“You’re most welcome. What has you so moody today?”
Both of them express their displeasure and outrage when I start off telling them what the High Chancellor tried to pull. I chuckle as Seismet threatens to stomp on him and while V agrees, he pushes for more.
“What else happened?”
“We tried working with my power today and it was an epic fail. It wouldn’t listen whatsoever and I’m so tired of not understanding it. Some insight from my lovely, ancient, know-it-all connections would be helpful.”
Neither of them gives me any sass, any laughs, nothing. The silence that fills my head has me throwing my hands up and kicking the dirt at my feet.
“Don’t the two of you think I should know what you know about my powers?”
“No,”V says while Seismet huffs,“Yes.”
“That’s two against one.” My head swivels to stare at V.
He has the nerve to peck me on my damn nose, then flap his wings all in my face.
“Gang up on me all you want. That won’t sway all the answers out of me.”
“Come on, V. Give me something. Just a little guidance. I can’t have a repeat of what happened in the Court or the other day. My power destroyed my bathroom. Thank fuck for the self-cleaning and fixing or it’d be unusable. Even thoughAmick explained to me what it’d feel like, I didn’t even realize it was happening both times until after the fact.
“The sensations closely resemble what I normally feel when I’m pissed. I don’t even understand what my power does. First in the Court, it seemed verbal, as though my voice could command people, but then I literally destroyed glass and marble.”
“I will make a compromise. How does that sound?”
Seismet and I scoff. That draws an unexpected laugh from me, and V squawks at us like he’s tired of our shit already.
“Fine, fine. A compromise I can live with, if it’s promising.”
“Anything I say is promising.”
“Yeah, yeah, we get it. You’re ancient and know best. Get on with it and tell her something useful.”
“The two of you are going to be so difficult for me. I can see it clearly.”
I smile between the two of them as my heart swells. Their bickering is hilarious, but their easy teasing and closeness bring me a lot of joy.
It’s sweet.
“What’s your compromise, V? I’ll take anything at this point.”
“Instead of Amick telling you about how power is released from the Gods Binding and what it’s doing to you, I will teach you that. I will tell him the direction he needs to go in his lessons on teaching you how to control your power.”
“I really want to know how you knew that was his plan. Have you been talking to him without me?”
“His mind is much louder than anyone else’s. Due to his power, he is always thinking, nonstop, and those thoughts are loud. Last night, he was highly focused and concentrating on the plans he had for us all and what would benefit you the most.”
My heart pinches in both appreciation and worry. That’s incredibly endearing and flattering to know. At the same time, the way my thoughts send me spiraling out of control sometimes, I can’t imagine what it’s like to always be thinking.
I wonder what it’d be like for him if he could cut the thoughts off just for a little while.
“That’s a good compromise, V.”
“Wonderful. Just so you know, the Gods Binding has countless uses that you’ll eventually learn, but for the sake of this explanation, I’m only going to focus on releasing power. Let’s jump in.”
I snort and narrow my eyes at him.
Sly Vedarya had this planned.
