Chapter 30 Thayla #3
“I created the commanders of Duality, Death, Knowledge, and Time. The pillars of society.”
I shake their father’s voice out of my head. I’m not sure if I had forgotten about his appearance in that room or had been ignoring it. Regardless, the sudden violation of his words in my mind has a cold sweat breaking out across my skin.
I blink, repeatedly, then force a small smile to my face as I realize Kyzen’s has fallen in concern.
“Born with it or grew into it, regardless, you deserve it. You’re amazing. All of you are. Even that little psycho over there.”
He and Creed snort, while Amick nods in agreement.
“Would you like me to tell you how his powers feed and recoup energy or do you want him to explain?”
“He can explain. His ass hasn’t even explained his role in Godsden, so he can explain it all at one time.”
“Seriously?” Kyzen scoffs. “He hasn’t told you what he does?”
“No. And I honestly don’t have the first clue.”
“Fucking slacker. He’s got the most normal role out of all of us,” Creed grumbles and peers over his shoulder just to sneer in Riven’s direction.
“Does he really? That seems unbelievable.”
“Well, believe it. He’s actually quite helpful and he’s probably been reluctant to tell you because it shatters his whole, always chaotic and mischievous persona.”
“Amick.” I chuckle and he shrugs.
“I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s the truth. Riven is incredibly beneficial in many ways. He simply doesn’t want to acknowledge that. The Godsdawn is better off with him around.”
My hum vibrates my entire body.
“The Godsdawn is better off with all of you around. I’m better off.”
The burn that sears through my cheeks has me picking my coffee up without daring a glance at any of them. I thought that last part in my mind, but obviously, my mouth and brain weren’t on the same page.
“We’re better off because of you, Thayla.”
I peer through my lashes at Kyzen’s soft omission. His sweet smirk has my lips pinching together to fight off a smile.
It breaks free and I once again hide it behind the rim of my mug when Amick and Creed nod their agreement with tender looks on their faces.
Fuck me. These men have me smitten.
“Today, we’ll rest and speak with Yemi’s Valtrue. Tomorrow, I’ll get together everything you need. Is that okay with you?”
“Sounds perfect, Candyman.”
“Ugh, come on, bestie. I’ve apologized like thirteen times already.”
“And for the thirteenth time, I don’t forgive you yet. You spiked our drinks. It’s going to take more than a few I’m sorrys.”
“Fine. Give me their name.”
“What?” Yemi asks as she scowls at Riven, who puts his hands on his hips like he’s running out of patience.
“You said it’ll take more than a few sorrys, so you obviously want me to kill someone for you. Done. Just give me the name. Would you like me to bring you their heart or head?”
She pivots her face toward my choked chuckle. I clear my throat and fake a disappointed frown.
“Is he serious right now?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure.”
“Would you like my advice, Riv?” I roll my eyes at Lambrit.
“Of course, Lam-the-man. You give the best guidance.”
“I appreciate that.” Rose shakes her head at the sincere grin on Lambrit’s face and I hold in my laugh.
“Yemi said she doesn’t forgive you yet, meaning she needs a little more time to get over what you did to her and her Valtrue.
Some space would be for the best. I think you should broach the subject with her Valtrue members. ”
Oh gods. I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.
I open my mouth to voice that, but Riven claps, then holds his hand out to Lambrit.
“Wonderful idea. Join me.”
My best friend doesn’t hesitate at all, taking the offer for some help off the ground. I let my lids drift shut and huff out a laugh as they walk toward where the others are standing some feet away.
It was my bright idea to drag everyone to the meadows instead of anyone’s house. I thought a neutral territory would ease any reluctance Yemi’s men may have about being around us again.
“Fuck, I really am sorry about him. I don’t know what else to say about it. I’ll gladly beat his ass if you want me to.”
Yemi chuckles as she leans back on her elbows. Her, Rose, and I laugh as we watch Nero and Sevryn scowl at Riven. Doren gives him one of those understanding but a tad bit disappointed smiles.
Iric’s the one who really catches my attention, though.
He runs his eyes up and down Riven, then takes a small step back.
“You don’t have to apologize for his crazy ass. You didn’t know any more than we did.”
“Still. He had no business doing that. I know you told Kyzen you were happy that he did, but I’d still be furious if I were you.”
“Oh, I am. He one hundred percent could’ve drugged them and left me out of it.”
“Yemi.” Rose and I gasp.
Rose’s, I believe, is serious, with some concern mixed in there.
Mine is definitely delighted surprise.
“Yeah, yeah. I know that makes me shitty, but I honestly can’t explain the strain it lifted on the house.
I don’t know if Doren, Iric, and Nero thought I was gullible or what, but since the moment they’ve arrived, they’ve tried to only seem perfect.
I don’t want perfect. I want honesty and yeah, a little selfishly, I’ll admit, I want it now, not later. ”
“Damn. I’m all here for assertive Yemi.” I wink and she huffs at me. “So did you find out everything your impatient ass wanted to know?”
“Uh. I’m about to sound like a walking contradiction but a little more than I wanted to know right now.”
I fall into Rose’s side, laughing, and she grips my forearm as she attempts to compose herself.
Yemi throws a handful of grass at us that I swat away when I sit back up and wipe under my eyes.
