Page 206 of The Gods Veiling
Deep breath, Thayla.
Deep breath. Keep breathing.
Nope. Not enough fucking air.
I’m through the kitchen and living room before my body truly realizes I’ve moved.
I see nothing.
I hear nothing.
My one-track mind is in full control and the burning in my blood forces me to move faster. Run.
The houses are a blur as I sprint by them. There may be people on the path. There might not be. I don’t know.
My legs eat the distance between my house and the Court as my mind races. Each thought has anger and something else building to a devastating degree inside of me.
How could she do that to Yemi?
I saved her fucking life.
It doesn’t matter that she hates me for whatever reason. You don’t fucking corner someone for no reason, then put your hands on them.
I don’t give the first shit that Yemi’s ability snapped out. Her power obviously knew it needed to protect her. I wish whatever it is would’ve fucked Mara up.
I would’ve handled the consequences of that. Just like I’m about to hand Mara her consequences for putting her hands on my friend.
The conversation and Creed’s warning that we had my first few days here about how I expected Yemi to be treated blares in my mind.
If you allow one to get away with it, they’ll all try.
My sprint finally slows as I enter the mouth of the tunnel that leads into the Gods Court. I tilt my head back to look at the mural of the Beginning Gods with their swords above me and flip them my middle fingers.
Fuck them too.
As soon as I exit the hall into the dirt center, my eyes devour the space. It doesn’t take me long to spot Mara and her friends huddled together right in the center.
My body vibrates with an intensity that makes me want to throw up. Heat flashes assault me as I stomp forward. Pins and needles shoot through every inch of me, and I can’t get my breathing under control.
I snatch the sword out of the hand of some waste of space male as he twirls it around, attempting to show off for some of the girls. I don’t spare a glance behind me as he yells to get my attention.
Gripping the handle with both hands, I take a few practice swings with it as my footsteps grow closer. It’s a little heavier than I’d like, but it’s manageable.
And it’s going to do some damage.
My voice comes out deep and deadly when I get a few steps away. “Mara.”
She turns with a sneer on her nose.
I relish the two seconds of fear that register across her features right before I swing the sword with every last drop of strength I possess in my body.
My blood hums as the strike across her face silences every voice in the entire Court. There’s a satisfying crack that echoes through the space. Whether it’s from the initial hit or something on her breaking, I don’t know. The bellow of agony that rips from her a millisecond later has a cruel smile twisting my lips.
“Don’t you fucking move or interfere.”
My voice growls as I point my sword at her friends when their shock wears off and they attempt to step toward either her or me.
I throw the wood at their feet. I won’t be needing it.
