“Yeah, I did, sorry about that. But yourplease say nosurprised me. I was wondering if it’s just because of him or what?”
“Well, thankfully, it’s not him, but no. I mean, I guess it’s not him exactly. I’ve heard he’s a little rough around the edges, but nothing nefarious or anything. He’s a Domain God, though, a very powerful and old one. That kind of dynamic is what freaked me out. I’ve seen the way Gladian treats Mara, well, all of them. Not that I give a single shit about them, but I see that dynamic and I don’t want someone in my Valtrue who believes they’re better than me or all our other members because they may be stronger or older.”
Oh no…
I didn’t really pick up that mindset from Doren,though.
“What’s that look on your face?”
I attempt to unscrunch my nose. “Your member is kind of old and powerful.”
Her face grows angrier. “Spit it out, Thayla.”
“He’s the God of Discovery. His name is Doren.” I go on and on, repeating everything I learned from and about him. Her eyes grow wider, and her face pales the more I speak. “He was actually really sweet, maybe a little awkward but—”
“Stop. You’re babbling.”
I zip my lips and stare at her as she processes my words. She rubs her forehead, groaning. “What is my life coming to?”
I snort, then hold my hand over my mouth when she glares at me. “I’m sorry. Inappropriate time.”
She shakes her head, then tilts it back to the sky. “Gods, Sevryn is going to freak out.”
“You really think so?”
“I don’t know. This is exactly what we argued about before we left. It wasn’t really an argument, more so he was being an ass because that’s what he does when he’s, I don’t want to say afraid, but yeah, afraid or shocked. I made a comment about how our other three members are somewhere in the Godsden, and he went off saying he didn’t give a shit to find or meet them. He wasn’t going to play buddy-buddy with some random-ass gods. This whole…his whole situation has been difficult for him.”
“I completely sympathize and understand that, but honestly, I’m more concerned with you and how you feel right now. I know that sounds like I don’t care about him and that’s not what I’m trying to say, but from what I’ve seen, he turns to you a lot and your emotions greatly influence his. So I think how you approach this is going to make it easier or harder for him to accept.”
She nods, mindlessly running her hands through Fausta’s braids as she inches closer and lays her head beside her.
Even if I couldn’t see how tense Yemi’s body language is, I could tell her mind is running through a thousand things. There’s no doubt the Veilatara can feel her.
“I’m nervous, scared, excited, worried. I can give you a reason for every emotion. I’m glad you warned me now, though. I have time to think about it and talk to Sevryn. The rest of our Valtrue popping up at one time surprising us would surely piss him off. In turn, that’ll piss me off, then the other three would be like what the fuck did we walk into.”
I grin despite the unamused look on her face. “Are you secretly worried your boyfriend isn’t going to like your other boyfriends?”
“Thayla.” She gasps, and I lean out of the way of her incoming playful smack.
“What? I’m just saying, the option might be on the table.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You never—”
“Ladies,” Kyzen calls as he walks up to us with his hands shoved in his pockets and a small guilty smile on his face. His power washes over our skin and I narrow my eyes.
“What happened?”
He hangs his head and sighs, then turns to Yemi. “Amick may or may not have blabbed about who the God of Discovery really is to you. Riven most certainly baited Amick into saying it. Now Havar is currently teasing Sevryn, who Creed is holding back.”
“Gods damn it,” she huffs, turning to me, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. He’s such an instigating ass.”
“He did that shit on purpose to get back at me, didn’t he?”
“Only the Valories know. Either payback to you or he was truly trying to rile Amick up and tease Sevryn.”
