I don’t say that out loud. Instead, I run my fingers through my hair as I calm my breathing.
“You need to stay away from Mellcom and Jeremiah.”
My eyes fly open and land on where she’s kneeling at my single dresser that I only use for my bras, underwear, socks, and well…my clothes from Oddian.
Clutched in her hands is one of my old shirts.
“Yeah, you don’t really have to tell me that.”
“Yeah, I do. I know you don’t give a shit about me or what I have to say, but I’m being serious. I thought at first how much they talked about you was them struggling with the change. It calmed down for a while. Even on the quest it wasn’t bad, but since the Abandon…”
“What? Spit it out now.”
“The way they talk about you is obsessive. Mellcom brings up the fact that he saved you every day. The more he talks about it, the angrier he gets. Jeremiah feeds into it. Every time your name is brought up, their tones make me uncomfortable and that’s not a sensation I’m used to.”
My expression blanks as she stares at me with complete sincerity. I see another truth in her eyes, though, that I know she won’t admit. Especially not to me.
She fears them.
Been there.
“Thanks for the warning. Mellcom tried to approach me in the Athenaeum earlier.”
“I heard. He was pissed Chancellor Akova dismissed him because he wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“You purposely just got in his way, didn’t you?”
She lays my shirt gently back into the drawer and stands. Based on the shattering of glass echoing behind me, it looks like my closet will be the only area of my room not decimated.
I swear I’m going to kill that fucking asshole if I get the chance.
“I know I’m not everyone’s favorite person. I’m not even a girl’s girl if I’m being honest. But I know a dangerous, unhinged man when I see one. If it had been him bringing you in here rather than me, your night would’ve gone differently.”
“Thayla Godrun!”
The shout of my name has us both startling out of our stare down. The High Chancellor’s bellow has the walls shaking and no words pass between Mara and me as we rush out of the closet.
My steps slow and my lips press together the moment I have him, plus the far too fucking many Dark Gods with him, in my sights.
His shoulders heave as he glares down at the statue head—his statue head, to be precise—in his hands.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I shrug.
“Decoration, I suppose. It came with the room.”
The veins in his neck bulge as his face turns a frightening shade of red.
“You are a liar and a thief. Mara, seize her.”
“Sir?”
“I said seize her!”
She hesitates too long for Harriseen’s liking. With a snap of his fingers, I jump into position as all the Dark Gods charge toward me.
“Don’t fight them.” Mara grunts as she gets shoved out of the way.
