Page 227 of The Gods Veiling
Panic sets in as I find myself stuck to his back, unable to lift myself up and swim for the surface. A deep vibration passes through him and into me.
It gradually stops, but it’s replaced by a tingling that spreads through every molecule of my being. The sensation is much like pins and needles, but it’s not painful. It’s electrifying in the best sort of way.
My blood comes alive beneath my skin. The tingling intensifies tenfold as it rushes to my back.
Suddenly, Seismet moves from underneath me, and my eyes fly open. The water doesn’t burn despite its heat, and I watch petrified as he disappears.
My limbs obey my command to move, but I stay trapped, floating underneath the water with no way to go up. True fear settles in, and I force my arms and legs to kick faster. They do, but still, I don’t move.
I tire quicker than I’m proud to admit. My lungs burn and my head grows dizzier by the millisecond. Despite my mental will to fight whatever power this is, my body decides it can’t anymore.
Every move I make becomes more lethargic until I give myself over to the sensation completely. Wholly gambling on the hope in my heart that Seismet would never let me actually drown.
The second I stop fighting, I’m propelled to the top.
My gasping breath echoes all around me and I frantically shove my hair out of my face while I fill my desperate lungs with air.
Sputtering and coughing, I spin in the water, looking for my treacherous companion. “Seismet, what the hell was—”
My shout dies on my lips as my eyes grow wide.
The hot spring is surrounded by a rocky formation. The backside is the tallest and a small, uneven platform is at the bottom right where the water kicks up on the side. The blueish white light radiating from the water casts the creature sitting on those stones in an ethereal glow.
I forget to tread water and my body sinks back beneath the surface. My feet touch the bottom, then I’m shot back to the top. Only this time, my feet somehow stay grounded like the floor of the hot spring followed me up.
Again, I shove my hair from in front of my eyes and blink rapidly, mentally telling myself I imagined that creature in my oxygen-deprived state.
I didn’t.
Shock takes hold of my body. “Impossible.”
“I’ve come to learn in my time that there’s always a possibility in the face of impossibility. It’s my greatest pleasure to finally meet you, Thayla Godrun.”
I sink into the creature’s teal eyes that are brighter than the water I stand in. My chest expands as a ball of power buds in its center. It continues to grow to the point I’m worried it’s going to burst out of me.
And soon enough, it does.
A gasp falls from my lips when that power flows from me, directly toward the creature. It collides with his chest, and he spreads his white and indigo ombre wings wide.
With no say so from me, my arms splay out the same way when I’m hit in my heart. A glow forms between the two of us that shines brighter than the moon.
As that light gradually fades, my arms flop into the water and I sway harshly.
“What…the hell was that?”
Two separate laughs penetrate my mind and I whip my head to the side to seek out the one I’m familiar with.
“Seismet, what’s going on?”
“I shall allow my old friend to explain it. Leave it to him to steal my thunder.”
“I’ve stolen nothing. Your time will come, you old horse.”
“Who are you calling old, you weathering owl?”
I glance between them with utter confusion flurrying through me. The new creature obviously heard what I asked Seismet and now I hear both of them. I don’t think I have the mental strength to deal with this.
“I’m sorry, are the two of you seriously arguing in my mind and using mortal animals as a way to insult one another right now?”
