Thayla
This is the first time since arriving in Godsden that I’ve actually dressed like a goddess.
Although the gold bracelet dangling from my left wrist pairs perfectly with the one-shoulder, silk, white gown I’m wearing, it feels more like a chain than an accessory.
My whole attire is jaw-droppingly stunning, yet I want to claw my skin, it itches so badly.
I feel like an impostor.
I have absolutely no problem with dresses. Well, functional ones, I suppose. The slightly larger, comfortable ones I can walk around the house in with no bra or underwear on.
Okay, so…nightgowns.
Anyways.
My discomfort in my outfit is making my nauseating nerves so much worse.
How am I supposed to throw a punch in this if need be?
Well, I guess like any other, but if that ends up being the case, this gown is one hundred percent ripping.
“Come in,” I call over my shoulder, not taking my eyes off my full-length mirror.
“Are you almost ready? We’ve got to…”
Creed’s words fade as I turn around and run my hands down my dress for the millionth time. The sight of him dressed in fine white and gold armor rather than the normal one we’d wear for battle or training halts my movements.
He looks divinely delicious.
“I look ridiculous, don’t I?” I ask after his silent examination goes on for another torturous second.
“Yes…I mean, you do—don’t—fuck.” He hangs his head and huffs. The corner of my lips tilts up.
His eyes meet mine and heat creeps through my cheeks.
“You look stunning, Thayla.”
I find myself as lost for words as he just was. It takes me a moment to tear my gaze from his and clear my throat, and my head.
“Thank you.”
He nods as he takes a step forward. “I have something that’ll make you feel more comfortable.”
“Who said I was uncomfortable?”
He raises a knowing brow, and I bite back my smirk.
I then have to fight back a groan that tries to break free when he drops to a knee in front of me.
There is something indescribably sexy about the God of Death kneeling before me.
Chill bumps chase his fingers as he slides a thin leather strap up my leg through the slit in my dress. It takes all the strength in me not to turn my hips toward his hands when he stops mid-thigh.
My breath slowly pours from my lips as he tightens the band, then pulls one of my daggers out of his boot.
“Those were in my closet.”
“I know,” he says with a smug grin. “I figured you hid them in there when you realized you wouldn’t have anywhere to put them. I should’ve thought about that before today.”
“So where did this come from?”
“Gladian’s weapon room in the Court. Riven and me just snuck in and out of there. After this, I’ll get one made specifically for you.”
“Why in the realm would he have a thigh holster?”
“No clue. I think he just likes having shit. Anything to do with weapons, really.”
Sounds about right.
“Thank you…for thinking about this. I do feel better already.”
My breath hitches as he leans in and lays his lips against the inside of my thigh.
“Anything for you, my endling.”
I choke down the sudden lump in my throat as I hold my hand out to him. He takes the gesture with a small smirk on his lips but tugs me into his chest the moment he stands straight.
“One way or another, we’re in this together. Nothing will happen to him.”
I desperately want to say you’re right, but I can’t force the words to come out. So I settle on nodding.
My body molds to his as he hits me with a devastating kiss.
For a fleeting second, all my worries fade to nothing.
“Come on. The others are waiting.”
Again, I bob my head, then allow him to usher me out of my bathroom.
My first few steps are wobbly, and he grips my elbow to steady me. It isn’t just his dizzying kiss that has me off balance. These fucking annoying-ass strappy gold sandals offer me no support.
I’m grateful for his grip on my arm once we enter the kitchen.
Words, sounds, thoughts, you name it, flee me when my eyes land on the others.
Like Creed, the other three are dressed in the finest armor I’ve ever seen. The white is bright against their skin and clings to their muscles in all the right ways.
They’re…fucking gorgeous men.
They’ve never looked more godly than they do right now.
“Our eyes are up here, little goddess.”
Kyzen’s teasing tone has me blinking repeatedly. His heated smirk is reckless in all the right ways. I offer him a wink in return, then slide my gaze to Riven.
He looks seconds away from pouncing on my ass, and honestly…I’d be A-okay if he did.
Before my face tempts him into doing that, I focus on Amick.
His minuscule smile causes my breath to shudder in my chest, and my soul reaches out toward his. He’s done a fine job hiding the severity of today from me, but his eyes don’t lie.
He’s staring at me like he’s afraid to lose me today.
Not going to happen.
“You’re breathtaking, Thayla,” he says as I finally cross the kitchen toward them.
“Thank you. You all look—”
“Stupid as fuck. I hate these armors. Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of white?” Riven asks as he places his hands on his hips.
