Page 50 of The Gods Veiling
Run? Is it that far away?
“Uh, Yemi, do you want to join her so you don’t walk alone?”
Relief washes over her face as she looks at Rose. I don’t receive the same soft smile, but she doesn’t glare or just look blank.
I’ll take that win.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Quicker than I can even open my mouth, she grabs Rose by the elbow and they rush for the door. Lambrit lets out a soft sigh when they disappear, and I arch a brow at him.
“Love at first sight?”
He’s beat red when he whips back around to me. “What? No. She’s just really nice.”
I don’t tease him. He’s smitten, but I wouldn’t want anyone to pick on me about something like that at this moment. “She’s very nice, it seems. I’m grateful for what she did for me. If she hadn’t, my mouth probably would’ve gotten me killed.”
He gives me a tense, knowing glare before leaning in close. “Do you get the feeling they haven’t been treated respectfully? I mean, you made that slave comment that got you in trouble, but do you really think that’s what it’s like for them?”
I don’t mean to snort at his words, but for someone I’d consider to have way above average intelligence, he’s never learned to read a room. “Yeah. I believe they’re viewed the same way Oddian is viewed by the rest of the realm. Only here, there’s no region dividing them, so it’s worse.”
He frowns down at me, then over at the door. “I don’t think I like that.”
I grab his bicep to turn him back facing forward. “No. Neither do I but keep that to yourself. Don’t let anyone hear you say that.”
“Garish Foremus.”
My breath whooshes out of me and Lambrit stands straight as a board. To my displeasure, Mellcom and Jeremiah finally close the few feet distance they’d kept from me.
I don’t have a snarky remark or glare for them. Time is ticking down and the closer we get to my name being called, the more I feel like I’m going to pass out from fear.
Seismet’s words are haunting me. Every time I come up with some half-rigged strategy that I think may get me out of this, little echoes of his voice chime in my ears. They remind me there’s no getting off this mountain without power.
So that’s step one in the half-assed plan. Get power.
“Lambrit Armend.”
Don’t snatch him back to your side…
“Good luck,” I whisper as he steps away.
Like they’ve done to each of the Chosen, the Chancellors bow and Lambrit doesn’t hesitate to step through.
Maybe the Veil sucks you in once you’re close enough like the Volreen did me. Everyone has walked through confidently, like they just couldn’t wait.
I’m not confident right now.
They may have to shove me through.
“Thayla, can we talk?”
I hold in a groan that desperately wants to escape me. “We have nothing to talk about, Mellcom.”
“We have a lot to talk about. I’m done with this cold shoulder and vicious attitude. It’s not fair.”
His words make my eyes twitch, but I don’t bother looking at him. My anger flares, but its flame isn’t nearly as strong as the rest of the fearful fire burning through me right now.
I’m here. That’s over and done with. I don’t have a choice in that regard anymore. I do still have the choice to be pissed the hell off at his and Jeremiah’s betrayal.
