34. Thayla
Thayla
This is truly petrifying.
The last three days we’ve been busy from sunup to sundown, but now everything is in place. The army, the battlefield, the weapons…it’s all ready.
Except this one last piece.
I’ve been doing a damn good job keeping my shit together since we left my mom’s. I mean, me getting upset over V last night doesn’t count. I have every right to cry over him. But knowing that in minutes I’m supposed to free the Veilatara has me scared to death.
We’re talking about one of the most revered creatures in the realm that I have to use all seven of my powers on. There’s no room for error.
If I fuck up, I can easily and accidentally turn one to ash.
Gods, I’m going to be sick.
The thought of harming one of those creatures has me more frightened than the fact we’re literally going to war in the morning.
One way or another, it isn’t easy to accept that a lot of people are going to die tomorrow. I’m going to kill people tomorrow. But it is helpful to know the beings I’ll be using my power and swinging my swords on are evil.
Now that I’ve touched that power in more ways than one, I know that the corruption has to be stopped before it spreads any further.
That makes all the difference in the realm.
We waited to put off freeing the Veilatara for as long as we could so we avoided tipping off Kira, Rella, Sabe, and Creation to the fact we were up to something.
My dad reassured me that if we don’t free the whole herd, then the difference they sense shouldn’t be too obvious.
Until we sever their connection to the Gods Binding.
Then…they’ll all feel the extent of what they lost.
We simply don’t have time to do both tomorrow morning.
“You haven’t been this nervous all day,” Kyzen says as he stops in front of my pacing and holds my shoulders.
I shake my hands out between us.
“Well, I was busy all day placing barriers around Godsden and the Godsdawn. Then I argued with Lambrit. Then I sparred for a while with Mara and worked with her on her powers, worked on using all my powers together with my dad and Meridamus. This is the first time I’ve let my mind really think about what I have to do. ”
“Argued with Lambrit is a stretch. You two bickered for two minutes, then it was over.”
His smirk draws one to my lips.
“Yes, well, telling him that he and Rose are literally soulmates and if one of them died tomorrow, the other would never be the same made it pretty easy to convince him to go join Annalise and the kids.”
He hums and nods.
“He just wants to help.”
“Him being safe helps. There is zero point for anyone who isn’t prepared to be on that battlefield. I refuse to allow senseless deaths. Just because this is war doesn’t mean that we all can’t make it out alive.”
“We all are going to make it out alive. Just like every Veilatara you’re about to touch is going to be alive and well. You know this and you got it.”
I blow out a harsh breath and bob my head up and down too many times to actually be convincing.
“It’s time to go, little goddess.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, then tilts my chin up until our gazes meet. “Time to free creatures who’ve been prisoners for too long. Time for you to solidify your connection with your companion.”
The shuddering exhale that escapes me has the tremor running through me slowing.
Solidify my connection.
Gods, it feels like I’ve been waiting forever for that.
The guys and Verlet have waited even longer.
“You’re right. Time to go.”
He escorts me out of my room and my other men turn from the counter as soon as we step out of my hallway. The difference in each of their expressions is hilarious.
Creed is so serious with his arms crossed over that delicious chest of his. Amick seems to be thinking very hard about something. Riven is bouncing on his toes and tapping his fingers against his mouth. I won’t be surprised if the first thing he does when this is over is ask Verlet for a flight.
“Are you all ready?” I ask.
“I’ve been ready for twenty years. This is about to be fucking epic,” Riven says, finally releasing the laugh he was suppressing so hard.
Amick side-eyes him, then softens his gaze on me.
“We’re ready if you are.”
I roll my shoulders and crack my neck.
“Then let’s go.”
They surround me, and our starshoots carry us away and we step out into the meadow in front of the Meadorium.
I suck down the gasp that tries to rush out of me.
A sea of black and gold greets us, and the spectacular sight has my heart racing. My eyes instantly find Yemi and her men standing with Havar, Mara and her Valtrue, my dad, Meridamus, Derivius, Ellian, and Otiero.
V and Lestari are perched on each of Havar’s shoulders and he grins like he’s in paradise.
“Wow, this is quite the crowd,” I whisper.
“Everyone wanted to be here to support you,” Kyzen says, laying a kiss to my temple and his hand against my lower back.
We stroll forward, and my gaze scans across the Veilatara all lined up. Two very special ones are missing.
