Thayla #3
A sigh escapes me the second that weight liquefies and spreads throughout my blood. Each of my powers returns to its position, filling the empty space back to where it was.
Once it reaches that mark, it continues to go.
My heart races as they get closer and closer to touching one another. I knew the first time I did this that I was right in my assumption. This just proves and shows…I, maybe even my men, am not far off from having all our power.
Before the flow can snap shut and knock my ass off my feet, I repeat the Valories prayer and command it to cleanse the Binding. The white essence floating in the globe shoots toward the sky way faster than it did when I released the tainted shit that was trying to take over my body.
My power slams back into me, snatching a gasp from my mouth, and I tilt backwards.
Right into an awaiting set of hands.
My skin breaks out into chill bumps as soon as the energy surrounding him caresses me.
I blink my eyes open and tilt my head back to look at Kyzen. The baby blue ring around his pupil stuns me.
“I was ready for you to fall. I saw it. My power started showing me what was coming the second it pierced me,” he says.
The deeper baritone of his voice sends a shiver through my blood.
He rights me on my feet and I whirl around, sucking in a sharp breath as my gaze devours my men.
They’re glowing.
The faint light that surrounds them when they use their powers in the Abandon is all too obvious now.
Aside from the stark sparkle in Kyzen’s eyes, there’s also a white coating covering him. Amick’s shining brighter than the sun. This time, Riven does have a sheen around him. It’s a faint burgundy with streaks, almost like lightning strikes, of blue flowing through it.
I swallow as Creed stares down at the black swirling around his hands. When he picks up his gaze and meets mine, his worry bleeds through very clearly.
He holds his palm out, attempting to halt me as I move toward him.
I ignore that.
My hand grips the back of his neck, and I pull him down until his lips collide with mine.
“Careful, my endling,” he mutters against my mouth. “You just gave me back a version of myself even those most rotten of people fear.”
“I don’t fear you or your power. Neither do your brothers nor the people surrounding us. That’s all that matters. You won’t fear this either.”
He huffs and bites my bottom lip before pulling away. The small fraction his shoulders drop relaxes the tension in my chest.
I’m tugged to the side faster than I can blink, and my focus gets sucked into Riven’s independently swirling eyes.
“Oh, little burden,” he sings, then teases his lips against mine. “You’ve gone and done something now. Those stained-glass eyes see that, though, don’t they?”
“Yeah,” I breathe. “You seem more…balanced.”
“Balance is a lie. I’m not two broken halves that make a whole.” He tosses his head back, laughing before giving me a quick peck on the tip of my nose. “I’m both extremes at once.”
Oh my.
That’s going to be…something.
He spins me around so fast my head grows dizzy. It takes me a second to get my bearings, and when I do, I fall headfirst into citrine eyes that fracture like light spilling through a crystal.
“Candyman,” I say, breaking through his stare. “You okay?”
Slowly, a smile curves across his mouth as he cups my cheek. He doesn’t flinch when I run my thumb across his dimple.
“Perfect, Mysenta. I was just letting the memories settle.”
“What memories?”
“Of the things I’ve learned, heard, and forgotten. I remember them now.”
Personally, I’d struggle with that. I’m appreciative that my mind doesn’t recall all things, but for him?
Yeah, I bet this is perfection.
He steps to the side, and my mouth parts as I take in our friends. Each of them is standing a little straighter, fuller.
Well, I can’t tell if Havar is standing taller. He’s over there leaning on the edge, kicking his feet like an excited child as he stares, possibly talking to the Veilatara.
A small laugh bubbles in my chest as I move my attention over and trace the green glow surrounding Doren.
His eyes are still shut, but the huge smile on his face says everything.
Rose seems so much more relaxed herself. She always has a hard time filtering other people’s intense emotions, but she seems to be holding on pretty strong right now.
Lambrit continues to shift his focus from her to me. I know with his power I won’t see any signs of the changes until he puts it into action. So I give him a wink and motion for him to concentrate on Rose.
A touch of worry bleeds through me as I lock gazes with Iric. He’s taking measured, deep breaths, but the dip of his head tells me he’s okay.
Or at least will be once this initial boost settles down.
My head jerks as recognition flares through me when I reach Nero.
Shit.
Yemi had mentioned that he had a domain under the God of Consistency, which is a Domain God under the Goddess of Accord, but…there’s more.
“He doesn’t truly have a Domain God he falls under. His abilities come directly from the Goddess of Accord,” Amick says, and I tilt my head up to him.
