Page 202 of The Gods Veiling
“Well, they’re the exact opposite of mine. Your disdain for confrontation stretches to new heights with her. Your first reaction is to appease her, where mine is to push her. Not in the teasing or taunting sense like Riven, but when she gets frustrated with something, I don’t allow her to quit and move on. I make her face it. She needs that.”
He scrunches his nose at me. “I could do that if I had to.”
“But you don’t have to because I do it already.”
He hums and bites his lip. “What about Creed and Riven?”
“What about them?”
“Do you think they’ll be okay with this?”
“No, not at first. They’ll be jealous, as I said. They don’t have to admit anything to me for it to be obvious they have feelings they don’t understand for her. Ultimately, none of this matters. Thayla may not want to make a choice between the four of us, but if this solution is presented to her, she’ll have to make the choice if this arrangement is okay with her or not. All of this is moot without her say-so.”
“Do you plan on talking to her about it?”
“Do you plan on actually going forward with this? I may not feel like you all do, as Riven so kindly pointed out, but I know toying with her about this isn’tokay. It can’t be brought up if you’re not sure.”
“And you are sure?”
“I would’ve never said anything if I wasn’t.”
“Then we’ll talk to her.”
“Preferably after I complete my work. You all have been utter distractions thus far today.”
He snorts and grins mischievously. “Didn’t sound like you were concerned with being distracted when you were offering Thayla a helping hand.”
“I could’ve given her multiple orgasms in the time this conversation has taken. Then we could’ve got to work.”
“Gods, Amick.” He laughs, holding his stomach. “I’ve never heard you talk like this. It’s refreshing.”
“I’ve never had a reason to, nor has this kind of conversation ever interested me before.”
He continues to smile at me for some reason. “I’ll get out of your way and let you get your shit done. I’m going to go find something to do and give Thayla some time to cool off. Unless now would be the time you think I should push her.”
“No. Now is most certainly not the time unless being punched is the sort of thing you’re into.”
“Got it.” He chuckles the whole way out my door and thankfully shuts it without me having to tell him to.
Finally, I release a breath and stare down at the next parchment. The half-erased page and Chancellor’s signed initials at the bottom, though, make my eyes narrow. I could’ve sworn I’d already gone over Ellian’s.
In fact, I did. Three parchments ago.
This type of confusion and nonsense is exactly why I should be present in the Chancellors’ meetings. Not being made to stand outside the door and wait to be handed notes.
As I go to flip his useless second page and continue to the next, my power alights in my mind. With my hand gripping the page, I get sucked into the truth that was scribed without any say-so.
The High Chancellor has put forth a motion that all completed Valtrues be measured monthly by the Volreen. He wants their powers and abilities tested regularly starting after our vote next month.
He’s given no good reasons as to why he wants this change to occur from once-a-year measurements to monthly. His only defense is the gods want to see if their blessings are being honored. Many of the Chancellors are already in agreement.
He’s hiding something. Under his orders, we weren’t to take notes on this topic. Do with this as you need.
My body sways and my mind muddles as my power settles back into place. Touching an object and seeing the truth that isn’t shown on its surface is my strongest ability. It always takes the most out of me, though. Especially when it comes forth unexpectedly.
It’s also an ability the High Chancellor believes I need all my power to achieve.
Ellian knows, though. That’s why he erased the message to try to hide the truth.