“Seismet, where are you?”
I whip my attention to the left at the neigh that travels through the air.
Seismet and Verlet trot through the parting Veilatara with their heads held high and emotion clogs my throat.
“Are you ready, Thayla?” Verlet asks.
“Yeah. Really nervous, but yes, I’m ready.”
“There is nothing to be nervous about. You are doing what you were always meant to do.”
I give him a grateful smile as I lean my forehead on his.
“And fortunately, he’s going first, so if anything does go wrong, you won’t make the same mistake with me.”
“Seismet,” I bark.
He has the audacity to laugh and bump me with his big-ass head.
“Nothing is going to go wrong. You’ve got this.”
“That should’ve been the only thing you said,” I grumble.
We reach everyone waiting on us and before I can get a word out, Havar jogs the few feet between us.
“Gods, about time. You took forever. You should hear all the murmurs in the Veilatara’s minds. They are so grateful and excited. It’s amazing to hear and incredibly loud.”
I laugh lightly and grin at him.
“Looks like you’ve made two new friends,” I say.
His eyes soften.
“I—”
“He just met Lestari. Hay-hay and I are well acquainted,” V says as he hoots and soars over to my shoulder.
My lips part.
“Oh.” I clear my voice and shake my head. “Right, of course.”
“Stealing my nicknames, are you, V?” Riven asks.
“Stealing? No, I haven’t stolen anything.”
“I gave Havar his nickname Hay-Hay.”
“Did you, really?” V asks. “Interesting.”
“Yes, very interesting. Are we ready?” I ask, then tighten my lips.
I offer Havar an apologetic smile.
This isn’t his fault and he doesn’t deserve my attitude.
I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. I’m so unexplainably happy that V remembers some of us, but I’m also envious. The whole situation is heartbreaking and beautiful. If he had no recollection of any of us who’ve grown to know and love him, it would be an absolute travesty.
But I do wish I were one of those whom he knows.
“I’m ready,” V says, nudging my cheek.
My men all squeeze my arms or rub their hands across me as they step back to give me some room. If Verlet is going first, which it looks like he really is by the way he steps closer to me, then they’re going to stay close as well.
“So,” I say, releasing a long exhale. “What do I do?”
“Since you already know how to cleanse a Binding, the mechanics of this process will already be familiar to you. Place your hands on the contraption,” V instructs.
Verlet releases a small purr as he nods for me to do as I was told. I swallow down all these pesky emotions and step right to his side. My fingers trail down his trapped wings. The feathers are so soft, yet so powerful.
I can’t wait to see him spread them and fly.
My hands press against the contraption holding them hostage and the cool, smooth surface chills my insides.
Time for this to go.
“Good, now, just as you would call all your power forward and puncture the Binding, you are going to do the same to this.”
I don’t respond with words.
My eyes drift shut and I call my power forward. All seven spots respond and travel from their spots to my hands. They hum beneath my fingertips as I direct them into the contraption.
“Okay, they’re in,” I whisper.
“There are threads, think of them as veins, spread throughout the entire contraption. Those threads are connected to each of the seven Beginning Gods’ powers. One by one, you must embed yours into theirs. They must match power for power. You will know when your thread has found its match.”
“How will I know?”
“Just do. You will know.”
I keep my sigh to myself.
Slow, measured breaths expand and deflate my chest multiple times as I allow my powers to take the lead.
They travel through the material the contraptions are made of, twisting and turning until they come across the first familiar sensation.
A twitch plays on my lips as the connection brushes across my senses.
Fitting.
The recognition settles against my spine, and my power of Boundaries slips into the waiting thread, embedding itself deep. Once it fully takes over, the connection hums through my fingers with quiet certainty.
That’s one.
The next thread calls to me almost immediately. Warmth blooms in my lower stomach, but it isn’t desire. It’s attraction, a pull. The instinct to draw one thing toward another.
The power of Seduction.
The thread welcomes my power, weaving the two together until mine takes over completely.
Two.
A third thread lashes wildly through the contraption, impossible to predict.
It darts away just as I think I’ve caught it, only to circle back from an entirely different direction.
I can’t anticipate it. Frustration surges through me, and I swear to the gods that makes the elusive thread move faster.
Realization registers and a small laugh tumbles from my mouth.
Right. That kind of Chaos is different than mine.