Page 216 of The Gods Veiling
“Then she’s free to go.” He and the other Healers walk away. Jay bows slightly and tells us to please come get her if needed. We each tilt our heads in response, which she seems shocked by.
“Well, I’m going to head to the house and get out of these clothes. The little burden has left me a bloody mess.”
“Riven,” Amick barks, but he just wiggles his fingers and starshoots out.
Fuck. That isn’t good.
He’s deflecting hard right now, and I’m tempted to pray that he doesn’t do anything stupid.
“He’s outside,” Yemi calls as she steps back into the hall.
The three of us nod and go into Thayla’s room. The sight of her catches them by surprise just as it had done me, but they collect themselves quickly.
“Let Amick hold her. She asked that he get her cleaned up and changed when we get home.”
Amick moves right to her side without a word. Kyzen and I step up and help him get a proper hold on her.
“What else did she say?”
“We’ll talk about it when she’s awake.”
“Creed—”
“Drop it, Kyzen. Her specific request was for us not to talk about anything until she was present. I’ll honor that and so will you.”
The blue ring in his pupils flares. His annoyance and concern are obvious, but he bites his tongue as he interferes with time. We step out into the hall and Yemi gasps as she gets swept up in his power as well. The next time she blinks, we’re already seated in the carriage.
She and Havar stare in horror at Thayla’s back while I watch how gentle Amick is. He adjusts his hold on her with such delicacy it makes my throat close. The words that came from him only hours ago run through my mind with a wildness.
He’d be good for her. She’d be great forhim.
How am I supposed to take away the thing that’s causing these changes in him?
“Yem.”
“Don’t. Just don’t. This is exactly why I didn’t want her to know. This is why I told you repeatedly not to say anything. I didn’t want you, or her, or anyone to face consequences for me. Now look at what’s been done to her.” She doesn’t remove her glare from Thayla’s back despite the glistening in her eyes.
Havar leans forward, pressing his elbows to his thighs and covering his mouth with his fist. They’re both shaken and it’ll only make things worse when she wakes up.
“When she wakes up and sees both of you, you won’t act like this. You’ll thank her for what she did, and you won’t apologize for anything. You acting like this is your fault will make her feel like her response was wrong and it wasn’t. It also wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Your own response wasn’t wrong. You are a God, Yemi, with a secret ability, and it’s time you start remembering that.
“She’s the first Attending God I’ve seen stand up for her Attendant to that degree and I didn’t even actually witness it. What I walked into in the Court and the condition Mara was left in was proof enough she made many things clear. So…I don’t give a fuck about either of your feelings at the moment. I care about her waking up and knowing what she stood for was right. Am I understood?”
Their mouths gape open at me like they’re surprised I spoke. It’s not an unusual response, but it’s one I don’t have the patience for right now. My brow draws down in warning and they straighten their shoulders. They agree just as the carriage rolls to a stop.
Kyzen hops out first, leading and guiding Amick down the stairs as he slowly makes his way forward. None of us look back at the other two.
The house feels just as depressing as we do. The silence is suffocating, and I never thought I’d be looking forward to some smart-ass remark greeting me as I came home.
“Creed, would you make me some tea…please?”
My head slowly turns until Kyzen and I lock on each other. The shock of hearing please come from Amick’s lips as he slowly lowers himself to the couch with Thayla splayed across his chest has me frozen in time.
I clear my throat and shake my head. “Uh, yeah. Kyzen, you want to help him?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
We move mindlessly. I get busy fixing all of us a mug, while Kyzen pulls the ottoman closer and helps Amick lift his legs. I’m not sure if Riven is still in the shower or not, but I prepare him one as well.