Creed, Amick, and Kyzen grumble their agreement, while I smile at each of them.
“Well, hopefully, there isn’t any bloodshed. You all look far too handsome to be fighting.”
Obviously, appearances have never mattered when it comes to that, but I really am hoping that however this trial goes, it goes civilly. Am I confident in my Valtrues—including my own—abilities? Yes.
Enough that we can take on at least four of the seven Beginning Gods? Not a chance.
With Derivius and Consequence on our side, though…
No. How about no bloodshed today at all?
“This arrived for you a moment ago.”
My brows scrunch together as Kyzen slides a small box off the counter. Then they stretch to my hairline as he opens the case and reveals a gold bicep bracelet.
“What do you mean by arrived? None of you got this for me?” I ask as I pull the piece of jewelry out of the box.
“Nope. Got any wild guess who?”
Riven taps the top of the case, and the engraved decorative C that matches the brand on our wrists pulls a hum from my lips.
“What’s he up—”
My gasp echoes through the kitchen the second I slide the bracelet up my arm. A shiver cascades down my body as all my powers seem to shrink in on themselves.
“What?” the guys shout as one.
“He…what the hell?”
No matter how much I call my power forward and pat myself down, only one of them responds.
“Why is only my Chaos working?”
Riven steps forward, laying his hand on my upper stomach while Amick cups my cheek. Creed and Kyzen scowl as their souls shuffle around in my chest.
Without warning, Riven slides the bracelet off my arm, and the air in my lungs rushes out of me as everything else rushes to the surface.
Responding just fine once again.
“Shit,” they all mutter.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, breathless.
“He’s suppressing your power with his own. All I sensed from you with the bracelet on is Chaos. Now you feel normal,” Riven says while Amick nods.
“That’s all I picked up as well. He’s trying to hide your powers.”
My mouth gapes open as reality slams into me.
“Shit. He wasn’t even here last night to hear our concerns. You think his nosy ass was listening?”
“Possibly. The more likely scenario is he’s had the same concerns as us but couldn’t do anything about it until now. Since the last file or information about you shared with Harriseen was that your power was under the Domain of Chaos…”
“Then this makes it seem like that’s the truth,” I finish for Amick. “So…I’m going to wear the bracelet and we’re going to attempt to get multiple lies past the goddess who can tell she’s being lied to?”
Their lips tighten with their clipped nods.
“Very well.” I sigh as I grab the bracelet from Riven and slide it back in place.
Everything within me recoils. Aside from my Chaos.
The sensation of having my powers suppressed is incredibly uncomfortable.
“Time to go. Yemi and Nero are probably outside waiting,” Kyzen says with a small smile as he offers me his arm.
Right.
“You all will call for me if you need anything,” V hoots from his nook and we all tell him we will as we make our way through the living room.
Sure enough, as soon as we walk out the front door, Yemi and her entire Valtrue are standing there, waiting.
Doren’s and Iric’s faces are clouded in worry, whereas Sevryn looks ready to kill someone. Nero seems to be a mix of defeat and acceptance.
“You okay?” I ask Yemi as I step toward her and grip her trembling hands.
Between her pale cheeks and watery eyes, she’s half a second away from freaking out.
“Okay as I can be.”
“We need to get to the Sanctum,” Nero says as he lays a hand on Yemi’s back.
I catch the tenderness in his tone, and I step back to give her some space as she turns to embrace the other three.
“Starshoot to the statues,” Kyzen says, and I release a deep breath.
Light flashes around me as they all take off, and I grow frantic as my power doesn’t respond.
“Thayla?” Sevryn asks.
“I don’t…oh fuck, duh.” I slide the damn power contraption off my arm and huff as everything bursts to life. “I’ll explain when we get back. Got to go.”
My starshoot carries me to the Sanctum and everyone whips around, eyes narrowed as their gazes trace my body.
“We all forgot about something.” I jiggle the bracelet before putting it back in place and their shoulders drop.
As do my powers.
It can’t be good to keep shutting them down, then waking them back up so inconsistently.
“Right.” Kyzen runs his hand down his face, then peers over his shoulder. “Derivius should already be here to escort us. So you shouldn’t have to take it off again, and let’s just not draw attention to it.”
He holds his arm out, gesturing for me to take up a spot in the middle of them.
We make our way directly to the foyer where the podium that starshoots formal complaints to Valveilious is located and find Derivius and Ellian already waiting for us.
Ellian greets us with a warm smile that I know is meant to comfort us, but realistically, nothing is going to make this pit of dread in my stomach go away until this is over.