33. Thayla #2
He breathes. I study his curved shoulders, tense muscles, and fallen face. My throat aches from the pain written all over him.
“Thank you, Derivius. For all you’ve done for us.”
His eyes flick open. He blinks like that’s the last thing he expected.
“Believe it or not, I’m the furthest thing from upset with you. I understand why you did it and why you didn’t tell me the truth. And…I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he says with conviction.
“I do. I’ve been distant with you since the night we were here when the guys had been taken. I put up an emotional barrier between us that night, and when I took it down, I had to face the truths of why I did it.”
“Why did you put one up?” he asks quietly.
“Because I was angry at you. You wouldn’t admit what Sabe did to you, and after everything, you still loved Rella.
When I took it down, I had to face the fact I reacted the same way you did.
I refused to admit for a long time what Jeremiah did to me, and after everything, for far too long, I held onto my love for Mellcom.
Your truth forced me to face my own and I didn’t want to do that. ”
“That was never my intention when I drunkenly told you the truth.”
“I know that,” I say, giving him a small smile. “That’s just what happened once I heard it. It needed to happen. Just like you need to hear what I have to say next.”
A light laugh escapes me as he winces.
“Mom told me the truth about the guys’ conception.”
His lips part and a breath rushes out.
“She did?”
“Yeah, and I told them. You don’t have to be the bearer of bad news.”
“I would—”
“You would have. I know that. But now that I know the truth, it had to come from me. I also know another reason you split my soul was so we could experience a sensation that mimicked our Starwoven bond. And I can’t thank you enough for that.”
Tears glisten in his eye as he smiles.
“Don’t thank me. I would do anything for the five of you.”
“I know. You’ve been doing for us our whole lives. Probably far more than we realize. And I swear to you, Derivius, in a matter of days, we’re going to do everything we can for you. We’re going to take Kira’s power, Sabe’s—hell, I’ll take Rella’s and Creation’s too if you want me to.”
A pleased chuckle falls from his lips as he scrubs at his face like he can wipe the emotion away.
“I can’t tell you how and when to fall out of love with her, but what I can tell you is we love you. It’s a different love, yes, but we do love you very much. We’re your family and we’re going to protect you now like you’ve been doing for us for so long. You just have to trust us.”
He lets my words linger. I hope he takes them to heart because they came from mine. I’m so truly grateful for him. There has always been a method to his madness, and I understand that more than ever.
Wordlessly, he holds his arms open, and I go into them with ease. My eyes flutter shut as I press my ear to his chest and listen to the erratic beat thudding beneath my cheek.
“Thank you, little troublling,” he whispers.
He lets me go after a tight squeeze, and when he steps back, he reaches behind him. A small smile stretches across my lips as he holds his Binding between us.
“It’s already cleansed,” I say as I take the last missing piece in my hands.
“I’ve never used it. I was the only one who told them from the beginning it was a bad idea. No one ever listens to me.”
A loud laugh bursts from my chest and I shake my head.
“You sound like Riven. Or maybe he sounds like you. Regardless, I’ll be sure to tell everyone we need to start taking the two of you more seriously.”
“As they should. We’ve beyond proved ourselves.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Yes, you both have.”
He holds my gaze as he cups my cheek.
“Go on and do what you have to do, Thayla. Get ready for the change that’s coming.”
My smile dims but doesn’t fade.
He’s right. There’s a big change coming.
I wait until he steps away and starshoots before I blow out a breath and head for the door. My men push off the wall at the same time, their gazes flicking to my hands.
“Well, looky there. Big DD got what we needed,” Riven says.
I grin.
“Yes, he did.”
“Why in the realm didn’t he bring it to us as soon as he got it?” Amick asks, annoyance lacing his tone.
“Oh, who gives a shit? We got it,” Riven scoffs, clapping him on the shoulder. “Now let’s go. I’m ready to cut some backstrokes.”
I don’t correct anyone or add anything.
Maybe once this war is over, I’ll admit Derivius’s truth.
Although I think once all is said and done, he’ll be honest with the guys about more than just this Binding.
My power wraps around me and we starshoot to the hot spring. Within seconds, Riven’s stripped down to nothing but…
“Were you seriously wearing your swimsuit bottoms under your clothes?” I ask.
“No, absolutely not,” he says with a telling smirk. “I’m completely naked, actually. You are all just seeing a swimsuit. Didn’t want my dick floating around, making my brothers jealous.”
“Oh my gods, Riven.”
