35. Riven
Riven
The sun said good night hours ago, but none of us have made a move to leave the meadow.
I lie back in the grass, resting on my elbows with my legs stretched out. My feet lazily sway as I watch the scene unfolding around me.
The herd of Veilatara, free and not, are still running wild beneath the stars. The lead Meadow Hand attempted to tell us it was time for the ones still wearing contraptions to be put up, but we shut that shit down.
Simply because Ellian insisted, I didn’t string him up and leave him in the center of the meadow.
Soon enough, none of them will have to worry about that nonsense.
My gaze drifts over everyone still gathered here.
Lambrit and Rose have already said their emotional goodbyes since Thayla convinced them to go beyond the barrier. I knew that decision had been eating her alive.
She stayed strong and didn’t shed any tears, but I know she wanted to.
I really wanted Ellian to go with them but didn’t push the subject. Unfortunately, I know he can’t leave Godsdawn at a time like this as the High Chancellor. He easily agreed to lock himself in the restricted room tomorrow, so that eases my nerves.
He misses Annalise and the kids something serious.
Ol’ Mara and her Valtrue are still fussing over Fausta, boosting the feisty Veilatara’s ego. She bit the hell out of Gladian when he tried to pet her without permission, and I damn near pissed myself laughing.
My dear friend Vullie is a goner. He’s staring at Mara and her smile like she hung the moon.
I mean…I guess she did kind of hang their stars.
Derivius, Meridamus, and Val are standing off to the side, gossiping among themselves. I asked how it felt to get a little power stripped from them, and they each shrugged. Said it was power they never should’ve had anyway.
Hard to talk shit after an answer like that.
Kyzen and Nero are chitchatting. Probably about stupid shit like negotiations tomorrow.
Waste of breath.
Amick’s quietly staring at Thayla, but something’s different tonight.
He’s lighter. His neck isn’t even a little red.
Not like when he was being a damn pansy on the back of Verlet.
Creed and Sevryn stand in front of our Veilatara, pretending they aren’t amused at the youngling trotting around their feet. The curves of their mouths betray them.
It’s an adorable sight.
I’ll admit, I was a touch upset when I realized our bond with Verlet wouldn’t fully connect. My angel knew it too but left it alone. After a quiet conversation with my Harmony, I decided to be grateful for what we do have.
I’m not giving up hope. We’ll figure something out.
Bestie, Iric, and Hay-Hay are surrounding Seismet, obviously chatting with V and Lestari, who are sitting on his head like that’s where they belong.
It’s bittersweet.
And then there’s my little burden.
She’s lying across Seismet’s back, staring at the stars and doing that leaping thing with her fingers. She’s smiling in a way I wasn’t sure we’d see tonight, despite how amazing today was.
It’s not the smile she wears to convince everyone she’s fine. It’s a real one. The kind that reaches every part of her. It reaches into my chest and hugs my soul. I find myself smirking without realizing it.
This is her doing. She brought together this weird little group of people, and somehow this shit works.
She’s the most magnificent little burden I’ve ever seen.
She gave us this tonight.
A moment of peace and happiness.
A moment where none of us had to pretend tomorrow wasn’t coming.
She freed those Veilatara, and I swear the realm released a breath that blew the tension from our shoulders.
Tomorrow belongs to blood and sacrifice and whatever fate waits for us on the other side of the battlefield.
But tonight? Tonight belongs to this.
To us.
My attention drifts upward toward the endless stretch of stars above. I squint, trying to find our Starwoven constellation, but that shit is impossible.
It’s up there, though.
“You’re being awfully quiet tonight.”
“Discovery,” I say, patting the grass beside me as he sneaks up behind me. “Where have you been, buddy?”
“Wandering around, relaxing my mind.”
“Uh-oh. That can’t be good,” I say, arching a teasing brow at him.
He chuckles, then gazes all lovingly over at Yemi. His smile stretches as she lets out a laugh and snuggles closer to Iric.
“So, when are you going to tell her the truth?” I ask.
He snaps his ol’ wide, nervous gaze back at me.
“What?”
“When are you going to tell her you all are a Starwoven Valtrue? Destined by your souls to spend forever together.”
I wave my hand through the air, highlighting the bright beams of light in the sky.
“How did you…”
“Oh, we found out days ago when we found out we were Starwoven. Thayla threatened to cut me off from sexy time if I told Yemi, though, so I’ve had to keep my lips zipped. I knew you knew, though. We just haven’t had any alone time to discuss it.”
His mouth gapes open, then he flinches when I snap my fingers and point at him.
