“Do any of you have any questions for me?” he asks as he faces us.
We all shake our heads.
“Okay then. Amick, Kyzen, Lambrit, I’m ready to begin whenever you are.”
“No point dillydallying. The faster we start, the faster we finish,” Amick says before stunning me still with a very public, naughty kiss. “I’ll be home soon, Mysenta.”
I hold his biceps and lower my voice before he pulls away from me. “Did I just do something wrong? It feels like I spoke a consequence I shouldn’t have.”
“Do you or your power actually feel that way? Or because I told you, you couldn’t state consequences, you’re second-guessing your decision?”
“I suppose I’m second-guessing my decision. It didn’t feel wrong, and my power was urging me, not trying to hold me back.”
He nods, then lays his lips against mine once again. “Then I believe you did the right thing. We still have a lot to learn about your powers, and we’ll talk about it more at home. Okay?”
My exhale fans across his small, reassuring smile. “Okay, Candyman.”
“Have a fun girls’ day. We won’t be too awfully late. Hopefully,” Kyzen says as he tugs me to him next.
“Don’t overdo it, okay?”
“I’ve got this, little goddess.” He winks at me, then sprints off to catch up with Amick, Ellian, and Lambrit.
“Ready to go find some dead people?” Riven asks, holding his hand up for Doren to high-five.
Poor Doren looks green in the cheeks.
“Dead people?” Gladian asks, and I startle.
I forgot his big ass was here.
“Yeah, some poor Attendants your precious Harriseen killed off so they couldn’t run their mouths.”
“He wasn’t my precious anything. He was a god above me, so I respected his standing, just as I’ll do to High Chancellor Ellian.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s taurnshit, and an easy excuse for turning your head the other way when shady things happen.”
“You tell him, little burden,” Riven says as he pulls me into his chest by the back of my damn neck.
I got half a mind to knee him, but that thought flees me the second his mouth crashes into mine. His Chaos and Harmony sit on his skin, sending different but equally delicious sensations through me.
“Be good, and no shenanigans in the woods,” I tell him and he huffs at me.
“I don’t care for your Amick impersonation.”
I chuckle as I move from him to Creed. His arms welcome me in as I rest my hands against his chest and press up on my toes so my lips can reach his.
“Don’t answer the door for anyone while we’re gone,” he orders.
“Sure thing, my sweetling.”
His gaze narrows, and I shoot him a wink.
When I turn back around, Yemi and Rose are waiting for me with very different expressions. Judging by the small smile on Doren’s face and the scowl on Sevryn’s, I can figure out for myself where Yemi’s frown is coming from.
“Starshoot to my front door?” I ask them, and they nod.
In a flash, we appear at my house and we make our way in. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was in here without any of my men.
It’s kind of strange.
“V, I’m home,” I holler as we walk to the kitchen, and he hoots from his nook. “Would either of you like something to drink? Coffee, tea, water?”
“I’d—”
“Coffee, and lots of it,” Yemi groans, cutting Rose off as she leans her head against my counter.
Rose and I share a look.
“Coffee okay with you, Rose?”
She nods and rubs circles on Yemi’s back.
“What’s wrong?”
“My head’s splitting open thanks to the lack of sleep, constant worry and tension.”
“You didn’t sleep last night after eating all that yummy food?” I ask, peering over my shoulder as I get the kettle with coffee grounds going on the stove.
“No. The way Sevryn’s been talking over the past two days has me freaking the fuck out that he’s seriously going to run off in the middle of the night and try to kill his father.”
I spin around, eyes wide. “Like you’re seriously concerned about that or you think it’s one of those girlfriend-over-imagination-type situations?”
“No, like serious, serious.”
Fuck…not good.
“V, will you please tell Creed what Yemi just said and have him talk some sense into Sevryn? But also take the blame and don’t tell him I asked you to say anything, please.”
“Of course.”
He glides from the bookshelves to the counter, and Yemi picks her head up as he waddles to her. She smirks as he rubs his feathers against her face.
“I thought he did okay at dinner. Did something happen when you all got back home?” I ask as I pull everything we’ll need out of the icebox.
“Not exactly, but nothing really has to happen. If silence stretches for too long, it’ll mess with him. Speaking of him and yesterday, can I ask you something?”
I arch my brow and smirk. “Finally looking for that advice on having four boyfriends?”
Rose snorts and shoots Yemi an apologetic smile.
“Yeah, actually. Well, sort of.”
My mouth forms an O, but the look Rose gives me has me zipping my lips and turning to the whistling kettle. I busy myself fixing our drinks while Yemi collects her thoughts.
“Yesterday before we left to go to the Akovas’, when you sassed back at Sevryn, I was thinking in my mind, fuck, here we go, he’s about to snap, but he didn’t. He almost smiled. I didn’t expect that. It dawned on me last night when we got home it was because…”
She trails off, and a long sigh pours through her lips when I slide her mug toward her.
“He said something snippy last night when we got home, so I went to pop off, but Iric stopped me. We both just looked at him, and I immediately knew what we did wrong. He saw pity on our faces just like yesterday, and that isn’t what he wants. He wants to be treated like nothing happened.”
I hum and nod toward the couch. Reluctantly, Yemi huffs as she drags her feet over there, and Rose and I follow behind her.
“It isn’t that he wants to be treated like nothing happened. He wants to be treated normally. Not like he’s one wrong word away from losing his shit,” I say.
“He is one wrong word away from losing it, though,” she argues.