Page 212 of The Gods Veiling
They’ll soon remember, though.
When she’s okay and out of this fuckingCourt.
She’ll never step foot in here again.
As Gladian relentlessly tries to get the whip from around his neck, I push more of my power and my eyes flare brighter. The natural pain my power can produce embeds itself in his weapon and grips him tighter.
I need to see every move they make with her.
I have to watch her leave that post.
Riven scoops her up with her chest pressed to his. She’s so limp, he has to wrap her legs around his waist for her, while Amick adjusts her arms. Kyzen gently pushes the hair out of her tear-soaked face.
The look of relief in her eyes when Riven pivots his body to glare at me is nearly my undoing. I’ve given her no reason to trust or not trust me. I’ve given her nothing but clipped words and vague information.
I told her to stay away. Quit pushing me.
It’s my own fault she thought I’d ever hurt her.
The second Riven gets a better grip under her thighs, he takes off running. There’s no doubt his harmony half is eating him alive, and he can’t resist but to make whatever’s going on inside of her better. There’s also no question that his chaos side is raging at that fact.
He and his power may hate it right now, but he’s the best man to get her out of here and to the healing villas. He can wrap his power around her and try to outweigh the pain.
Her small cry and the way her trembling hand stretches toward me make me see black. It’s like she’s trying to apologize for doubting my intentions. She has no reason to do that.
A small caress flows across her soul inside of me and I want nothing more than to latch onto it, seal it to mine for forever.
I won’t do that.
I refuse to ever do that to her.
The situation she’s in is bad enough. I won’t make it worse by letting my soul devour hers.
I finally turn to face Gladian as Kyzen and Amick take a side each of mine. His face is three shades redder but not near the color her back was.
“From this moment forward, you and your Valtrue are to have no contact of any kind with our Binder. She’s excused utterly and completely from responsibility in the Gods Court. Nod that you understand me.”
The deep baritone of Kyzen’s voice has the entire Defender designation stepping back.
Gladian tries his hardest to get out of the restraint I have him in, but it’s futile. I’ve gone easy. I’ve suppressed my abilities and allowed him to believe just because he’s the God of Strength he’s above me.
His pointless competition has gone on long enough.
I’ve allowed this so we could keep the peace. I wanted the freedom and flexibility to be elsewhere besides this Court day in and day out. Even after this is over, I still expect that. I don’t want or have any intentions to take his spot, but he’ll know after today where he stands with me.
“Answer my brother,” I command.
His glare narrows darkly as he scans the three of us. He offers only a minuscule blink, but it’s a recognition, nonetheless.
I take a knee in front of him and grab his jaw with my free hand. I force him to look into the depth of my eyes while I say my peace.
“Let it be known, Gladian, I’m sparing your life today for the simple fact I know I can’t take on the Beginning Gods. If not for them, I’d be taking your soul down to Hellveilious for laying your whip against my Binder’s flesh.”
I don’t smile at his bristling or the way his eyes widen with his fear. I get no pleasure from this, and I don’t say any of this to gloat. I mean every word from the darkest parts of my soul.
“If you’ve forgotten how you felt receiving that scar twenty years ago, then keep pushing us. We’ll remind you. I’ll show you what a kiss from death truly feels like. I don’t have to kill you or steal your soul for you to feel agony every day for the rest of your life. Remember that, Gladian, and inform your Valtrue.”
I stand, embedding my power deeper into his blessed object and killing off every drop of godly essence in it as I go. When I sense there’s nothing left but dry, brittle leather, I snatch it forward.