I slap my palm over my mouth to silence the sound that comes out of me while Kyzen and Creed scoff.
“We’re all endowed quite evenly,” Amick says.
I’m about to die.
Kyzen, Riven, and Creed stare at him like they can’t believe that came out of his mouth. I don’t know why they’re surprised by his blunt observation.
The moment they start debating that subject, I set the Binding on the ground and start stripping my own clothes off. Unlike Riven, I’ll be keeping my bra and underwear on.
They fall silent as soon as I strip my shirt over my head.
“Are you all getting in with me or what?” I ask, picking the Binding back up and heading to the built-in stairs.
Within seconds, their clothes, except for their boxers, hit the ground.
I swim to the opposite side of the hot spring and approach the rocky formation at the edge. For a fleeting second, my throat closes.
I was shocked when Amick told me this is where the others were hiding.
Even more surprised when he said it was my dad who told him where to find them.
I figured after our big conversation he and Meridamus left as soon as I shut myself in my room.
Apparently not. They stayed and caught them up on things.
The Bindings, where they were, how to get to them, all of that was the last thing on my mind.
I lay my palm against the large rock on the flat platform and a small vibration passes through. Just like the permission needed to enter someone’s room, this rock requires one of ours to move it.
A shuddering breath flows from me as I slide the stone aside, revealing the six other Bindings. Five perfectly clear globes. One as dark as the sky.
My hands tremble as I switch Derivius’s out for Kira’s. The sick sensation slithering through me as I hold it makes my stomach swoosh violently.
“Ready?” Amick asks as soon as I make my way back to the center.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I bounce my shoulders, shaking off the gross feeling and preparing myself. The guys give me room and my eyes drift shut.
I call all my power forward. Each spot ignites. My mind, tongue, throat, hands, upper and lower stomach, spine. I sit in the familiar fullness.
Then I release them.
Unlike any other time, the instant my powers touch the Binding, they recoil.
The corruption inside doesn’t fight or twist away. It reaches back.
A thousand whispers press against my mind. Not real words, but feelings. Rage. Grief. Hunger. Every ugly, broken piece forced into this creation.
And beneath it all…
Power.
The kind that makes every part of me ache to hold on.
My fingers tighten around the Binding.
For one impossible heartbeat, I wonder what would happen if I didn’t cleanse it. If I let it flow into me instead. If I kept it.
The thought is gone almost as quickly as it comes, but the fact it existed makes my stomach turn.
What the hell is wrong with me?
The corruption surges, almost like it understands the rejection.
“No,” I whisper. “No.”
I shove every piece of myself forward, not holding anything back.
“By the Valories we do serve. Cleanse the taint this creation preserves. I, Thayla Godrun, command it.”
All seven powers puncture the Binding.
The white light doesn’t immediately corral or force the tainted power out. It sinks.
The corruption resists, dragging against my power like it has roots buried deep. My arms shake. My teeth grind as pressure builds, stretching every inch of me.
This isn’t like the others.
The others were just a touch dirty.
This one is infected.
Come on, powers. Push. Do what you do.
A grunt rips from my throat when they finally puncture the pure blackness. A whirlwind of white crashes against the darkness, forcing it inward.
The corrupt essence doesn’t leave willingly.
The Binding trembles as the blackness tears free.
A stream of white-and-gray smoke rips from the globe, thicker and darker than anything I’ve cleansed. It twists violently, trying to pull itself back, trying to cling to the only home it’s known.
I lock my knees and tighten my grip.
“Valories…”
The last of the corruption screams silently as my powers rip it away.
Everything slams back inside me in less than a breath, like it couldn’t get away fast enough.
If I weren’t in the water, my ass would’ve been knocked off my feet from the pulse rolling off the Binding. I drop it as I tilt, but before I crash, multiple hands grip me.
My ears ring so loud I can’t hear the ragged pants falling from my throat. My lungs scream for a deeper breath, but I can’t.
Holy shit, that was horrible.
“That was perfect.”
The familiar voice in my mind freezes my muscles and what little air I have.
My men fall still.
My head slowly pivots.
Perched in the same exact spot as the first night I met him…
V sits there, examining us as we examine him. Water fills my eyes faster than I can stop it.
His feathers…his teal eyes.
I made the new vessel the exact same…
“Where did you learn to do that?” he asks.
The first tear falls. I rush to wipe it away.
“F-from—” I clear the stutter and force myself to stand straight. My men don’t release me. “From you.”