Oh shit. One of the three Creed put in charge of this place.
“I did. You relinquished your hold on several souls. I’m here to send off those worthy enough to return to normal life, as I should. I wanted to see how you were holding up first.”
“I’m fine.”
“I see that. Better than fine, actually.” The God of Redemption’s gaze cuts to me, and I hold his stare. A small, curious smile curls his lips. “I see who is responsible for that.”
“Me?”
No shit, he’s talking about you, Thayla.
“Eyes off her.” Creed growls.
“I’m merely observing.”
And observe he does.
His gaze crawls across me. Not in a malicious or sexual way. It seems…deeper than a surface-level inspection. Riven flexes his fingers against my shoulder and Amick steps closer, smushing me between them.
“You know, long before we used the terminology, Binder, there was a saying in our realm that many have forgotten. ‘A god is only granted his worthiness by the goddess who stands before him.’ I truly look forward to finally seeing what you’re worth, God of Death.”
With a tilt of his head, Phoelius turns and strides through the exact door we need to go through.
“Well, I for one remember the stories about that saying. That’s why I have all intentions of giving Yemi any and everything she needs in life.”
I peer over my shoulder and smirk at Doren’s tilted chin and massive smile. That man doesn’t even know her last name but is ready to give her the realm.
I approve of him.
As long as he doesn’t agree to move her.
“Get me the fuck out of here,” Sevryn demands, snatching out of Creed’s grip and stomping toward the door.
I also approve of him even though he’s a dick.
Yemi needs his brand of assholery to find the rest of her voice.
Phoelius is nowhere to be seen, and I don’t hold the gazes of the beings waiting to go through their doors as we file inside. My throat closes with the thought that each who passes a threshold, a piece of them attaches to Creed.
No part of me thinks they connect in a way that my soul is to his, but they no doubt do something to him.
I hate that thought.
The same god who got our carriage together for us is waiting at the end of the hall that leads back through the Division. He’s silent as he bows to Creed, then opens the door.
Hushed mumbles follow us as we walk through the shiny structure, but none of us pay anyone much attention. Even after we exit the double doors, I focus on following Creed’s back and the beat of Riven’s finger tapping against my shoulder.
Confusion colors my face as we approach the stone wall, and Creed wordlessly lays his palm to it.
“What now?” I ask and Kyzen turns around, holding his hand out to me.
“Don’t be a Binder hog. I’ve got her this time.” Riven snarks, pulling me back to him when I take a step forward.
Kyzen rolls his eyes and gives me a small smile.
“Creed’s giving his permission for us to pass back through. We’ll step through the wall, but instead of it feeling like a drop, it’ll feel like we’re being pushed up.”
Ah, I see.