“I’m so curious but feel so bad for wanting to be nosy. Poor Lambrit listened to me chatter about what I thought was going on the whole walk home. I probably dosed him so much with my power, he had no choice but to be quiet and listen to me.”
“You’re too sweet for your own good, Rose. You and Lambrit. I’ll gladly ask her to tell us everything and not feel a shred of guilt about it.”
“There’s plenty I’m willing to share. I’ll go crazy if I don’t talk about it with someone. But first things first.”
She arches her brow at me and I fake ignorance.
“You don’t have to share everything, but I want to know what happened. One minute, we all left the Athenaeum together, laughing. The next morning, I wake up to being told the High Chancellor’s recorded a crime against you. Then I don’t see you for days.”
All the happiness gets sucked out of me and my body falls still.
Out of my peripheral, I spot Rose’s fingers twitching toward me, then she pulls them back to her lap. I run my hands down my thighs numerous times to chase away the chill bumps that litter my skin.
I knew this was going to be brought up.
I knew she wouldn’t just pretend nothing happened.
I told myself to prepare to be asked.
“I…uh.” I squeeze my eyes and shake my head.
A small sigh slips through my lips when Rose finally lays her hand against mine. I pat it with my other one and will my power to let her ability bleed through me.
Now or never.
Just get it out there.
“Harriseen finally carried through with that threat of locking me in a room.”
I don’t open my eyes one time while I recount the search of the house, the High Chancellor charging me with a crime, then the march to the healing villas.
Nothing about what actually occurred in the room spills out of me, but judging by their gasps, I don’t need to go into detail about it. They understand the severity of it enough.
“Thayla…I’m so sorry.”
I nod and my lips flap with my exhale.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Yem, but I appreciate it. Enough about that, though. While we’re on the subject of that fucking cocksucker, though, I need to warn you about something. Other than Riven apologizing, that’s why we asked you all out here.”
“Oh gods. That doesn’t sound good.”
I peel my eyes open and give her an appreciative smile for dropping the other conversation immediately. I have no doubt she has more questions.
“It isn’t and we don’t see a way out of it.
Yet, anyhow. In the coming days, Harriseen is going to send out a decree of a mandatory power measuring that all completed Valtrues have to adhere to.
It’s called the Power Worthiness Test. Any chosen Attendants to those Valtrue members have to participate as well. ”
Her eyes widen.
“Oh shit.”
Both Yemi’s and my heads whip toward Rose’s muttered curse.
“Sorry for my language. That just took me by complete surprise.”
My small, resistant chuckle shifts into a full belly laugh I can’t contain. It’s contagious enough that Yemi quickly falls into a fit as well. Rose bashfully snickers behind her hand.
“Gods, I’m corrupting you and Riven’s corrupting Lambrit. Before I know it, you’re both going to be dropping the F-word and calling people assholes.”
A smirk dusts Rose’s lips.
“You’d be surprised the foul language that goes on in my mind. I just…” She sighs as her sweet smile turns sad and my frown is immediate.
“My sisters and I were expected to carry ourselves in a very proper manner. Curse words got us popped in private. My parents were very strict and prominent members in Abernie society. Everything we did was under scrutiny.”
I swallow the anger that burns in my blood on her behalf.
“I had no clue you had sisters.”
She grunts. “Three. I don’t talk about them. They pretty much let me know how they felt about me when I was chosen on my Veiling Day. We were never supposed to enter. My parents have a strong belief that one day, the gods are going to come to the region and handpick those worthy enough to be here.
“Until that time, they were going to be picking our husbands for us, then our husbands would pick what we do from that point on in our lives. I didn’t want that.
I was willing to do anything to get out of it.
I never really thought I’d be selected, but I ran out of options other than run away.
I knew I didn’t know how to survive on my own.
So I gave my blood to the Volreen. My wedding was scheduled for one week after the Veiling Day. ”
My fingers press against my lips as I stare at her in utter shock.
“Holy shit.”
I don’t know what else to say.
“Yeah.” She sighs. “My parents and sisters let me know I was disowned from that moment on. Not that it mattered. I knew once I was here, I’d never be returning to them or the random man they were marrying me off to.”
“Well, not to make light of what you went through, but I’m honestly thrilled you entered and were chosen. Remember how scary it was to be announced as Attendants?” Yemi shivers.
“Wait, how did I not know you two were in the same Veiling?”
“I guess it never really came up, but yeah, we were the two out of the five females to be named Attendants. I’m pretty sure we had the other three females scared to death because it was Abernie, then Edistoia back-to-back.”
Their small snickers have me smiling at the two of them.
Their closeness makes more sense now.
Fuck, I’m happy they’ve accepted me in.
“So,” the word huffs out of Yemi. “The Attendant stipulation in this measuring means it’s expected of me to put my blood back in the Volreen, huh?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Amick doesn’t have any grand ideas to get us all out of this?”
“Not yet and I don’t know if he’ll find a way. They explained to me that this is a lawful change that Harriseen has a right to enact. Therefore, to object or not show up…”
“Is punishable.” She finishes.
“Yep.”
After what just happened, I don’t think any of us are too keen on testing the High Chancellor. Not to that extent anyway.
I don’t know what’s become of that room even with the God of Shadow’s death.
I’m also not willing to find out.
“Fuck,” she mutters.
Yep.