36. Thayla
Thayla
Time’s up.
I tug the straps across my back, tightening my armor until it settles snug against my body.
A body that hours ago was caressed by warm hands. Laughter echoed through these walls. Promises were whispered against my lips. I fell asleep wrapped in the arms of the men I love, pretending—for just a little while—that tomorrow wasn’t waiting outside the door.
Now, as I run my fingers down my armor, I’m reminded that tomorrow has become today.
I draw in a slow breath before reaching for my new Death-embedded swords, securing them across my back with practiced ease. Their weight settles against my shoulders like an old friend.
I spare one last glance across my room.
The bed remains unmade. Blankets tangled from five bodies refusing to let the night end. A smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
Then it fades.
The messiness is a sweet reminder, but the fact that Amick left without making it tells me where his mind is.
Soft murmurs echo from the kitchen, and the scent of coffee and bread lingers in the air, although none of us managed to eat.
All heads turn as soon as I reach the kitchen.
Creed leans against the counter, arms crossed.
He isn’t sipping from the mug in his hand.
His finger taps it over and over. Riven’s feet are propped on the table, one ankle crossed over the other but no mischief on his face.
Kyzen stands at the window, absently stroking the handle of a dagger on his hip. He offers me a small smile.
One that somehow says everything words don’t need to.
My father and Meridamus stand shoulder to shoulder, speaking quietly to Amick as they stare down at the center of the table.
At V and Lestari. At the seven replicas.
Another twitch pulls at my lips.
I have a sneaky suspicion Riven placed the replicas directly on top of the impression of my ass I put on the table.
“Is everyone in position?” I ask, breaking the stillness.
Amick’s eyes flick up and he nods.
“Yes. Gladian, Mara, and Sevryn are stretched across the front lines, giving their speeches. Havar already has the Veilatara there. They’re waiting for our arrival.”
“Okay.” I release a heavy breath. “Let’s run through everything one more time.”
He straightens, lacing his fingers together.
So, so serious.
“The seven of us will starshoot to the original Gods Binding. We’ll place the replicas within it.
Since this has never been done, we don’t know what will happen but can assume the response will be immediate.
Then we starshoot to the front lines and the entire army will cross the barrier to the Abandon.
You, Seismet, Mara, Fausta, and half the Veilatara will take to the sky and obliterate the decimated buildings and rubble.
By then, the first wave of Oblirians and Dark Gods will show. ”
“And the two of you are staying with the Binding?” I ask my father and Meridamus.
“Yes. You all just worry about clearing out as much of his army as possible,” my dad says. “Once we have him subdued, it’ll be easier for you all to take control of the Abandon.”
“If he shows.”
I exhale at the pointed look he gives Amick and square my shoulders.
“And what if he and Sabe show up together?” I ask, then hold my hand up when that look crosses his face. “I know you’ve said she isn’t going to and you believe she’ll stay out of the fight until she can’t, but you don’t know that for sure. Desperate times make people do desperate things.”
His shoulders deflate a fraction. He gives me a small smile.
“If she shows up, I’ll call for Derivius, and the two of us can hold them off until he arrives.”
“Lestari and I will be there as well.”
“What? No,” I say, staring at V. “Absolutely not. You two aren’t to be anywhere near any of this.”
“I understand your fear, but—”
“It isn’t fear, V. I’ve already faced the reality of you dying once. I won’t do it again!”
My shout echoes through the silent house. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath. It takes me that long to realize what I just said, and my eyes fall shut.
“V, I’m so sorry. I didn’t—”
“I died,” he says quietly.
My head shakes.
“That’s…this—” I take another breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “This is not how I wanted to tell you.”
He doesn’t speak for a long moment, and guilt eats me alive.
At first, all I wanted was to tell him everything so things could go back to how they were.
But things will never be the same. After seeing the instant affection between him and Lestari, I didn’t want them to.
I didn’t want to drop everything on him and make him believe he had to go back to being that Vedarya.
So I told myself we’d take it one day at a time. He already sensed something was off within himself. I swore I’d be honest when conversations came up and fill in his blanks.
This isn’t how I wanted the truth to come out.
Not right before we march into war.
His comment sent fear and grief through me so fast there was no stopping the words before they spilled out.
“V…” I say.
