34. Thayla #2
I force the frustration away, replacing it with calm. With surrender. I stop chasing and simply…wait. The other thread slows. Then, as though it had been waiting for me all along, it glides into my power.
Three.
The next thread I reach for is steady, observant, as though it’s weighing what will happen if it allows my power to embed itself in it. It already knows the answer. My tongue hums as the power of Consequences—mine and Meridamus’s—meet. There’s no resistance whatsoever.
Four.
The fifth thread is unlike the others. There’s heavy finality to it, and the instant my power touches it, the certainty that every ending serves a purpose overwhelms me.
Obliteration.
Five.
Life surges through the next thread. Warmth spreads up my arms, gentle and endlessly giving. It doesn’t demand. It nurtures and mends.
Creation.
Six.
One left to go.
The final thread doesn’t call louder than the others. It purely…agrees.
Like every thread woven before it was waiting for this one to complete the pattern. Peace settles over me as my final power slides into place.
Accord.
Seven.
Every thread thrums at once and a sensation slams through me so suddenly I suck in a sharp gasp.
“What…” I whisper, my eyes flying open. “Something feels funny and, well, very powerful.”
It’s filling me up by the second.
Verlet turns his head and his white eyes bore into me.
“That is my power,” he says.
“What?” I ask, utterly confused.
“You now control the contraption, and therefore, hold a piece of my power. You decide what to do with it from here.”
My mouth parts as a rush of air escapes me. I understand—hell, I feel why the Beginning Gods wouldn’t want to let this go. Even those—my dad, Meridamus, and Derivius—who didn’t agree with this in the first place.
This is raw, realmly power attempting to flow through my veins.
It isn’t my power to hold, though.
I hover my hand above the contraption. The faint glow that always surrounds it intensifies as I call to my power.
Return to me.
Seven threads—blue, black, yellow, white, burgundy, bronze, and green—slink through the material like veins emptying blood.
As the end of the line of power leaves the contraption, Verlet’s withdraws from my body. The last touch of his essence slinks from me, and I lay my palm back against the restraint around him.
Obliterate.
The contraption turns to nothing but ash on the wind.
A pulse vibrates beneath my feet and four grunts echo behind me. I step out of the way and turn just in time to watch my men ambush Verlet.
The smiles, hugs, and laughter pierce my heart and fill me with warmth. My soul thuds wildly in my chest, feeding off their excitement.
Everyone behind us goes absolutely mental. Cheering, clapping, and jumping up and down. A loud laugh bursts free from me when I peer over my shoulder and watch them all embrace one another like this is the best day ever.
There are literally tears in Otiero’s and Havar’s eyes.
One little tremor zaps through my soul, and my attention snaps to Riven without a thought. Although he is wearing a massive smile and the giggle pouring from his mouth is genuine, I sense that tiny bout of disappointment.
I cast my eyes over to Seismet.
“What’s wrong? Did I not do something right?”
“No, my companion. You did perfect,” he says softly.
“Then…oh no.” The answer clicks immediately. Heartbreakingly. “They can’t feel the complete connection, can they?”
“They feel it enough, and Verlet feels it completely. All is well.”
I don’t let the hurt or animosity bleeding through me ruin this moment for them. I lock my soul down before anything can reach them and keep my smile plastered on my face.
Despite the fact that they can’t feel the connection in its entirety, it is obvious they feel it much stronger than they had. If they’re accepting of it, I won’t say or do anything to change that.
I join their group hug, and the praises they give me sing through my blood. I fight, but fail, to keep a blush from creeping across my cheeks.
“Thank you, Thayla. You did magnificently,” Verlet says as I wrap my arms around his neck.
“Thank you for trusting me. I wish you could go for a flight right now.”
“As do I, but we know those dangers. Tomorrow, though, we will fly together as a herd toward victory.”
My eyes drift shut before a loud hoot in my ear has them flying open.
“And thank you, V, for guiding me.”
“It was my pleasure. That was thrilling. Let’s continue.”
I smirk as my men chuckle around me. Each of them steals a kiss before allowing me to walk toward Seismet.
“Well, your turn,” I say, focusing back on my Veilatara. “Are you ready?”
“Oh no. I’m going last.”
“What? Why? You just told me you were going after Verlet.”
“Well, I’ve changed my mind. I’ve waited long enough for this, and I won’t be getting a measly hug, then you move on to the next thirty Veilatara. No, thank you.”
I chuckle at his sass and shake my head.
“Very well then,” I say as I rub his muzzle. “Who’s next?”
He neighs and stomps his hoof, calling attention to him. One by one, the Veilatara who are going to be freed today, line up.
“Let’s get to work,” V hoots.
Lestari responds to him and flies to my other shoulder. They embrace one another briefly like the distance that’s been between them was just too much.
The small hole of sadness that’s inside of me fills a little.
They truly are together as one. It’s beautiful to witness.
And it never would’ve been possible if what happened didn’t happen.
The first Veilatara that I approach bows his head to me, and I return the gesture before I lay my hands against his contraption.
Okay, power, we got our work cut out for us.
The first four or five Veilatara I free take me about as long as it did for Verlet, but one after the other come, and I get more comfortable. More confident.
A bright smile takes over my face as Veilatara thirteen approaches me. Even her strut is sassy. I’m not the least bit surprised she’s a warrior for this herd.
“Fausta,” I say, bowing back to her. “Ready?”
“Beyond ready. The lot of you haven’t taken me on an adventure in too long. I feared I was going to have to create my own trouble to get attention.”
I chuckle and shake my head at her.
“This is going to be the greatest adventure yet,” I murmur.
“That I agree with.”
She stands still with her head held high as my power does its thing. In just a few moments, her contraption turns to ash.
“There—”
My words cut short as a powerful pulse flows through the ground, and a loud gasp behind me has me whirling around.
My eyes widen as Mara stumbles forward, pressing her finger against her lips. Her attention stays locked on Fausta. The beautiful beast rears up on her hind legs and releases a neigh that vibrates my bones. The second her hooves touch down, she charges forward.
“No way,” I mumble as she and Mara bow to one another.
A surprised laugh huffs out of me as everyone loses their absolute minds all over again. Even the Veilatara stomp and neigh in a way you can tell is utter happiness.