Page 199 of The Gods Veiling
“We engage in activities together daily.”
They all pivot their bodies toward me, so I mimic the motion. Creed takes a step closer toward me. “The two of you do what together daily?”
“By the Valories, Amick.” Thayla tosses her hands in the air. “Their minds have gone straight to sex, while yours…hell, I don’t know where yours is at.”
Both fire and ice slither through my body. Rarely, by that I mean I can recall the number of times and the events in the thirty-five years of my life that caused me to feel this way. It’s happened twice now with her being involved.
My mind blanks while I get the feeling under control and stop the fever coursing across my skin. It takes considerable effort to force my muscles to obey me, but as they do, I center myself. Thayla’s eyes widen when mine sear into hers.
“You want to know how we feel about you romantically dating? Am I now understanding the point to this conversation?”
“I…I didn’t exactly specify that, but I’d assume after a while, it’d become romantic.”
My brothers lose their minds. Their voices rise to unbearable volumes that cause my ears to ring and my heart to pound erratically.
“Out.”
“Fuck no. We’re getting down to the bottom of this and she’s going to tell us who the hell asked her out,” Riven argues.
“I said out.” Thayla turns on her heel, ready to do as I commanded. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Her shoulders tense as she slowly lowers her hand from the handle. The glares from the others heat my face, but I don’t turn my attention from our daring Binder.
“Come on. We’ll talk about this with her later.” Kyzen finally steps in, but if he had done his job already, it wouldn’t be coming to this.
He, Creed, and Riven stomp from the room, sparing Thayla glances as they go. “You’ve done it now, little burden. Coming in here asking stupid-ass questions like that.”
“Fuck you, Riven.”
“If that’s what you wanted, angel, all you had to do was tell me so.” He boops her on her nose as he steps away, and I know what she’s preparing to do before she even does.
“Don’t.”
Her clenched fists hang limply at her sides. Her glare is unwavering until the click of the door makes her flinch. I take a step toward her.
“Explain to me what brought this on.”
Her chest heaves in measured, deep breaths the closer I grow to her. She stands her ground as I knew she would. “Nothing. I was just trying to figure out what everyone’s opinions were on this subject.”
“You’re lying,Mysenta. You have no control over your body’s reaction to your emotions.” I raise my fingers slowly and run them down her ear. “When you lie, your earlobes turn red. You don’t wear your hair down enough to hide it. I won’t ask again for the truth.”
I watch in amazement as her pupils dilate. I’m still not sure exactly which of her emotions cause that as it happens quite frequently.
She releases a slow breath as I let go of her ear. “I was asked out, just a moment ago in the dining hall. I don’t want to tell you or the others by who. It just made me think about how I don’t know how any of this works.”
I hide the natural reaction of my jealousy behind my unblinking eyes. It’s a foreign emotion. One I’m not willing to process in the middle of this conversation.
“How any of what works?”
“Relationships, dating. As a Binder, or I guess any member of the Valtrue, is that an accepted or expected practice to date outside your group? Everyone just goes about their romantic lives dating around and their partners are just okay with them being tied to four other people for the rest of their lives?”
“Statistically, you have to keep in mind, there’re more gods not in Valtrues than those in completed ones. But yes, that’s an accepted and expected practice. Just because beings are paired in a Valtrue together doesn’t mean they’re romantically compatible.”
“So…you all would be fine with me seeing someone romantically?”
“No. Is that really what you want?”
“Oh my gods, Amick,” she groans, gripping her head, then letting her hands fall fast to her sides. “No, I’m not saying that’s what I want. But I’m still confused. It’d bother you all if I were to see someone, but what, because I’m tied to the four of you, I just have to live the rest of my life and never be with someone again?”
