Page 211 of The Gods Veiling
“Four of her five.”
“And you want me to deliver the last one?”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
He wouldn’t. He would never…
His face hardens and the clear decision across his features cuts through me. My breath hitches and my heart shatters with another betrayal. This one pierces me deeper than any other before despite the fact I’ve known him the least amount of time.
He holds a piece of me inside of him.
He’s always had the power to destroyit all.
Gladian shoves the whip into his chest, and he clutches it without ever taking his eyes from mine. A sob escapes me, but I cut it as short as I can.
No matter how close to the brink of death I feel, I won’t let him see me break anymore. I won’t let him see the fact that if he cracks that whip against me, he’ll seal our fate.
He grips the handle and lets the rest of the whip flow to the ground. The gold is replaced by black ripples that promise so much more pain.
I want to watch him do this to me.
Then again, I don’t.
I’m afraid if I do, I’ll never be able to hold his gaze ever again. Every second in each other’s company from here on out will be a fight. I need to be able to hold my own.
He hasn’t used the control he has over me other than to get my attention, but that doesn’t take away the fact he does have it, and he could do a lot worse. I can’t let him have the power to make me cower as well.
Decision made, I slowly close my eyes, making sure he sees the devastation he’s leaving behind. My forehead leans against the post, and I release a breath.
He’s going to break our entire Valtrue.
“Thayla.”
My name roars from three different voices as soon as the crack sounds.
Creed
28
The God of Strength hits his knees before me as his own whip latches around his throat.
Even though she looked away from me, I don’t move my eyes from her.
From her blood.
It’s a river cascading down her back.
Her tanned skin is no longer visible.
A pitiful whimper sounds through the air as my brothers reach her and begin freeing her. My soul tries to rip me to shreds. It’s a fucking war to force my feet to stay where they are.
My body’s been a battleground since the second I felt her soul wither in pain. I knew something was wrong. I knew she needed me. Needed us.
This isn’t what I thought I’d find.
I don’t even know now what I was fearful to see.
There’s a ferociousness flowing between the four of us right now. No doubt seeing her in this condition has briefly made my brothers forget that they felt that pull. That something inside of them forced them to come to her.
