Chapter 32 Thayla #3
Okay, Consequence, work with me here.
My tongue literally tingles, and I instinctively run it across the back of my teeth to ease the strange sensation. That doesn’t help.
Ugh. I don’t think I like that at all.
I control my breathing as best as I can and ignore the way my whole mouth is humming. Not in the way that it’d make a melody if I forced sound through my lips, but from the consistent vibrations. It’s spreading across not only my tongue, but the flesh in my cheeks and the back of my lips.
That sensation builds to the point I’m positive my teeth are going to rattle.
It’s only when I feel like I can’t take it anymore that I speak.
“No one is allowed to cross that line.”
My voice is deeper, sterner than it usually is, but controlled, calm. My eyes shift into an amplified focus, leaving no doubt in my mind that they’re glowing. The air tightens around us and my breath travels through my lips like the wind. Not a turbulent storm, but a noticeable breeze.
The grass flattens, making the line I drew even more pronounced.
This power locking in place, then settling back down, is vastly different than my seduction. With that one, once I send my commands out toward the guys, I’m left with a glorious boost of confidence.
Right now, I feel heavy inevitability.
Almost like I just said something that has no choice but to be recognized.
“Very good, Thayla.”
I exhale.
“What now?”
“Go cross the line, Riven.”
“What?” I screech, whirling around to Amick, but before he can say anything, Riven takes a step forward and panic surges through me.
I have no fucking clue what could happen to him.
Without another thought, I snatch him back by his hand, and I charge forward. Right over the line I just commanded couldn’t be crossed.
A zap, not one of pain but warning, slithers across my skin. It lasts a millisecond before a ripple whips through me, sending me soaring through the air.
I don’t have time to scream or react when wings wrap around me.
We touch the ground faster than I can even process what happened. My hands frantically pat down my body but freeze when I spin around.
My jaw drops and my head tilts back as I gaze up at V in a form I’ve never seen before.
Holy shit.
“V, you’re…absolutely massive.”
“Thank you. This is almost as large as I can grow.”
“A-almost?” I stutter.
His laugh rumbles around in my mind.
“Valories, you are magnificent,” Riven coos behind me.
I take a deep breath, eyeing V once more before turning back around. As soon as I go to thank Riven, I instantly realize by the way he’s staring at my Vedarya, he isn’t talking to me.
I roll my eyes and rub my heart, willing it to settle down.
“You okay?” Kyzen asks as he steps up to me.
“Yeah. That was startling. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. Or that.” I shove my thumb over my shoulder, and he nods as he too gawks at V.
“Yeah, I definitely didn’t know he could do that. As far as you getting shot through the air, I didn’t see that coming either. I knew something was going to happen, but I didn’t know what.”
Amick and Creed step up on either side of me and I run my hand down Creed’s chest as he wordlessly turns my jaw from side to side. He lets me go with a grunt after he’s determined I’m fine.
“So that was pretty immediate,” I say as I stare into Amick’s unhappy eyes.
“Yes, I assumed it would be. Hence why I told Riven to cross the line.”
I purse my lips and cross my arms. “Yeah, and what if something worse had happened to him?”
“You would’ve known if it was going to be severe or not.”
My arms instantly fall to my sides and I gawk at him.
“What? How?”
“Consequence can reveal the true weight of a choice someone is about to make without influencing what they choose. I was going to explain that before I made Creed cross the line.”
“What?” Creed barks, scowling at him.
Amick shrugs.
“Before you make any more of your brothers test subjects, what else can I, or I guess this power, do?”
“Well, keep in mind, there are a lot of abilities, but some aren’t achievable until you have more power. With all seven of your powers.”
Taurnshit, but understandable.
“Consequence can recognize the ripple effects of actions, seeing both lingering echoes of the past and likely outcomes of the future. I assume that’s why when we attacked the Abandon, the God of Consequence said he couldn’t get involved.
He more than likely could see the fallout of either side he took. ”
I gasp. “I can see the future?”
“No.” Oh. Well, damn, okay. That’s what it sounded like. “Say I were to punch Riven across the face right now. You witness that cause. You could then garner an understanding based on how he’s reacted in the past, what may happen as a result.”
“Huh, okay. So I have to witness the event unfold.”
“Yes.”
“Okay then. What else?”
“In the event, someone knows they’ve done something and admits honestly to their actions and willingly accepts their consequences, this power can subtly soften the natural outcome.
“Opposite of that, if someone lies to prevent fallout, hides evidence, suppresses information, shifts blame, or uses power to obscure their involvement, essentially does whatever they can to avoid the consequence of their action, this ability can amplify the natural outcomes of an action. In either situation, though, you can never invent new consequences. Natural law still must be the decider.”
“Well, shit,” I breathe.
“Yes. So, Creed, get in position.”
I chuckle at my sweetling’s grumble of curses.
He doesn’t seem so excited now about me practicing my powers.