“You knew that?”
He hums. “I assumed. He confirmed when I asked him to mediate my trial for me.”
Nero shakes his head at him like that isn’t how that conversation went at all.
“On my Coming-of-Age Day, my Deliverance read that I had a domain under the God of Consistency and there was no reason to question it. Until I realized I can detect deception.”
My mind buzzes and I nod.
“A lie can still be consistent, so it wouldn’t sense any deception, and deception, well, recognizes deception,” I say, then blink. “Holy shit. How did I know that?”
“Your power of Accord is growing stronger. You’re picking up on the knowledge and understanding of the power now,” Nero says, smirking. “You know, Thayla, I just recently got disowned and demoted, so I’ve got some extra time on my hands if you need some help with that power.”
Gods, that’d be great.
“Really? You’d do that?” I ask, then flinch. “Wait, what? When did you get disowned and demoted?”
Oh…oh no.
My gaze jerks to Yemi, who’s—oh wow, she’s noticeably stronger. A hue of gold sits around her fingers as her new boost in power finds its place. She already looks a thousand times more confident.
“How do you feel?” I ask quietly.
“Amazing. Less…unworthy.”
I give her a small smile, then my attention flicks between her and how close Nero’s moved toward her.
“He asked me not to say anything, so I didn’t,” she says.
Completely understandable.
I’m quick to keep my men’s secrets as well.
“After my trial?” Amick asks.
Nero dips his head.
“Yeah. It arrived about an hour before Thayla showed up and told us what happened. I didn’t think it was an appropriate time to bring it up.”
He didn’t. Not a single time.
“What did you do when you went to Valveilious?” I ask.
“Cleaned out my house and my office. I’m fully and officially a resident of the Godsdawn.”
“Well, we welcome you, and yes, I’d love your help if you’re up for it.”
He gives me a genuine smile that I really do appreciate.
I’m more on the side of liking him here lately. He really did step up for my men, and I appreciate that more than he knows. I’m extremely grateful he’s willing to help with my power.
I understand my power of Accord far more now than I did prior to reading Amick’s notes, but I’m not going to turn away any extra advice.
My head swings to the side at Doren’s small hiss. Sevryn quickly jerks his hand away and apologizes repeatedly. He flips me his middle finger when he sees my disapproving look.
“How do you feel with your mixed power?” Creed asks him.
“Good. Weirdly enough, level, like the power from here…simmered the, well, angry bits of my power.”
They fall into their own conversation as Creed starts explaining to him what it felt like for them after they stepped out of the Gods Veil that’s here in the Godsdawn. It apparently simmered them down as well.
I don’t know if I completely believe that.
My stare grabs Yemi’s attention and I nod over to our left, where Mara is flexing her muscles and patting herself down. When the two of us approach her, she graces us with an actual smile.
“This is fucking insane. I literally feel invincible. No wonder Gladian is such a cocky ass all the time. I bet you I could lift one of those Veilatara right now.”
I arch my brow over at Seismet.
“Not happening in this lifetime or any other.”
I snort.
“You may have to test your strength out on a tree, maybe a boulder or something.” My laugh slips through when she nods eagerly.
“Valories,” she says as she drops her hands. “I really don’t know how I’m going to hide this from him. I mean, he isn’t just my Valtrue member.”
“As in…” I lead, lifting my brows repeatedly.
She scowls at me. “What’s wrong with your face?”
Yemi bursts out laughing and I elbow her.
“Nothing. Are you referring to the fact he’s who your Domain’s under?”
“Well, yeah. What else would I be referring to?”
Oh man.
“Nothing, but don’t worry about that. Just lie to him. Tell him Derivius gave it to you as his way of thanking you for helping us.”
“Okay, but what if Gladian runs off and asks him or asks why he didn’t get something?”
“I’m not worried about that. Derivius will put him in his place.”
She thinks on that for about a second before shrugging, then checking out her biceps.
Yep. Those two are unfortunately made for each other.
I don’t know where in the fuck the other three fit in.
I throttle those thoughts from my mind and link my arm through Yemi’s as we face our men. They’re bouncing, well, wading through the hot spring to each other, checking out their new power boost.
A sigh of relief pours out of me, and my body slouches into hers.
“You feel better now?”
There are multiple meanings to that.
“Yeah, I do. It was so fucking hard, but…worth it. Worth it for them. Worth it for all of you.”
She hums and rests her head on my shoulder.
“We love you too, Thay.”
My heart.
She has no clue how much that means to me.