Chapter 2 Thayla #2
“We’re going to proceed with caution. We don’t have a choice but to go, or consequences come into play.
Assuming the same rules apply from before, he can’t take or harm us within his temple that’s here.
That goes for us in regard to him as well.
Based on why he used to come and the fact that he’s here now, it’s clear he’s been made aware that we have a completed Valtrue.
“He wants to see the power we hold. Don’t give any information away and lie where need be. Let us do the talking and don’t allow him to get under your skin. He has an extraordinary talent for being able to do that to anyone. Keep your cool and do not react.”
All I can do is nod at Amick. I already want to react, but I mentally talk myself down with very clear reasoning. Such as, this is a Beginning God who holds more power in his pinky than I do currently in my entire body. I can’t punch him and get away with it.
A loud bang on the door has us all whipping our attention towards it.
Kyzen mutters a curse under his breath as he peers over at me.
“Out of time. We’ve got to go.”
My shoulders tense as he and Amick reach their hands out to me. This gesture from them even an hour ago would’ve had me blushing, but right now… I can’t tell if it’s them getting me to come on, or if they really want to embrace me.
“No,” Creed barks before I can figure it out. “Have the two of you lost your minds? You can’t let him or his guards see that she’s anything more than our Binder. If he even gets a whiff that she’s important to you two, he’ll zero in on her.”
They all share a look, then turn to me. Kyzen slowly drops his hand, but Amick hesitates.
“Will our pretending you mean less to us offend you?”
My mouth parts and I jerk my head. “I won’t be offended.”
He seems pleased with that answer as he nods and laces his own fingers together behind his back. “Okay. I’ll hold your hand when we return home.”
My body freezes in place as his words settle inside of me. I relax the smallest bit when Kyzen surprises me with a hug and a kiss on my forehead.
“Has everything changed?”
His quiet question roars in my ears.
“I don’t know. We haven’t had a second to consider or think about anything that’s come up. I’m not thinking straight right now.”
“I’m at an advantage, I guess. You’re talking to the being time belongs to about taking time to think. My power’s already slowed down my mind and allowed me to weigh what I need to consider. Owning a piece of your soul only makes claiming every other part of you that much more important to me.
“I’ll prove I can take care of and protect it.
I am not—we are not—our father. That may be something that’s running through your mind, and I understand that.
So if you need time to think, I’ll give you that time.
But in my eyes, my mind, my heart, the way I feel about you hasn’t changed. That’s my decision, little goddess.”
I jump as another round of banging starts at the door, and the booming noise has Kyzen separating himself from me. He gives me a small smile and a wink as he cups my cheek, but it doesn’t mask the seriousness behind the rest of his features.
A knock that’s hard enough the walls rattle has a feral grunt falling from Riven as he marches over to it. He swings it open so forcefully, I’m surprised it doesn’t come off the hinges.
“If you knock on my fucking door one more time, I’m going to cut your hand off, slap the shit out of you with it, then give it to your master as a present.”
He slams it shut in the awaiting god’s face and spins back to us. The deranged smile splitting his lips says he’s giving the man a moment to make his decision. While hoping he makes the wrong one.
Or maybe that’s considered the right one in Riven’s mind…
“We need to go. If they’re growing impatient, that means he is,” Creed declares as he turns from us.
He waits as Kyzen and Riven take my sides, and Amick moves behind me.
Focus. Put everything else to the side for now.
My heart hammers as his hand wraps around the knob. My shoulders rise and fall in sync with his, but they settle when a gentle stroke of a finger runs across my knuckles.
Whether that’s Riven’s way of soaking up some of the chaos he senses coming from me or whatever the case may be, I don’t draw attention to it. I let it be.
The hostility that wafts through our front door makes my nostrils twitch. Not a single being waiting outside is happy to see us. Their power is primed to the point that even my skin feels it crawling all over Creed. It’s infecting the very air with their eagerness to respond to us if need be.
His first step across our threshold is louder than any noise being made outside. The gods that stand a few feet from our front door and no doubt around the house in various spots I can’t see are completely silent.
The few I lay my eyes on aren’t only silent but stiller than statues. I’m not sure they’re even breathing.
