Chapter 11 Riven #2
I groan and with a taunting chuckle, Annalise professionally seals up my tray of muffins with a lid one-handed. She teases me by reaching them out to me first, then turns them over to Creed.
“Make sure he shares these and both of you better start treating Thayla right. Forever is a long time and I approve of her.”
I grab Creed by the arm and turn his ass around when he looks at me all questioningly. Annalise earns herself a frown that she just grins at.
I’m never confiding in her again.
Only Verlet from here on out.
Granted, he hasn’t been much help either.
We stay silent as we make our way down the steps and out the front gate. As soon as I go to starshoot away, though, he grips my damn shoulder.
“What did you tell her about Thayla?”
“Nothing.”
“Did you tell her about her soul?”
“No.”
“Then what did she—”
“For fuck’s sake, drop it, Creed. You’re becoming as bad as Kyzen. I didn’t say shit that could get back around to the High Chancellor or ol’ daddy dearest, for that matter. Plus, even if I did, we can trust them. We’ve always trusted them.”
I mean, when she blabs to Ellian that I have some stupid-ass fucking obsession with Thayla, that’s not gonna seem out of the ordinary.
I obsess over plenty of shit.
Ellian will think the whole two-boyfriend thing I slipped up about will be me exaggerating.
He runs his hand down his face, and those plump, pinched lips of his say he’s still stressed. “I know that. I’m just on edge.”
“Yeah, no shit. There’s a lot of fuckery going on around here.”
He nods, then glances back at the house. “Is he better now?”
“He’ll be good as new after his nap. My harmony dissolved all the stress in his little body.”
“Thanks,” he grunts and I tsks.
“You thank me for this every time this happens and it’s no less weird each time.
You bringing them here from the Abandon doesn’t cause this reaction.
Being born in that hellhole with that fucked-up power in the air does.
Does it upset you that your power can’t kill their stress then heal them and you feel like it’s your responsibility? ”
He sneers at me, then stomps off. “Fuck off, Riven.”
“What the hell? You can question me, but I can’t question you?”
“You want an answer, give me an answer. Why don’t you tell Annalise that’s what you’re doing with the babies? Why do you hide it from her and everyone else that you’re using your harmony to do more than calm them? I’m not an idiot.”
My eyes narrow on him.
“Exactly.” He starshoots away and I remain in my spot, gritting my teeth.
Fucking grumpy asshole.
It’s no one’s business that I can do that.
Not even his. That’s why I haven’t told them what I really do.
I wrap myself in my power—fucking harmony—and starshoot outside the Athenaeum where we were supposed to meet everyone.
To my absolute displeasure, the first sound to pierce my ears is the angelic song of Thayla’s laugh. I’m tempted to burst my own eardrums so I don’t have to hear it.
“Good, everyone’s here now. Let’s go,” Amick demands as he marches away.
I don’t take a step before Thayla’s smiling eyes trap me.
Ever since Kyzen fucked her, probably magnificently, she’s been happier. Her sass has been funnier, and her chaos has been less chaotic.
No one else probably senses the shifts since they’re small and we’ve got a lot going on, but I do. Why? Because my fucking power reaches out to her like an animal begging for food.
I notice every single move the tether sucking the life out of me makes.
Anytime it twitches, I wrestle with making Creed rip it out of me and caressing it so sweetly it burrows itself down deeper.
I’d never really pull it on my own unless I was ready for an all-out war with my brothers.
Well, and I don’t want to hurt her, but that’s beside the point.
“You okay?”
My eyes trace down her face as she asks me so genuinely, then bites that bottom lip I have no doubt Kyzen caused to swell.
“Splendid, my little burden.”
I smirk at the annoyed noise that comes out of her but otherwise ignore her. “Why is all of our company required to go to the meadows?”
“You took the question right out of my mouth.”
“Have no fear, I have something you can put in your mouth.” I jump out of the way as she tries to shove me, only to come face-to-face with three matching glares. “What? I was talking about the muffins Annalise sent.”
No, I wasn’t.
The evil mixed with aroused look Thayla is giving me morphs into a big-ass smile. “Aww, that was sweet of her, but what muffins?”
My head snaps to Creed, who I’ve just noticed is, in fact, standing there empty-handed. “What the hell did you do with my food?”
“Starshot it to the house for later.”
Before I can cuss him out, Amick cuts in.
“The High Chancellor is being even more of a nuisance than I thought he’d be.
