“Makes sense. I feel like I have a pretty basic understanding of it. Plus, it seems straightforward enough.”
“It is, to an extent, and that’s why I wanted to start here. It’s a power that has its full intention in the name. It’s a balance between action and outcome, accountability without cruelty. Although we may not agree with that as observers or even as the ones facing the consequences. The Ruler Designation stems from the domain of Consequence.”
“I’m proud to say that I saw that coming a mile away.” I blow Kyzen a kiss and he presses his hand to his heart.
“Riven, show her where this power truly resonates in her body.”
This is one of the few times Riven complies with Amick’s order easily. His teasing smirk and the way he rubs his hands together have me biting back a laugh.
“Come here, angel. Let me feel you up.”
A snort escapes me as he crawls behind me and spreads his legs on either side of mine. I’ve got half a mind to scoot back until my ass presses firmly into him and see what consequence comes from that.
I don’t as his fingers tickle up my arms and tap in a frantic but playful pattern. He hums as he gets to my collarbone and works his way up my neck.
“Yes, yes. I’m almost there. Hold on for me.”
“Stop it.” I chuckle, but the sound silences when he taps my lips.
“Your wish is my command,” he whispers in my ear and my own hand replaces his.
“It’s in my lips?”
His chest rumbles behind me in silent laughter.
“Your tongue really, but I didn’t think you’d appreciate me shoving my fingers in your mouth. Plus, I was a tad afraid you’d bite.”
The other three match my grin. I most certainly would’ve if he had just shoved his hand through my lips with no warning.
“So, its placement makes sense. I told all of you after what happened in the Court, it felt like my voice was in control.”
“The tongue controls our words. Now let’s try to bring it forward.”
My eyes widen as Amick stands and pulls me up faster than I wrap my mind around actually putting the power to use.
“The thing about Consequence is that you don’t determine the actual consequence. You warn. It’s a knowing and a release of your power that gives permission to the cause-and-effect cycle. The outcome is always supposed to be natural law, not moral judgment. It teaches through results, not fear. Again, though, we may feel fear because we know our actions will have consequences.”
“I don’t understand that. I kinda chose Mara’s consequence in the Court.”
“You did, but you didn’t understand what you were doing then. The only time you should ever direct a consequence at someone is when something is done directly to you. That situation called for it because an offence, technically, had been committed against you. Then…” he trails off, but clarity dawns on my ass.
“Holy shit. When my consequence had been carried out, natural law kicked in and I faced the consequences from that gargantuan fucker.”
“Yes.”
Fuck. That was an immediate slap in my face.
What if I had done something worse?
That thought makes me shift on my feet.
“What don’t you like about that?” Kyzen asks.
The ever observant one.
“It’s not that I didn’t like that. It makes me a little nervous. Like what happens if I step off that moral high ground and start handing out consequences when people piss me off or do something I don’t agree with?”
He glances at Amick, obviously giving him the opportunity to answer, but my Guider nods for Kyen to continue.
