I finally lean my head up at Riven’s laughing and Thayla’s silence since I’m obviously missing something.
The only thing I seem to have gotten wrong is her glare isn’t as fierce as I expected. Her face is red from her frustration at Creed, but I don’t know why Riven’s calling him freaky. He throws her over his shoulder all the time.
She’d surely punch him if he attempted to restrain her.
My head turns to Kyzen’s laugh next, but he shakes his head. “Carry on, little goddess.”
“As I was saying, we can ask him because he’s in Yemi’s Valtrue. He’ll be joining us as soon as he finds their last two members.”
My brothers all shout “what,” which will always be ridiculously annoying. I see no point in asking her to repeat herself if she speaks as clearly as she just did.
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s not. I saw his mark. A big, beautiful, petrifying B seared right onto his wrist.”
“So not impossible but shouldn’t be happening.” I correct myself.
“I’ve been thinking hard about this ever since hers and Sevryn’s mark showed up. It’s become an afterthought with everything else going on but hear me out. Seeing as we know that the Beginning Gods are interfering and pairing the Valtrues wrong, also the original Gods Binding itself is picking the Chosen and continuously recycling what power it can into the realm, what if, more diverse Valtrues would be paired if the gods didn’t interfere and the Binding did its thing?
“It’s very possible Yemi was always supposed to be in a Valtrue, but because Sevryn was in the Abandon, then in Hellveilious, his essence didn’t mingle with our Binding until he stepped foot in the true—maybe not true—but Valoriesblessed part of Godsden. Since he didn’t give the Beginning Gods a chance to mix up his Valtrue, they naturally paired.”
I tilt my head at her words. “As sound as that may be, it’s a tad bit—”
“Very good, Thayla,”V cuts me off to say.
“Oh my gods, I’m right?”
“You are. As soon as Sevryn stepped across the God of Boundaries’ barrier surrounding Hellveilious, his essence traveled through that lingering power, into the Gods Binding. It sifted through the matches, and then the Binding gave it back. Their marks appeared because all members of their Valtrue have had powers released.”
Thayla, Creed, Riven, and I stay silent as we stare at V, but Kyzen grunts, staring off into space.
“Something you’d like to add, Kyzen?”V asks.
He blinks repeatedly and shakes his head. “No, just mulling over that.”
I bounce my gaze between them, noticing how Kyzen’s fingers flex under the water for a moment.
Interesting. He’s not the brother I expect to ever hide things from us.
Thayla covers her mouth as a large yawn breaks free and her eyes are glossed when she opens them once again. Obvious exhaustion settles over her the longer she sits here in the relaxing heat and it’s only a matter of time before she gives in to the call of sleep.
Somehow, with perfect coordination, as if we timed it, my brothers and I stand as one, and each make our way out of the bath. Kyzen grabs a towel and holds it open as Creed lifts Thayla over the side.
“I can do it on my own,” she groans, but the moment he releases her, her knees almost give out.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“Asshole.”
He rolls his eyes and smirks behind her back as Kyzen wraps the towel around her, but I step up and unbutton her pants.
“Not sure I got that much energy left in me, Candyman.”
My brothers snort, and I know she’s teasing me, but I pin her with a meaningful stare. “Even if that was my intention, I’d allow you to do nothing but lie back and enjoy it.”
“That would be my cue to leave you all be. Call for me after your nap, Thayla girl.”
V hoots as he leaves the bathroom and I return her smirk with a coy one of my own. I slip her wet pants and underwear off her legs as Creed unhooks her bra, then proceeds to lift her.
