Page 156 of The Gods Veiling
Creed’s and Riven’s reactions today, though, slam a wall in my way of starting to trust and get to know them better.
Creed’s made it impossible to even have a full conversation with him. Then he drops a truth the size of Godsden on my head like it was the only way to shut me up. His main focus is my soul, which I’m not complaining about, but obviously getting to know me past that obstacle isn’t something he cares to do.
I never know which version of Riven I’ll ever get. Just now he led me into a false sense of bonding. Then the asshole version of him came out. I naively believed that since he picked up on my about-to-boil-over anger, he was trying to do something nice and normal. Maybe teach me something and get to know me.
Hell, I really don’t know what his intentions were bringing me along with him.
Kyzen is by far the easiest to get along with already and I begrudgingly enjoy his flirty company. It’s easy for me to forget he’s only acting the way he is with me because he’s trying to play Mediator and keep the peace.
Amick I don’t think has an emotional bone in his body. He’ll learn all he needs to about me through logic and reason. I originally thought he’d be much like Lambrit. If I relate to what he enjoys, he’ll reciprocate eventually. But I don’t know if he has the emotional capacity to even realize that’s what I’m doing.
This right here is why I don’t step out of my comfort zone.
Warmth spreads from my toes to the top of my head. The sensation is overwhelmingly relaxing and my shoulders slump. A small sigh passes through my lips and my eyes drift shut.
They’re only closed for a second before awareness blasts through me and I whip my head toward Riven. “What are you doing?”
“The chaos coming off you right now is strange. It’s not like mine, not like any other I’ve felt. It’s mad, volatile. I don’t like the way it feels when it crawls across my skin.”
“What? Your chaos? My chaos? You think that’s my power and you can feel it?”
“I am chaos. That’s half my domain. The other half, the one you’re experiencing right now, is my harmony. I’m a being of Duality. I don’t know what’s wafting off you right now, but my harmony side is about to go mental to fix it. Fix you. So whatever it is you got going on in that mind of yours, I’ma need you to settle it, angel. Today was supposed to be fun. It’s never fun if my harmony is in control.”
Shit. Duality. Chaos and Harmony.
Fuck me. Valories, are you kidding? I’m going to have to spend my life never knowing which side of him I’m going to get.
Damn it, that makes so much more sense.
Can’t I catch a—
Riven stands in front of me, halting my steps, and his hand grips my whole jaw. His eyes are swirling, but they’re different. Instead of them being predominantly burgundy with small icy blue streaks, they’re the opposite.
“Thayla, stop thinking. Just feel.”
His smooth voice wraps around my body like a gentle hug. I free-fall into the comfort without a thought. All the negativity that was brewing in my chest escapes me. My lungs fill fuller than they have since I stepped foot in this region.
On my exhale, he smirks triumphantly. “Very good, little burden.”
The insulting pet name doesn’t faze me. There’s nothing that could disrupt what I’m feeling. Sunshine and rainbows are flowing through my veins right now.
His harmony half is like a toxin I could easily grow addicted to.
“I got half a mind to ask you to use your powers on me every morning. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to feel like this every day.”
“Don’t put those tempting ideas in my mind.” He releases my jaw and steps beside me. His shoulders slump in defeat and I arch a brow. “Well, this is going to be an utterly boring trip now. Welcome to Godsden.”
He throws his hand forward as though he’s pointing at something with a huff and bored tone. I burst out laughing but also cock my head to the side in confusion.
“It’s the same path and trees.”
I attempt to mimic his poor pouting face but fail. My smile doesn’t waver even as he places his hand on my back, grunting about walking forward.
My body shivers as we pass through what feels like another one of those illusions. The difference is obvious. It’s not a wall, door, or anything visible.
A gasp falls from my lips, and I lay my fingers against them as I take in the whole new realm in front of me.
This is Godsden.