“I don’t believe this is the time to discuss anything. We have too much at stake, and if Lestari and me standing with Valthaneus and Meridamus is more risk than reward, we will stay out of the way.”
I let out a long exhale and give him a grateful smile.
“We need to go,” Kyzen murmurs as he comes to my side.
“Right,” I say, squeezing his fingers.
Everyone grabs a replica and nods at my dad.
“I’ll take us straight to the hall.”
We mumble our understanding as his power wraps around us and carries us away. His embrace fades and we’re left standing at the back of the hallway, staring at the door that leads to the Gods Binding. Wordlessly, he places his palm against the wood.
Unlike when I had to go through hell to get it to open, it accepts his permission instantly. The empty white room greets us, but none of us pay attention to it. We follow behind my dad silently through the next door.
His barrier is still firmly in place before the Gods Binding, and my stomach rolls with anticipation. The brief glimpse he’d given us when he first stepped out had stolen every coherent thought from my mind.
For a fleeting second, the fact that he was standing before me for the first time in twenty years didn’t even matter.
There is no telling what it’s going to feel like to truly stand before it.
To touch it. To restore it.
My father roams his gaze over each of us, holding mine for a heartbeat longer.
“Prepare yourselves.”
That’s the only warning we receive before he sweeps a hand through the air and his barrier dissolves.
A pulse brushes over my skin and my breath stalls.
Even if he gave us more time, we wouldn’t have been able to prepare.
The Gods Binding hangs exactly as I remember. Ancient bronze cradling a star that has no business existing within a room. Brilliant white essence folding endlessly over itself, impossibly serene despite the immeasurable power churning beneath its surface.
It’s breathtaking, timeless…alive.
Its rhythm settles against my heartbeat until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. Every pulse echoes through my bones, drawing me forward with a quiet insistence I have no desire to resist.
I don’t simply feel its power. I feel…recognized.
As though the ancient essence has always known me, and it’s been waiting for this moment.
I’m not the only one affected. My men inch forward just as I do.
“Thayla.”
I startle out of my staring and turn to my father.
“Sorry. Did you say something?”
His smile is understanding as he steps in front of me and holds out the Binding he was carrying. My brows furrow.
“The five of you need to put all of them in.”
My mouth parts, but I bite back my questions when Amick takes the one Meridamus passes him without asking anything.
The second Binding sits comfortably in my palm, and my father squeezes my shoulder before stepping back. He stops his retreat and stands in front of Riven.
“Do not go all the way in there.”
“I’d never do such a thing,” Riven says, blowing him a kiss.
My lips curl between my teeth, but my laugh still spills out.
“Ready?” Amick asks before the lighthearted second can settle.
The smirk slips from my lips and I face forward.
“Yes,” we all say.
The closer we draw, the stronger its rhythm becomes. Each pulse settles deeper beneath my skin. The first bronze step rings softly beneath my boot, then another.
None of us speak as we stop at the edge of the dais. The replicas grow warm against my palms as though they’re eager to go home.
“Together,” Amick murmurs.
Seven came out. Seven must go back in.
We take one more step and raise the replicas toward the heart of the Binding. The brilliant white essence swirls with all the patience of eternity.
My fingers breach the light, and warmth immediately wraps around my hands.
The sensation spreads up my arms, chasing away every lingering ache, every cut, every bruise earned over the last several days. The ancient essence curls around my wrists like silk drifting through water before climbing to my elbows.
Quiet breaths release on both sides of me.
They feel it too.
The Binding welcomes us the same way.
My arms stretch farther until the replicas disappear from sight, yet their weight still sits in my palms.
Confusion colors my face for a breath—then I feel the shift.
As if the replicas were piles of sand, a small breeze carries them away grain by grain. My fingers curl around nothing and a breathless laugh escapes me. Four others respond. Those small noises fade as we all realize the same thing at the same time.
The Binding isn’t releasing our hands.
I frown and shift my feet back as I jerk my arms. Nothing happens. The essence simply holds us in place. The restraint isn’t painful or uncomfortable. Surprisingly, the embrace remains gentle, patient, almost…affectionate. I glance toward my men. They peer at me.
“Why isn’t it letting us go?” I ask low.
“I don’t know,” Amick says.
“Who cares?” Riven sighs. “It can hold me forever. It feels so good.”
My head slowly shakes as I gaze back forward, watching the white continue to spin.