He sent another communication to me last night, informing me he set up a meeting for us at the meadows so we could formally express to the Lead Meadow Hand who we’ve selected to come with us.
He expected our entire team to be present and for us to take our decisions seriously.
Our decisions are already made, and this is a waste of time, but it’s not worth another argument. ”
“He’s so sensitive. You’d think for a god as old as him, plus his responsibility to the Godsdawn, he’d get over his spoiled, righteous attitude and do what’s best for everyone without all this let me swing my small dick around taurnshit.”
I snort at all the foul slurs falling from Thayla’s mouth while the new extras of our weird little group gasp and look around.
“For the Valories, Thay, shout out how you feel, why don’t you?” Lambrit, the funny genius, whom I thoroughly like, asks with a hint of sarcasm that I appreciate.
I’ve enjoyed the conversations I’ve had with him behind Thayla’s back.
“Well, we know I’m good at that.”
He and our entire Valtrue stare at her, unamused.
“His actions regarding this quest of ours have heightened my suspicions of him more than usual.”
That just-been-fucked smile Kyzen’s had on his face this morning slips as he glances at Amick.
“I thought the same thing yesterday after he pulled that shit.”
“I’ve been quite concerned about his formal request, if I’m being honest. What’s the likelihood the Gods review and approve that request?”
I look at Lambrit like he’s all of a sudden an idiot, then remember we excluded him from our conversation.
“None, Lam-man, it’s all good.”
“Don’t call him that.”
“Why not? You love my nicknames.”
Thayla rolls her eyes at me then at Lambrit when he expresses he’s fine with me calling him that. “Whatever, you two. Back to you, Amick. What suspicions are you talking about?”
“I strongly believe he and honestly many others still communicate to the Gods on the other side. Had the Abandon taken shape like the rest of Godsden and the Valories had blessed it, many more would’ve followed.”
“The Abandon?”
“No need to act oblivious, Lambrit. I know you’ve already read material you weren’t supposed to yet. I’m the one who left it out.”
I toss my head back, laughing at the shock on Thayla’s, Lambrit’s, Rose’s, and Yemi’s faces. Kyzen glares at Amick disappointedly, contrary to the pride on my face. Creed continues to ignore everyone.
“I know the bit of the Abandon you saw was quite terrifying, but in actuality, the region where the most powerful of that side reside is beautiful. The God of Obliteration has truly tried to replicate the Godsdawn. That much effort, time, and promise of power easily sway beings into believing that one day, it’ll be just like here.
Like home. Despite that god’s countless flaws and evil tendencies, he’s a master strategist, smart, handsome, charismatic, not to mention incredibly powerful and determined.
It’s very easy for beings to be fooled by him.
“Why not leave now and join the stronger side? Those considerations move through many of the gods’ minds. They’re just too afraid of the unknown to abandon the Valories-blessed place in case they’re wrong. Which, they are.”
His words have Thayla’s thoughts moving a mile a second and her eyes continue to widen.
“So what you’re saying or at least what I’m getting is that there are gods, very possibly the High Chancellor, who play both sides.
They don’t leave here because of the Valories blessing, but they also hold no ill will to the other side.
They’re waiting it out while making sure they have a place in… well, either place.”
“Exactly. Many of the big-name Domain Gods are known for doing it. Some have made their stance clear about which side they’re on, while others cater to both.
Ensuring they’re in the middle, with a place to go no matter what.
The High Chancellor isn’t supposed to be one of those in the middle.
Once you take the oath of a Chancellor, pledge your blood to the Volreen once again, your responsibility becomes the Godsdawn.
They’re supposed to be our unwavering, knowledgeable leaders who put the birthplace of the gods before all else. ”
“So we have traitors all around us. No wonder none of you have attempted to make any friends.” Thayla shakes her head repeatedly. Not in denial but disgust. It’s written across every feature on her.
“I wouldn’t say we don’t make friends. Look at our odd group we’ve formed already.”
The non-members of our Valtrue look at me with varying degrees of acceptance, surprise, and maybe a hint of being offended that I called them odd. In my own defense, I was talking about us as well.
“That’s very disappointing to hear.” Poor Lam-man truly sounds down about that.
I decide not to tease him for his heartbreak over his dreams of this place being crushed. It happens to the best of them.
Great, this conversation has really killed my mood.
“I’ll meet you all at the meadows.”
I starshoot before any of them can stop me but cringe and slowly backpedal into the tree line as I get a view of what we’re about to walk into.
What the fuck?