Page 205 of The Gods Veiling
Her shoulders slump in defeat and she sighs. “Rose was waiting to tell us together, but when you left, she went ahead and informed me the Attendants’ chamber in the Court was trashed again. It’s happened plenty of times, but it’s never mattered until now. So I decided to go and check to make sure your stuff and my spare clothes I put there weren’t messed with.
“When I left the Athenaeum, Havar and Collum were coming out as well and said they’d walk me, but I told them not to worry about walking in the Court with me. I’d be in and out.”
“I never should’ve listened to you.”
“Enough, just let me get it out.” She lays her hand on his trembling arm and looks back at me. “I…I do have an ability. I don’t want to talk about it right now, but I just want you to know I do have one and it’s easy to hide. I typically can use it to protect myself anytime I’ve ever been cornered, and I do to divert any really bad damage from being done. For the most part, it’s very undetectable, but since the Veiling and more power got released, it’s not so easy to hide if I let it out.
“When I got to the Attendants’ chamber, our stuff was fine, so I left, but as soon as I came out, I was approached. I knew what was about to happen and tried to keep walking, but they grabbed me. I panicked and let more of my power slip than I meant to. To the person who touched me, they thought I slapped them. I didn’t, but that’s probably what my ability felt like when it pushed against them. I finally reined it back in and well…yeah.”
She highlights her eye like that’s the result she expected, deserved. That response has my blood boiling even more and my ears ring, but I force my voice to stay steady.
“You’re okay otherwise?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. A black eye is nothing new. It’s just been a while.”
I grind my teeth painfully. “And who did this?”
“I really don’t want to tell you.”
“And I really don’t want to force it out of you, so please don’t make me, but this isn’t okay. No one should put their hands on you, Yemi. You did nothing to deserve this.”
“Please just tell us.”
“You haven’t even told him?”
“No. He has a big mouth and would’ve told you already.”
“Yeah, because she’s your fucking Attending God, Yemi, and can actually make a difference with this sort of thing. She can make it to where nothing happens to you without the other god facing consequences.”
“Yeah, and put herself in a position to face her own consequences, Havar. That’s what you’re not understanding. She actually has to train in that Court and go to the darker side of Godsden with those gods at her side. She has to face so much more already than either of us does and I’m not going to be the reason those gods turn their back on her.”
“Let me decide that for myself, okay?”
My question comes out as soft as I can make it. I’m literally giving myself bruises from pinching my arms so hard where they’re crossed over my chest just to force my feet to stay planted.
“You’re not going to do anything to get yourself in trouble, right? You’ll just wait this out and talk to your Valtrue about it first?”
“Yep.”
She sighs once again, either detecting the lie or she just doesn’t have the energy to continue to stand here and argue with Havar and me teaming up on her now.
“It was some of the female Defenders who cornered me. Mara did this.”
A blazing inferno burns through my entire body to the point I shake. Everything in me both goes numb and vibrates from the rage I feel. The paling and pleading on her face are the only things keeping me from snapping.
“Okay. Thank you for telling me. I’ll make sure to discuss this with Creed.”
She exhales sharply and smiles softly at Havar. “Thank you. See, it’s going to be fine.”
His eyes meet mine.
“Havar, will you get her comfortable? When the guys get home, I’ll talk with them, and we’ll walk you to the healing villas if the swelling hasn’t gone down. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah. I just want to lie on my couch for now. I’ll go there later, though.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to go check and see if one of them came home already by chance. I’ll be over in a few to check on you.”
She nods, but I can’t look her in the eye very long. I force my legs to keep steady as I walk back through my door and I lean against it when I close it.
