Amick nods appreciatively, then walks over to where Thayla’s plopped on the ground a few feet from where Seismet took his spot.
Verlet makes his way over with Riven and me, and not a second after we sit, Creed appears.
“What the hell is that?” Riven asks.
“The basket?”
“Yes, but why do you have it?”
“I don’t know, asshole, I figured everyone may want something and I couldn’t carry it all. I’ll make sure to send yours back home.”
“Hold your hormones. I didn’t know you had food in there.”
“This really isn’t the time for a picnic,” Amick adds.
“Why not? Thayla’s always happier when she’s fed.”
She lets out an agreeing grunt. “That’s one hundred percent accurate and I’m starving.”
Creed gives both Riven and Amick atold you solook as he sits and starts taking half our damn kitchen out of the basket. I’m not sure why either of them bitched, though. All four of us eat like each meal’s our last one.
Thayla chugs an entire cup of water, then moves directly to the coffee he also brought. At her satisfiedah, she rubs her hands together.
“Okay, so who wants to start telling me about the Goddess of Seduction?”
“I want you to get the Goddess of Seduction out of your mind and just think of the domain, Seduction. This power comes from her, but it is yours and you’ll wield it differently. So put it in your mind as my seduction.”
She cocks her head to the side for a moment, then nods. “Okay. My seduction.”
“Seduction in its deepest sense isn’t only about sex or lust. It’s also attraction, influence, drawing others in, and the exchange of desires. The Plentiful Designation comes from Seduction because its power is so versatile and can be prosperous.”
“Wait, really?” Her head snaps toward Riven and he begrudgingly tilts his head. To my utter shock, he cuts in.
“The ability to grow crops, plants, poisons, build structures, carriages, whatever, feeds the body, provides us with physical comforts that help people thrive. Seduction feeds our very being, our souls, with intimacy, attraction of any kind, and union. Like o wise one said, it isn’t just sexy feelings. It provides connections, vitality, and inspiration. Invisible attributes, sure, but essential. If we all hated one another, what would we have?”
“Huh. I never thought about it like that. So it’s kind of split. There definitely is a sexual side to the power but also not. Right? Oh, like Rose. So her domain is under the Goddess of Affection, but she’s a Domain God directly under the Goddess of Seduction, right?”
“Correct. Rose’s abilities are to incite rest and relaxation, which isn’t sexual. It’s almost healing. It provides you with the opportunity to reset your mind. The sexual side to the power is the easiest to wield because it’s the most natural. Sexual desire is and will always be present in our instincts. Seduction produces some obvious abilities at a greater level such as intense allure and heightened sensuality.
“While the nonsexual side is a tad trickier. You don’t want to fulfil sexual desire but emotional, social, and even hierarchical wants. Like Riven said, the invisible attributes range greatly, such as sparking collaboration and conversation that leads to a new development or discovery. Or manipulate emotion during a heated argument to a calm discussion. Pushing too much or too little won’t get you the results you want. Rose being a good example, if she pushed too much of her ability out, instead of resting, she’d put someone to sleep.”
She blows out a harsh breath and runs her palms down her thighs. “This is a lot more layered than I thought. I figured you all would be walking me through how to turn you on faster.”
I snort. “You don’t have to use any power to do that.”
“Put all that to the side. I wanted to inform you of that because you need to know the distinctions. Now I want you to try to locate the Seduction in your body. It’s going to be particular and it’s going to have a place. All the powers havea place in you, and I can guarantee that’s why your whole body vibrates or tingles when it’s getting ready to come out,” Amick says.
“Okay. Where should I try to sense it?”
“Your lower belly.”
Her head turns to Riven. “Really?”
“Yep.”
He doesn’t elaborate on anything more and she takes his one-word response for what it is. She moves her mug to the side and gets to her knees, resting her hands on her lower belly.
“Now do I just talk to it or…?”
