Chapter 26 Thayla
Thayla
I hate this god.
I want to throw him over the cliff.
The High Chancellor has run his mouth since the moment he got to the runway that leaves the Godsdawn.
We had about one minute to ourselves to show Seismet and Verlet attention before he popped out of a starshoot. Since then, the nine of us, eleven including those two, have been standing here, listening to him babble on and on about this privilege and honor.
Blah, blah, fucking blah.
Gathered around him are all the Chancellors, the Lead Meadow Hand, some other gods who Kyzen said are important in the Sanctum, and…Derivius.
His appearance was shocking, but the guys played it off like it was expected, so I did as well.
It did please me greatly to watch the High Chancellor bow low for him and the smug wink he sent me made me snort. That also earned me a firm glare from Harriseen when he stood back straight.
My nerves have me jittery, and I want to lash out despite Riven’s power crawling all over me.
It was already agreed we were starshooting out here since I know how to do it now and I should practice with my bag in my hand.
I couldn’t settle myself down enough to do it at first, though, and I was growing angrier by the second.
Riven finally gripped my elbow and flooded me with his harmony. It wasn’t the same thing he did to me in the cave. This time he simply used his power to calm my attitude like he’s done before.
It worked.
Now, though, all those happy feelings are slowly slipping away.
I’m torn between walking myself into the carriage so I don’t have to hear this asshole anymore or starshooting somewhere to hide.
“May your journey be successful and we pray the gods lead your way.”
The High Chancellor bows as those behind him clap, and my nostrils curl.
“Smell something foul, troublling?”
I twitch. “Yeah, a fucking traitor. Can we move this along?”
Derivius steps up, clapping far too enthusiastically, and I roll my eyes.
“Those were very kind choice words, Chancellor Harriseen. I have no doubt these gods will make us so proud.”
My lips curve up at the High Chancellor’s subtle bristle. His ass didn’t like that Derivius left the High part off his title.
I’m going to start doing that shit when we get back.
“Off you all go. I need a word alone with my Chosen ones.” The small crowd the High Chancellor had gathered for us bows respectfully, then turns away. Except for one, of course. “You as well, Harriseen.”
His head jerks, but he bites back whatever he wants to add. “Very well, sir. Good luck to you all.”
His glare holds mine for a second and I flip him my middle finger when he turns around.
“Should’ve done it to his face.” Riven laughs.
“I was trying not to stir up any trouble before we left.”
“Would’ve been worth it.”
“Yemi, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, it’s nice to formally meet all of you. I do apologize that our introductions will be short, but I have high hopes for all of you.”
The four of them stare at Derivius with a little awe in their eyes and I roll mine playfully. I have no doubt that if my situation were different, I’d have been the same meeting him for the first time.
“We need to get going. What do you need to address with us?” Amick asks.
“Oh, nothing. I just figured you all didn’t want him standing here watching you load into the carriage.”
Amick nods, then turns and heads toward the carriage doors without another word. Creed grips Derivius’s shoulder in their little manly greeting they do before barking at my friends to load up.
Riven and Kyzen move in for a hug at once, which has me laughing, but Derivius manages to get his arms around both. When he lets them go, he curls his finger at me, beckoning me forward.
“You ready?”
“Nope, not in the slightest.”
He smirks. “You’re going to be fine.”
My muscles lock up and I hold my breath as he surprises me with my own hug, but I try to force them to relax.
“Remember, Thayla. Anything that is lost can be found.”
I pull away from him with confusion coloring my face. He grins and winks at me with his blue eye, then starshoots away.
The weight of my bag gets taken out my hand and I pivot to Kyzen. “Come on. Riven’s so excited to show us our room, he’s nearly shaking in his skin.”
My gaze moves over to the bouncy psycho who’s holding the door open for us, and I sigh.
I don’t say anything, but I muster up what I can of a smile and move toward him. My muscles prepare for the pull against my skin when I enter the carriage, but surprisingly, I find it way less invasive than usual.
My breath hitches when I step into what is obviously our living room area. It’s a miniature replica of our own at home, with the addition of plants like what’s in Yemi’s.
Lambrit’s living room at his house resembles ours quite a bit with all his books and whatnot, but his walls are brighter in color. Not that he truly gives a shit about that. The text on the shelves is all he cares for.
Kyzen lays his hand against my back as he comes in behind me and I take an unsteady step forward to give him some room to come in, but Riven bounds in, knocking us both forward.
