“My crime was using my power when I wasn’t supposed to. First against the High Chancellor’s order, who then took it upon himself to label me an Attendant. My punishment was that I was assigned to a goddess in Valveilious.
“I then, three years ago, spoke out of turn to her and again, used my power. She didn’t take kindly to that and assigned me to Zareb. She thought she was granting a favor by assigning me and my particular abilities to that part of Hell.”
To say I’m confused is an understatement.
Iric’s voice doesn’t hold the least bit of anger or animosity. I’d be fucking raging and plotting my revenge. He, on the other hand, is calm and understanding. It’s baffling.
“So you’re not an Attendant at all? Like that isn’t your legitimate Designation?” I ask.
“No. My Designation is a Healer.”
“What about your Domain?”
I give him a small, apologetic smile for my directness. I didn’t really think about that being a tad personal before the question slipped free.
“I have a Domain under the Goddess of Creation. I’d prefer not to share my abilities yet. With the high tension surrounding us right now, I don’t think it’d be appropriate.”
Well, damn…does he accidentally almost give people orgasms too when he heals them? Aww, I miss Jay.
“You’re aware that when I figure out a way to integrate all of you back into the Godsdawn, you may run into the High Chancellor? I’m a Rising Chancellor. Not necessarily by choice or want, but that’s how it is. I plan to forge a routine that keeps you all out of his sights and your Valtrue a secret, but that will only last so long.”
“He’s the lesser of the two evils in my opinion.”
Amick’s legs tense beneath me. I can’t wrap my mind around which goddess in Valveilious could be worse than Harriseen, butthen again, I don’t really know at all who lives there or what goes on there.
The silence that blares through the carriage makes my chest tighten. My leg is bouncing against Amick’s, opposite to the pattern Sevryn’s foot’s tapping.
Despite Doren’s nonstop attempts to bridge the gaps between his Valtrue members, it isn’t working. I haven’t helped. If anything, I probably just made Nero hate my ass.
Honestly, oh well. The fact that he already had it in his mind that he’d be packing her up and taking her away without even talking to her about it pisses me off.
They’re going to make Yemi feel so uncomfortable when they meet her.
Soon enough, the wheels bounce against solid ground and Amick tightens his hold on me. Sevryn doesn’t wait for us to roll to a full stop before he shoves the door wide and hops out.
The sound of a metal being unsheathed echoes through the small space and faster than I can blink, Creed, Riven, and Kyzen are out the door behind him.
“Easy, boy, I mean you no harm.”
I’ve never heard that smooth ancient voice before and Amick doesn’t try to stop me as I jump from his lap.
Creed has his hand on one of Sevryn’s shoulders, while Kyzen holds the other. Riven, as happy and smiley as he can be, holds his hand out for me to take. He lobs his arm around me with a laugh as soon as I’m tucked into his side.
“Mean me no harm? You caused me harm every time I sent a request to you to release me.”
“Your redemption was out of my hands. I needed explicit consent from your father or the God of Death. It’s obvious it was granted in the long run.”
“Yeah, the long run, you fucking piece of shit. Years too long.”
The god standing before us doesn’t respond. He continues to run his eyes across us with his fingers laced together.
“What do you need, Phoelius? You obviously sensed I was here.”
Phoelius?
“Who is this?” I whisper to Riven.
“The good ol’ God of Redemption.”
