Chapter 38 Thayla #2
Instead, I imagine it swimming up my body like a river, flowing backward up a mountain. Once it reaches my collarbone, I send it cascading down my arms and into my hands.
I hold it in my fingertips until I can’t hold it anymore.
Pour the water.
Not only does the power immediately leave me and enter the Binding, it feels as though the Binding is literally sucking it out of me.
It’s not painful or uncomfortable.
It’s relieving, actually.
The pressure inside my belly lessens more as the seconds, hell minutes, I don’t know, pass me by.
As each drop of power fills the globe in my hand, my stomach empties. Not in the way it feels when I’ve gone too long without eating.
Like…I’m missing something that’s meant to fill that space.
A cramp spreads across my whole abdomen and pulls a grunt from my lips.
I believe that’s my cue.
What to say? What to say?
Something short, sweet, to the point.
What do we want? What do we…
“By the Valories we do serve. Release the power we deserve. Riven, Creed, Amick, Kyzen, and Thayla Godrun.”
Four rumbles mingle with my gasp as the weight of a Veilatara sits on my chest.
The pressure continues to build to the point I’m afraid a scream may rip out of me, but then that pressure turns into liquid and flows through my body.
First, it fills my stomach. The sensation stretches it fuller than it originally started. Just when I think my belly’s going to pop, the flow moves on.
Simultaneously, six different spots expand. They feel as though they’re moving toward one another. I swear I sense the space left between them and the daunting realization of what that means smashes into me.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind, body, or soul that once those places meet, I’ll have all my power.
The flow slams shut, snatching a gasp out of me, and my body ricochets forward.
Strong hands catch me by my shoulders and I suck in a shuddering breath when my eyes collide with a pair whiter than the clouds.
“You did it, my endling.”
Creed’s voice is so deep, powerful, and it takes me a moment to break myself out of the trance his gaze has me in.
He stands me back straight, and I turn in a circle as I gawk at all of them, their powers on the surface, staring at me like I just gave them the realm.
“I wish you could see yourself the way we do right now, little goddess.”
My head whips to Kyzen and the baby blue rings of light around his pupils flare. I could lose all track of time staring at him.
“Your skin is glowing. Stunning, truly spectacular.”
So is his.
The gold sheen covering Amick’s skin makes me feel like I’m gazing into the sun. He’s beaming, radiant, and I want to soak in his heat.
“Angel.” Riven sings and I whirl around.
Whatever he was about to say dies on his lips as we hold each other’s gazes. His eyes swirl independently from one another, but his pupils are no longer black. They’re the correlating color.
“Blue, gold, burgundy, gray, black, and white swirl in your eyes. It’s hypnotizing.”
A surprised breath mixed with a laugh tumbles out of me and with it, my power simmers, then settles under my skin. I didn’t realize I was seeing everything in a hyper-focused way until it all appears clear—incredibly clear.
This is so different. I didn’t feel my power this strongly after the Veiling whatsoever.
“V, something’s different,” I say.
The five of us turn to face him where he’s standing at the edge of the hot spring.
“Well, of course, you just received a great deal of power.”
“Yeah, I know, but it feels…settled. Like it doesn’t have to settle. It already is.”
“That’s because it is. You didn’t tell it to release slowly. Just release.”
My jaw falls open. “You didn’t tell me to tell it to release slowly.”
“I’m aware.”
Riven tosses his head back, laughing. “Mischievous creature. I love it.”
“We’ve got to go,” Kyzen says as his eyes flash navy and baby blue.
“Here, I’ll carry that.” Riven offers, holding his hands out for the Binding, and I pass it over without complaint.
My fingers are kind of numb from squeezing so hard.
He presses his lips to the globe and chuckles as he gazes at it. “You did great, little burden. I’ll meet you all at the house. I’m gonna go rub one out before we leave to meet Daddy dearest.”
I slap my hands through the water. It hits nothing but air and the laugh he left behind.
“Gross, little psycho.”
Not really…I’d like to join him.
“As much as I agree his announcement was uncalled for, it’s probably best we allow him to do whatever is necessary to calm himself before we do come face-to-face with our father.”
Gods, that’s a mood-dampening reminder.
We exit the hot spring, and I lay my forehead to Seismet’s as he approaches me.
“Do you two think we hid the power enough they won’t know?”
“There’s no doubt in my mind. The entire herd was pushing out their power and the hot spring is tremendously strong on its own. There isn’t any trace that it’s been used. You have nothing to fear.”
A relieved breath falls out of me, and I nod against his coarse fur as I pull away.
“Thank you all so much. And I couldn’t have done this without you, V.”
“Nonsense. The five of you would’ve figured it out eventually. There’s nothing the five of you can’t accomplish.”
I smirk as I peer over at the three of them surrounding Verlet.
“I believe that.”
“Go on then. And keep your head about you, Thayla.”
“You up to starshooting home?” Kyzen asks as he approaches me and laces our fingers together.
I glance one last time at V and Seismet, and they both bow their heads.
“Yeah, I am.”
He smiles down at me, then lays a kiss to my lips. “Beat you there.”
In less than a breath, he’s gone, and I huff, rolling my eyes as he’s already there and I’m still standing here.
“Go ahead. We’re waiting,” Creed grumbles and I flip him my middle finger as I wrap my power around me.
It flows twice as fast as it usually does and that shocks me still for a moment. It races back to its spot at my hesitation, and I blink at them.
“I didn’t realize it was going to spread so fast.”
Creed shrugs, so I move my attention to Amick, who will explain.
“It’s amplified right now, but it’s going to move more quickly and readily at your command from here on because there’s more. Breathe and mentally prepare for that increased speed.”
Well, okay then.
I call my power back to my surface and spread it around my body. The speed still takes me by surprise, but I was more ready for it this time.
My eyes drift shut and my head tilts back as warmth surrounds me.
When I peel my lids open, my ceiling is my new view and a clap sounds around me.
“There you go, little goddess.”
“You knew that’d happen, huh?”
Kyzen’s sitting on the end of my bed, already changed, and ready to go. He’s smiling like he doesn’t have a worry in the realm right now.
“Yeah, but I also knew you’d be fine.”
I give him a quick kiss before making my way to my closet and stripping my wet clothes off. Creed told me I had to wear armor, just in case. I told him armor gives off the appearance we’re preparing for a fight, and he said he didn’t give a fuck. He’d rather be ready for anything.
I didn’t argue after that.
I tug on my sleeve as I make my way back out of my closet, but my steps fall still as my eyes land on my Valtrue, standing in my room, waiting for me.
They’re dressed in their Abandon best as well and my nervousness skyrockets.
Gone are the excited, power-boosted smiles.
Their faces have become masks of grave anticipation.
My chest rises and falls with my heavy exhale.
“Everything’s going to be fine. We’re giving over the Binding. The Veilatara blocked the power. Derivius is meeting us there, so the God of Obliteration has no reason to take me.”
They each muster up what words of encouragement they can.
It’s shrouded by their fear.
He doesn’t have a reason to take me. Right?