Page 196 of The Gods Veiling
My body freezes and my mouth dries out. “Oh…”
“Okay, ready?”
Oh, thank fuck.
“Yeah.” I link my arm through Yemi’s and nervously smile at Havar and Collum. “It was nice to meet you.”
Collum’s sincere smile turns flirty and his eyes glimmer like I just laid a challenge in front of him. “You as well, Thayla. I look forward to seeing you again.”
I practically drag Yemi through the dining hall. I’m pretty sure we’re breaking a couple Attendant rules right now and she keeps attempting to remind me, but I ignore her until we’re out the doors.
“What in the realm are you doing? Did you see all of them looking at us?”
“You left me standing there and Collum tried to ask me out. I was just trying to be nice ’cause he’s Havar’s friend, but talk about awkward.”
Her whole body jerks. “He did what? What did you say?”
“Um, nothing. You thankfully came to my rescue. How weird and uncomfortable. Does he not know who my Valtrue is?”
“Oh, he definitely does. Everyone does. It obviously didn’t deter him, though. Damn, he’s really good-looking and has a high standing in the Plentifuls. He’s on track to be the next lead Meadow Hand.”
“What does any of that matter?”
“I keep forgetting none of this matters to you, like on any level. If he had asked any other god or goddess in there out, they would’ve thrown themselves at his feet. He’s fine, strong, and high in his Designation. I’m pretty sure he’ll have all his power next Veiling as well. Yeah, I’m shocked someone hasn’t snatched him up yet.”
My face twists in disgust. “Are those the standards gods are using to decide who they date?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” she snorts. “Why do you seem so freaked out about it? I’m sure you’d get asked out multiple times a day if one of the guys weren’t around.”
“Because normal men don’t even handle rejection well. I can’t imagine how a godly man getting his pride hurt in front of his friends would. What if he had gotten mad, and we ended up causing a scene?”
“Has…that been your experience with rejecting men?” she asks slowly and I arch an obvious brow. She knows that. She’s experienced it herself. “Okay, yeah. Plus, I’d hate to be in the room with you while you explained to your Valtrue that you’re going on a date.”
“Why? You think they’d freak out?”
“Um, are you serious right now? I think they’d lose their fucking minds.”
We both fall into a fit of laughter as we walk into the Athenaeum. A few angry glares are shot our way, so we lower our voices as we make our way to Amick’s office.
“I don’t think they would. Interrogate me, probably the other god as well, yeah. But I think losing their minds is a stretch.”
“Yeah, okay, tell yourself that all you want. What would you do if one of them said they were going on a date?”
I refrain from squeezing the shit out of her arm again and I force my face to stay as calm and humorous as it’s been. “I don’t know. I guess I’d have to be in that situation to see how I’d react.”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “You all would flip the hell out. They’re all confusingly flirty and protective of you, but if you don’t believe me, test it. It looks like they’re all here anyways.”
Sure enough, Amick’s office door is open, and I make out the bodies of all four of my Valtrue members.
“That’s a risky little experiment. How mortifying would it be if they all laughed and was like okay?”
“Only one way to find out if you’re allowed to date or not.”
“I’m sorry, allowed?”
“That’s the word I used and I’m sticking to it.”
She gives me a saucy grin that I shake my head at while chuckling. On the inside, though, my stomach is rolling. That wasn’t a metaphorical question I asked. What the hell am I supposed to do if they, in fact, do laugh at my ass and say they wouldn’t care?
