I repeated the mantra,“You will not turn them to ash. You will turn them on,”in my mind so many times, I started humming it.
Riven mimicked me and that made me laugh uncontrollably.
It worked, though. On the first try, my Seduction power responded on its own. No help from Riven. No other powers tried to push their way forward.
Just me and the power of Seduction.
The guys all jumped to their feet and cheered for me.
Kyzen, Creed, and Amick passed me around, planting kisses on my lips as they told me they knew I could do it.
Riven damn near had me in tears when he said he was proud of me, but then the little shit put me on his shoulders, ran around chanting how he couldn’t wait to get pumped with power and rain chaos.
He then proceeded to cut a flip into the hot spring, all while I screamed my head off. I came up choking while he chuckled and swam around.
“Are you—”
“Lambrit, I’m not going to tell you again that I’m sure you’re not coming with us. No one is going to the barrier but us and, unfortunately, Gladian’s Valtrue.”
“Okay, okay. Geez. Don’t smite a guy for worrying and wanting to support his best friend.”
I sigh and place my hands on my hips. “First of all, I’d never smite you. Second, the best support you can give me is by setting my mind at ease and promising you’ll stay in the safety of your home, far, far away from the barrier, the Abandon, and the God of Obliteration.”
“I don’t get why that fucker and his minions get to go but we don’t.” Sevryn scoffs.
“It’s not like we asked them to. They were told they had to in case our father had any questions about our trip. Plus, you’re supposed to be dead,” Creed says and Sevryn shrugs.
“Being dead is getting pretty old. I can only look at the same walls and trees for so long.”
“We’ll figure out a way to integrate you into the Godsdawn when this is over. Say your goodbyes, Thayla. We need to get to the hot spring.”
I wrap my arms around Lambrit, reassuring him once again that everything is going to be fine. Then I move to Rose. I laugh quietly when she tells me she’ll make him relax and not to distract myself with worrying about him.
When I move to Yemi, though, my heart clenches. She looks beyond anxious. Havar and Sevryn stand on both sides of her, shifting from side to side as though they feel her fear.
I tug her into a hug and lower my voice. “Want me to slip you some power?”
She gasps, tightening her hold around me. “Don’t you dare, Thayla. You do exactly as you’ve practiced. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
I chuckle as I pull away from her embrace and grip her shoulders. “Okay, fine. Just trying to help my best friend out since three more powerful men are going to be showing up at her door any minute now.”
Havar laughs, Sevryn scoffs, and Yemi’s face blushes red.
“Anyways. You’ll go to the hot spring, release the power, come back and change quickly, then go to the barrier. After that, you’ll return homesafely, and everything will be fine.”
My face softens and my heart grows fuller as she nods to herself about my schedule. Organizing relaxes her like no other and the fact she’s using my schedule as a way of calming herself down makes my appreciation and gratitude for her double.
She has no clue this small show of support is literally monumental to me.
“I’m going to be fine.”
“Better be. Creed and now Sevryn fuss at me about how I hold my sword. I don’t know how much help I’ll be if I have to run to your rescue.”
She definitely still holds it with a limp wrist.
Creed and Kyzen both lay a hand on my back as they guide me away from her. I can’t help but look over my shoulder, and a lump forms in my throat as all of them watch us walk into the tree line.
“Nervous?” Kyzen asks as I turn to face forward.
