“That’s incredibly rare. So much so, we don’t even have enough women to base good research on why it may happen. All the accounts recorded have stated the assumption that something had to have happened to the women’s developmentwhile they were in their own mothers’ wombs or later in life, they sustained an injury that caused that.”
Amick delivers that information gently, but factually and a pang thrashes through my heart.
Valories…what happened to my mom?
“Let me have a crack at this shit.”
Riven hops up and runs his fingers over the water as he wades through the waves he’s making. A slow smirk continues to stretch across his face as his eyes swirl individually.
“So basically, what’s going on is, the five of us are little heathens that never should’ve been born, but because we were, it shifted what was already fucked in the Valorian Veil. Now every time we involve ourselves in something realm changing, for example, I don’t know, keeping a Gods Binding, we shift something else. That then brings about another situation.
“If we involve ourselves in that situation, it then gives us a decision or I guess like Seismet said, a side to choose. Over and over again, that pattern will continue until either the realm is right or inevitably wrong. Am I making any sense? It feels like I got that right.”
My gaze bounces between him and V repeatedly. I hope like fuck he’s wrong because if not, that feels a lot like we are the center of the change. Just like I freaking told them we were the day after I met V and soaked in this exact place we are now.
We never finished that conversation because the topic switched to my poor shredded soul.
That now feels whole…
Creed’s stubborn ass was actually the one who said the realm had been changing and we weren’t the catalyst.
He must be thinking the same thing because our gazes collide. He tightens his lips and sighs heavily, confirming my thoughts and feelings.
“What the hell are we going to do?” I ask with a huff and rub at my temples.
“Easy solution. We stay the fuck out of everything,” Riven declares and Creed grunts.
“Agreed.”
“Your silence is telling, V. We’ve always known our births caused a rift. The Beginning Gods can’t just break their most sacred law and there not be consequences from it. If what Riven is saying is true, which my mind tells me it is, that means we create a ripple effect for everyone.
“Everyone the Valories are using to bring about more change in the realm will have to shift their roles according to ours. Doren is the perfect example. He thought his role was over by giving the Binding to Thayla like the Messenger told him to, but now he’s tied in a Valtrue Pairing to her Attendant.”
“Correct.”
V’s begrudging tone and hesitation at answering Amick makes the hair on the back of my neck stand.
“Back to my plan. Let’s just stay the fuck out of everything from this point on.”
“Again, I agree with Riven,” Creed says as he makes his way to stand beside my smiling psycho, then he crosses his arms.
“Is that even an option at this point?” Kyzen asks.
“That’s always a side you can choose.”
“But what happens if we choose to do nothing? Whatever’s going to happen with the realm, happens?” I ask.
“It’ll continue down the path it’s set on.”
“Which is…” I push, raising my eyebrows.
V’s lack of being forthcoming with more than a few words is not getting past any of us. A soft sound slips through Amick’s lips as he stands and rolls his shoulders out.
“We do nothing, our father continues to do what he’s always tried to do. Rule it all. We aren’t the determinants of the realm. He is. We’re his inhibitors.”
“Okay, so we go back to our very original plan. We kill him, then do nothing,” River hollers after Amick as he makes his way out of the hot spring.
I don’t bother trying to stop him. The emotions rolling from his soul to mine tell me if he doesn’t get space to find peace and quiet, he’s going to lose his shit.
