“It’ll be okay. If he was willing and wanting to do this on his own, then he knew he could overcome whatever is happening.”
“Gods, stop with the reasoning, Amick. I can’t take it right now.”
“So you’d prefer to panic?”
“Yes.”
His eyebrows scrunch together as he runs his fingers up and down her spine.
Honestly, though, I’m freaking out just as much as she is.
Nothing about this sits right with me.
My power pulses against my skin, confused about what it should do, if anything. I don’t believe there’s a thing I can help with right now, but I’m desperate to do something.
Gasps fall from all our mouths as an ear-splintering bellow breaks from Creed. Even muffled, it sounds torturous.
Black smoke wafts off the water surrounding him and he thrashes around as if he’s trying but failing to get free.
Thayla’s frantic pleas and screams have all of us shouting his name, but we cling to her as she attempts to break away from us.
“Let me go to him!”
Amick, Riven, and I grunt as a tug snatches painfully against our chests, but we don’t relent our grips. If anything, they tighten when the floor vibrates beneath us.
I suck in a harsh breath as a flash of white light swarms Creed.
The bright ball of power slices and swirls through the air in rapid, erratic patterns. Its speed increases, blowing wind across our skin as it molds to the shape of my brother.
The four of us tumble into one another when that light explodes. Ripples race across the water, and Creed sails over the edge toward us.
He slams onto his back not even a foot away, panting desperately, and Thayla throws herself to her knees beside him.
“Are you okay? Valories, what the fuck was that? Are you hurt? Let me see you.”
Her hands roam manically all over his body and he slowly gets his breathing under control.
She stops her cussing and fast-moving fingers as a small chuckle falls from his lips. My brothers and I share a look with one another when that sound morphs into a full-blown laugh.
“You stubborn-ass woman.”
“It’s not fucking funny, asshole. What was that?”
His laughter fades as he reaches his shaking hand up until he’s cupping the side of her neck. The three of us finally snap out of our shock and kneel behind her. The smile on his face is so confusing.
“To make a long story short, every time I come here and either devour or release the souls, a piece of me becomes more attached.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Thayla asks as Amick clears his throat.
“I’d prefer you not shorten this explanation.”
“It means, every time I come here, my soul becomes more tied to Hellveilious. Over the years, that thread of connection has grown stronger, and eventually, it’ll solidify. Binding me here.”
“What do you mean binding you? Like you won’t ever be able to leave? Or like your soul will be stuck here? What are you talking about?”
Thayla’s gaze grows crazed as her hand grips his wrist and her other rubs his chest as though she can keep his soul nestled there safely.
“Are you cryptically trying to explain that the reason Vihaan never left Hellveilious was because he was completely bound here and couldn’t leave? And that’s why you’ve neglected coming here lately because you’re trying to defy that fate?”
