Page 214 of The Gods Veiling
“She told me she was going to talk to you, well, all of you, but you specifically.” Her voice trembles with her words. A couple deep breaths and clearings of her throat, she tells us everything that happened.
My blood grows hotter.
Mara was at fault, no matter how you look at it. She approached, cornered, and touched another god’s Attendant. As ridiculous and disgusting as the traditions surrounding the Designation have become, there’re still rules to follow.
She broke them and got what she deserved.
With that being said, I can assure you I’m a hypocrite. I couldn’t give a single fuck about all the rules Thayla broke after that. They each were a consequence of what Mara set in motion.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” all our heads turn toward Jay.
“Is she okay?” Kyzen asks.
“She’s…going to be okay. We’ve fixed the major damage, but her new skin is sensitive. It needs time to stitch itself together and I’m afraid she’s going to scar. If you can keep her from moving too strenuously, they’ll heal faster. She also lost alot of blood. Had her power not settled…” She can’t finish her sentence as she clears her throat and shakes her head.
Yemi sniffles, but her face is set in a grim line. I smell the rage and guilt pouring off her. She has nothing to be guilty for, though. Mara would’ve done what she did no matter what. Thayla was going to react to that.
“She’s been heavily dosed with multiple powers and even some holistic remedies, but she’s not going to sleep. That’s what she needs most right now, but she’s refusing. She wants to speak with you.”
Her eyes settle on me and all heads turn toward me.
“Me?”
“Hopefully, if you speak with her, she’ll go back to sleep. She woke up the moment one of us touched her and stayed awake through the whole healing process.”
My feet are moving before my mind does.
Stubborn-ass woman.
The healing process isn’t always gentle and comforting. Some abilities don’t have the means to take away or block the pain such as this girl’s do. That’s probably why she was asked to join.
A phantom sucker punch hits me straight in the gut as soon as I step into her room. She’s lying on her stomach and her back has been cleaned up, but the four angry red lines are bright and glistening from the healing ointment they’ve slathered on her.
“We’ll step out and give you a minute.”
I don’t acknowledge the Healers as they go.
Slowly, my feet drag me to her bedside and my fingers flinch with the need to trace those lines. They even hover above them for a second, then they freeze.
Why the fuck is her back already scarred?
“I’m not dead yet. Please don’t stand above me like you’re reliving all our glorious moments together for the last time.”
I step in front of her turned head and crouch down until we’re eye level. “Don’t say dead yet. Ever again.”
“I’m starting to think you and the Healer girl like playing with my emotions. Her power tried to give me an orgasm again, but it didn’t work. You look like your heart’s broken. I really can’t tell if you’re ready to get rid of me or keep me forever.”
I swallow roughly at her small voice. She’s trying so hard to lighten the mood, but her multicolored, gorgeous eyes don’t look like the stain glass they usually resemble.
If someone threw a brick through our living room window, shattering all the pieces across the floor, then that’s what they’d resemble right now.
“Did I hurt them?”
“Who?”
“Amick, Kyzen, Riven…you. Did I hurt any of you when I pulled on my soul?”
My chest tightens unbearably at the remorse in her eyes. “No, you didn’t hurt any of us. After you get some rest and heal, I’ll explain exactly what pull means what and how to do each of them.”