“Also found out about the piece of the prophecy you were keeping from us. No hard feelings, by the way. It was for the best that you didn’t tell us. But now you can know that we know.”
“Did the Messenger send Thayla a message?” he asks quietly.
“Errrr. Something like that.”
I’m not allowed to say anything about ol’ Momma Messenger until the war is won.
“Wow,” He breathes.
“Yeah, wowzah. So, when are you going to tell bestie?”
He blows out a breath and rubs his hand down his face.
“I don’t know. It isn’t just her I have to tell. It’s our whole Valtrue, but once the two of us…you know.”
“Know what?”
“Once we…become one.”
My eyes widen.
“Doren, are you telling me you and Yemi haven’t done the deed yet?” I ask with gasted flabbers.
“Keep your voice down,” he says, gripping my forearm and flicking his gaze between Yemi and me. “No, we haven’t. I wanted it to be special, but as soon as we do—it—our Starwoven bond will solidify. I’ve been torn between telling them first or explaining after. I don’t know what to do.”
“Come on, Discovery. You’re making a grave out of a hole.” I tsk and shake my head at him. “You need to go home tonight, tell them what a Starwoven is, then make love to your Binder. Tomorrow isn’t promised, my friend.”
Unfortunately.
“You really think that’s what I should do?”
“Yes. I can’t believe you haven’t done that yet.”
He stares at me silently for a weird minute. I arch my brow and pucker my lips.
“You’re right. It’s time.”
“Duh,” I scoff.
“Yeah, yeah,” he says as he pats my back and pushes himself to his feet. “Thanks, Riven.”
“No problem, my man.”
I shoot him a wink as he walks his happy little self over to his Binder and leans down to her ear. I don’t know what he says, but he’s got Yemi telling everyone bye.
Get it, bestie.
I giggle at myself, but the sound travels. Thayla rolls a smidge over on Seismet’s back until she can see me. I close one eye and motion her to me with my finger. She grins and turns until she slides right off Seismet’s side, landing sure on two feet.
“You about ready to call it a night, my little psycho?” she asks as she kicks my feet apart and makes herself comfortable between my legs.
“I am, my little angel burden.”
She snorts and shakes her head as she gets comfortable on my chest.
“Combining the nicknames now, are we?”
I hum.
“You want to know why I call you angel?”
“Why?”
Her suspicious tone has me smirking into her hair.
“When you stepped out of the Veil on the Veiling Day, light bathed your body. It made me think about all the stories the mortals believe about angels stepping out of grand, divine light with their wings spread wide. When really it was just the Beginning Gods stepping out of starshoots, flaunting their extra limbs.”
My mind flashes back to that day we rushed to that platform to reach her.
“I distinctly remember thinking to myself I wanted to see what kind of Chaos the next Chosen was bringing to the Godsdawn. Then, an angel steps out.”
She laughs lightly and laces her fingers through mine.
“Your wish for Chaos was definitely granted.”
“In the best possible way,” I mumble into her hair, then let my eyes drift shut.
My Harmony stretches out beneath my skin, feening to get closer to her.
For a second, I think about shutting it down before it can touch her because it hasn’t done this shit in a long time.
I’ve pretty much mastered—in my humble opinion—keeping it in line.
The second it brushes up against her, I realize why it was trying to act up.
“Tell my brothers it’s time to go shower and snuggle.”
Another sweet little sound leaves her, but instead of using her words or getting to her feet, she sends a tug down our souls. The three of them immediately stop what they’re doing and their heads swivel toward us.
“Time to call it a night,” she says.
As if that was everyone’s cue, goodbyes are shared, hugs to Veilatara’s get passed around, and promises of seeing everyone in the morning ring around the air.
Tomorrow morning starts before the sun comes up.
“Race you to the house,” I say.
My powers were already around me, so before the words really even register in anyone’s mind, I’m already standing in Thayla’s room.
My gaze travels across the space, imprinting everything on my brain. Although I already have it all memorized, I still just take a moment to appreciate the space.
Her space that she’s basically made ours.
I will do everything in my power to make sure we all lie in that bed together again after tomorrow.
“You’re such a cheater.”
A devious smirk stretches across my lips as I spin around and face that sassy-ass mouth.
“I gave you all plenty of warning,” I say innocently.
She scoffs and marches her way toward her closet. Before she can step past me, though, I tug her hand and spin her into my chest. A sweet little laugh tumbles out of her, and I can’t help but swallow the sound.
Her body molds to mine as our tongues tangle together.
She’s breathless by the time I break our kiss.
“You used a lot of power today,” I mumble against her lips.
“I know. I’ll be fine by morning, though. I promise.”