Page 181 of The Gods Veiling
I nod, but my brothers are frozen in some strange trance as they watch her every step silently. Her reaction is taking us all by surprise, but I’m the only one who seems to be able to pull it together.
“We’ll be right out here whenever you’re ready.”
We all collectively release our breaths as she disappears down her hallway, but only a second passes before her voice rings out loudly.
“Kyzen.”
My body moves without thought. In a handful of strides, I’m crashing through her open door. She collides with my chest, and I wrap my arms around her to steady her.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Thayla. Are you okay? I didn’t realize you were right here.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. I just can’t…” She takes a couple deep breaths as she lays her palms against my chest. There’s a tremble in her hands I’ve never seen, and I hold myself back from gripping them to calm her nerves. “I cut the lights off when we left, and my power isn’t listening to me right now. I think I’m too in my head to focus.”
I do what I know she wants me to do but doesn’t want to ask.
My power comes at my command, almost grateful to be released from the confines of my skin. This use of it is far different from actually putting it to work with time, but it’s freeing regardless.
Light comes to life everywhere in her room. From her living area, to her closet and her bathroom. There’s not a single dark corner left, and her body relaxes tenfold in my hands.
Has she always been like this about the dark or did what she experience tonight do this?
I’m desperately hoping she’s always had an aversion and what happened tonight didn’t cause this for her.
Her breath fans across my neck and chill bumps break out across my skin as she slowly removes herself from my embrace. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll step out and we’ll be right out there.”
“Just…stay right here or sit. Whichever. You can snoop if you want. I don’t have anything interesting, but that’s what I’d do if I were left alone in your room.”
I run my hand across my mouth to keep from laughing when she turns and hauls ass into her closet. I caught the pinkening of her cheeks as she blabbed that out, but I don’t dare tease her right now.
Just as fast as she walked into her closest, she heads into the bathroom with a wad of clothes in her hands. She doesn’t spare me a glance, and she doesn’t shut the bathroom all the way.
So she definitely doesn’t want to be alone right now, just won’t admit it.
I can’t bring myself to sit on her bed, so I do decide to snoop, if that’s what she wants to call it. Really, I observe.
The entire atmosphere of her room reminds me of nature. The dark green walls are deep like some of the forgotten forest. The ones where us gods haven’t tried to incorporate ourselves. They’ve lived untouched and thriving.
The stone that’s intricately layered around her fireplace reminds me of the hidden pools and hot springs in the Veilatara meadows. The wings on her mantel don’t match the color of the Veilataras, gods, or any creature blessed with them.
It ties the rest of everything else I’m seeing, though.
My Binder craves freedom. The ability to be her own person and to be at peace while living her life.
Guilt turns in my stomach and chest.
That isn’t a life we’re going to be able to provide for her.
“Is she okay?”
Amick’s voice travels through the room as he stands at the threshold of her door and I move my fingers from the fireplace. He’s not going to come in here without her permission, but he was obviously growing anxious out there waiting.
“Yeah. She needed some help with the lights, then told me to wait right here.”
“Understandable. A trauma resp—”
“Not the time, brother. Let’s keep the analysis of her reactions mental for now, okay?”