“Riven, calm the hell down. We’ve got plenty of time to look around.”
My gaze follows the sound of Creed’s voice from the right and my eyes grow even brighter as I take in the spacious kitchen. That also resembles our home.
“Did you mimic our house?” I ask quietly.
“Yeah, pretty much. It’s nice as fuck. Why change that?”
“To fit everyone’s needs.”
“Everyone loves it. Ain’t that right, Lam-man?”
“Oh yes, I’m quite pleased.”
Lambrit grins, then goes back to looking over the bookshelf. Rose isn’t in here, so I assume she’s in their room.
The thought brings a small smile to my face.
“I’m not doing this with you, I swear to the Valories. Thayla, get him before I kick him out.”
My body spins toward Yemi, who’s standing at the end of a small hall with her arms crossed as she stares Havar down.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is, instead of three small, individual beds in the room that’s obviously ours, there’s one bigger one and one smaller one. Yemi, here, just informed me I’d be taking the small bed. You know what that means? Do you know what that means?”
My hand slaps over my mouth to smother my laugh as Havar shouts and has an absolute meltdown. Amick did tell Riven, after the successful copying of the Book of the Gods Binding, to secretly figure out a way to work out room for Sevryn.
Riven stated he took care of it but didn’t provide any details.
We all assumed he had another small bed added since the original design was two small separate beds.
“It means nothing other than the fact you are the realm’s worst person to share a bed with. You drool, you hog the blanket, and you run your disgusting toenails all over my legs.”
“I haven’t done that since we were children, Yemi.”
He throws his hands up and so does she. “You know what, fuck it, I don’t even care. I’ll take the small bed. You and Sevryn share. How about that?”
Kyzen, Riven, and I break out in hysterics. Yemi huffs, stomping away from Havar, and I link my arm with hers as she walks past me.
“Well, aren’t you fired up this morning?”
She sighs. “Yeah, and he’s making it worse.”
“Everything okay?”
“I’m just nervous. Plus, my lovely roommate and I got into a little spat last night. I want to punch him in the face, but I’m afraid it’ll hurt me more than him.”
“Want me to do it? Or get one of the guys to?”
She snorts. “No. He’s shaken up about everything and was acting like an asshole. I completely understand, but he didn’t have to be a dick about it.”
I wish I knew what she was talking about. I mean, yeah, I understand she’s saying Sevryn’s nervous about coming on this trip with us, but I can tell there are many more layers to her words.
The guys still refuse to go into detail about why they don’t like him, and Yemi and I haven’t had time alone together since he’s been here, for her to tell me his side of the story.
This is going to be awkward.
“Ready for us?” V’s voice invades not only my mind but obviously everyone’s since Yemi startles.
Amick nods at me to answer, and I squeeze Yemi’s hand.
“Ready.”
Not two seconds later, a bright light fills the living space. V glides over to my shoulder and nuzzles my face for a moment before he flies over to the bookshelf. Sevryn stands in the living room with a fierce scowl and a bag clutched in his hands.
“Hay-Hay, go show your bed buddy to the room and let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Riven hollers as he jumps on the couch, plastering his face to the window. Sevryn and Havar sneer at one another, but Yemi clears her throat aggressively. A two-second standoff commences before Havar grumbles for Sevryn to follow.
“Well, this is going to be interesting.” I chuckle as Yemi lets my arm go and makes her way to the kitchen.
Creed takes a massive step out of her way, then shock colors his face when she scoffs at him.
Damn, I am all here for a pissy Yemi. She’s so sassy.
“Move over, my little psycho.”
Riven shimmies out of my way and we sit with our knees on the couch and elbows resting on the windowsill so we don’t miss a thing.
“You excited to fly, angel?”
“I’m feeling about the same as the first time and we flew to the Abandon, remember?”
“Ah, damn, I did forget. That was so exciting. This is going to be different, though. I threw in some extra layers to the support to alleviate the constant movement, so it isn’t going to be as bumpy.”
“How did you do that?”
He raises a brow at me. “My harmony, duh. Do you pay attention to anything I do?”
“Riven, you haven’t even told me your role in the Godsdawn. How was I just supposed to assume you actually did more than oversee the construction?”
The asshole snorts. “That’s right. My bad.”
He doesn’t explain any more than that, and I don’t push as Verlet speaks.
“We’re taking off.”
My fingers clench the couch in a death grip as the wheels start rolling backward. The subtle motion draws everyone back to the living room and we all squeeze in.