“Thayla Godrun. I’m thrilled to meet you.”
My lips stay sealed as he continues to run his eyes over me. My mind, on the other hand…
Let’s just say it’s taking a shit ton of effort not to let the hateful thoughts color my face. My wild imagination and the exaggerated scenarios I create have kept me distracted through some really hard times.
They, unfortunately—as I’ve already proven today—can also conjure up some pretty awful things.
Instead of picturing the guys being like their father, my poor muddled mind imagines the guys as innocent children. They flinch in fear from his strong arms or duck their heads as he bellows at them. They didn’t receive tender hugs or bedtime stories.
Realistically, and now that the initial shock is wearing off, I know they experienced far worse.
I can’t let myself dwell on that or I’ll explode.
Every one of my muscles and thoughts locks up tight when he starts to circle me. I’m completely clothed, yet I’ve never felt so exposed.
I’m not sure what he’s searching for, but whatever he’s finding, he’s getting either amusement or satisfaction from it. The same appreciative sounds he made toward the guys, he’s making them at me.
“Kira—” Derivius warns, but it’s too late.
I choke on a gasp as Kirabaddon jerks my jaw up. His power swells and with it, his eyes take a different form. His pure gold irises cloud over with blackness. The only remaining piece of that color is the teardrop shape that’s bled into his pupils.
“Well, you weren’t what I was expecting at all.”
“You’ve done your assessment. It’s time for us to go.”
The breath I’d been holding pours out of me in a slow exhale at Kyzen’s voice. He’s kept his tone light, reasonable, and it gets his father’s attention.
“You’ve all just arrived. My time isn’t nearly up, and I’d like to get to know Ms. Godrun.”
“I know it’s been twelve years since you’ve been here, but I’m confident you haven’t forgotten the rules of this arrangement. You state why you called this meeting or it’s over.”
A diabolical smile replaces the calculating smirk on his lips as he tsks at Derivius.
A shriek tears from my throat when a searing sensation wraps around my waist. I find no comfort in the warmth that battles it.
“Let her go, Kirabaddon.”
My head whips between the Beginning Gods and the ropes of power they both have laced around my stomach.
The power pouring from Derivius’s hand is a glittery blue. Mix it with the black coming from Kirabaddon, my torso resembles a swirling cosmic sky.
“You release her Chaos, or I do more than sense her power.”
A small whimper I’d been attempting to hold in slips free and Derivius’s power snaps.
My body collides with Kirabaddon’s and quicker than I can blink, my arms become tied to my sides with his power, and he pulls me down onto his lap. I don’t even know how he moved us so fast.
I try to steady my hands on the stone throne as his laughing bounces me around, but it’s useless. This rope made of darkness pulls a hiss from my lips as it tightens with every move I make.
My frantic gaze bounces across the guys as their powers surround them. Derivius spreads his arms out, blocking them from rushing forward. The menacing look written across his brow has my mouth drying out.
“You dare dishonor our agreement!”
“Our agreement, Derivius, is in place for my sons. This fine specimen of a growing goddess has no such restraints. You all may leave now if you wish while I speak with her. It makes no difference to me.”
A cold sweat breaks out across my skin as he runs a finger down my cheek. Where we all fucked up is very clearly running through everyone’s mind.
The rules in their apparent agreement were stated that he couldn’t take or hurt them in this temple. Nor could they do anything to him.
