The only time I’ve ever really opened up to my brothers, Annalise, Ellian, anyone was while using some dark humor.
Verlet is the only being that knows my truths. My brothers’ truths as well. And that’s because he was granted that knowledge without our permission.
The carriage rolls to a stop, and I grit my teeth, snatch my hair, then finally give up the war inside of me. My harmony floods my system, and I clench my fists. One last effort to fight it off before I give in fully.
Un-fucking-fortunately, clarity rushes my mind, my breathing regulates, and awareness around me amplifies tenfold.
I’ll admit, to my shock, my chaos still lingers on the edge, and my other half allows it as though it knows it may be needed thanks to the situation and place we’re in.
I enter the living room, far more subdued than I left it, and my gaze instantly falls on Thayla.
She’s tucked between Creed and Amick with a blank face, but a glare that’s burning with anger and despair.
Fuck. I want to wrap her up.
She flicks those multi-colored eyes to me, and for a brief, split second, something resembling gratitude crosses them.
“We aren’t staying here long. I don’t believe we’ll find the Binding here, but we’re going to check the barrier just to be sure, then we’re leaving. Everyone has their Amethyst?” Amick asks and everyone murmurs but me.
Kyzen stretches his arm out toward me, uncurling his hand to reveal the little baggies I put all the crystals in.
I nod, then hold the apologetic gaze he’s giving me.
It makes me feel like a fucking dickhead.
He always feels guilty for fussing at any of us. Even when we definitely need it.
“Let’s go,” Creed declares and everyone files out the door.
I fall in line silently, right behind Thayla.
I force my twitching fingers not to run down the back of her arm. Her turmoil is potent, and my power wants nothing more than to soak that shit up.
She runs her hand down Seismet’s body as Havar stops and stands in front of them. He won’t unhook them right now since we’ve only just started our travels, but in a few more hours, he’ll need to so they can rest.
Thayla’s gasp draws all my attention back to her, but I see what she sees not a second later.
Standing proud, taller than my eyes can follow, is a light lavender, shimmering barrier.
Its power is pulsing. Thrumming against my skin in waves.
“Its color was never noticeable. It’s always just looked…I don’t know, blurry.”
“Obviously, with our powers, we can see it for what it truly is now,” Lambrit adds, looking at her with astonishment.
I’m pretty damn shocked too.
The Abandon’s doesn’t have a color and the power that wafts off it is familiar. It feels just like any other barrier the God of Boundaries left behind.
This one does not. Not entirely.
It feels like—more.
“It’s most certainly not behind this,” Amick murmurs, raising his fingers just enough to allow them to skim down it.
“How do you know for certain?” Thayla asks.
“The Valorian power pulsing from this is minimal.”