Like properly trained Defenders, they don’t budge from their positions until Amick is out of the house and he shuts the door behind him.
My glare scans them as they close in. The more steps we take away from our home, the tighter the circle surrounding us gets.
They look like any other gods here, physically anyway. It’s not their large stature that intimidates me. I’ve grown used to being around big, godly men.
It’s their empty eyes that cause my unease.
Your gaze only reaches that level of coldness when you no longer care.
About anything or anyone.
I sneak a peek over at Yemi’s house, but I don’t dare let my attention linger or appear concerned. When I don’t see any signs of her, I keep looking at the gods as if I’m judging them.
They don’t speak or stare, but they’re monitoring us.
Now that we’ve hit the path toward the heart of the Godsdawn, they march in a perfectly coordinated formation.
Each of their steps matches ours.
My Valtrues’ attention stays forward. Their unwavering concentration has me afraid that one wrong twitch from us will have every enemy god pouncing.
“Seismet…can you hear me this far away?”
I grind my teeth as nothingness responds.
“Uh, V…I don’t know if we work like Seismet and I do, but he can’t hear me this far away. Can you?”
“There are very few barriers within this realm that could keep me from hearing you, Thayla.”
I hold in the sigh that tries to burst through my lips, and I flex my fingers to contain my relief.
“Thank the Valories. I thought it’d be best to let someone know that the God of Obliteration has summoned us to a meeting and we’re on the way to his temple. You know, in case we don’t come back or something. Derivius is being a dick and not responding. Sorry for my language.”
A silent second passes, then a hoot echoes in my mind. “Well, I did not see that coming, unfortunately.”
A snort bubbles in my throat, and I swallow it down. “Yeah, same. A warning of who their father is would’ve been nice.”
“No, it wouldn’t have been. If I had told you, you would’ve handled it worse than you are now. You probably would’ve dramatically attempted to drown yourself in the hot spring.”
“I don’t appreciate you calling me out or teasing at a time like this.”
“Sure you do. I’ve already informed Seismet about what’s going on. He and Verlet are on standby. If things go wrong and you need us, we’ll be there.”
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “You can’t join me now?”
“That wouldn’t be wise of me.”
“Why not?”
There’s a strained pause before his sigh vibrates through my mind. It causes chill bumps to litter my skin, and more unease settles in my stomach.
“Many beings are to blame for what happened to my kind, but the ultimate blame is placed on the God of Obliteration. For now, it’d be wise for him to continue believing he killed all of my kind.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Thayla. Keep your head about you when you meet him and keep me informed.”
“I will. Thank you, V.”
Anger mixed with sorrow rages through my chest. It has my nose burning and fingers tingling as I clench them repeatedly. Creed stops dead in his tracks and turns around to face me. He steps so close our chests nearly touch.
“Whatever’s wrong, get it out now before we get there.” His quiet voice holds more attitude than I care for right now.
I sneer, then speak in a tone even lower than his. “No need to be an asshole in an already shitty situation. Are you all aware he’s the cause of the Vedarya extinction?”
“What?” Kyzen asks, surprised, while Riven practically growls the same word. Creed’s eyes almost soften as he shakes his head.
“That’d be the most understandable cause.
The Vedarya were beings created to guide and lead the Valories’ creations.
If their Vedae was headed down the wrong path, willingly and knowingly, it’d be their responsibility to set them straight again or inform the Valories.
He wouldn’t have been accepting of that.
He’d have seen that as a betrayal from a being that was supposed to be on his side, no matter what. ”
I wouldn’t say Amick’s straightforward explanation calms me, but it simmers the rage enough for me to think a little straighter. He’s profiling his father’s actions, just as he does with anyone else when he’s trying to understand them.
I’ve always been able to get a sense of people, but it hasn’t been until recently, spending so much time with him, that I’ve learned to analyze people more deeply.
He’s taught me so much in such a short time…
If the God of Obliteration’s decision to wipe out an entire species was because he felt betrayed, that means he’s dangerously impulsive when he’s angered. It also means he takes selfishness to another level. If he couldn’t have a connection such as that anymore, no one could.