Worry and about a million questions eat away at me. I’m not sure what the hell he could be hiding in there, but I see no bulge or impression of anything. Not even the dagger he used on Harriseen.
“Good. Then shall we?”
Derivius’s gaze scans over each of us. His attention flicks from my arm to my eyes for a heartbeat. The small nod he gives me has my Chaos turning in my belly.
Fuck, I hope he knows what he’s doing.
“High Chancellor Ellian, you’ll hear word from me as soon as this is over. Ms. Godrun, Ms. Andino, since this is the first time either of you has been to Valveilious, I’ll warn you that the starshoot feels a touch different, but it’s almost as quick and painless.”
I briefly glance at Yemi with that fast-ass warning, then the sight of her is stolen from me.
My skin pulls tight as we move through the fabric of the realm. The sensation resembles a normal starshoot, but it also tugs the same way it did when I entered Godsden for the first time.
Whereas when I starshoot myself, it lasts about two seconds, this one lasts around four.
I wobble as Derivius’s power withdraws from around me, but my spine instantly straightens. The silent, bright white room that greets us is gilded in marble and gold decorations.
There isn’t a soul in sight.
Just…sculptures and paintings.
On either side of the carpeted path that leads to double doors are statues of the Beginning Gods. Well, six of them.
Goddesses on one side. Gods on the other.
Their obsidian stone is the exact same as what’s at the Sanctum, but instead of holding the building up, their arms are sculpted down by their sides.
“Aww, no grand tour of Valveilious for our newcomers? Just straight here, huh?”
I cut my eyes at Riven and shake my head at his wink.
The last thing I give a fuck about is touring Valveilious.
I mean, yeah, a moment to get my bearings before popping up right in what’s obviously the Neutral would’ve been nice, but I don’t want or need to go sightseeing.
“No time for gallivanting, I’m afraid. The quicker we start, the quicker it’s all over,” Derivius says.
“Are these trials typically fast, or like an all-day thing?” I ask.
“Typically, fast. Rella doesn’t drag anything out. Even though this is about Amick, she still won’t tolerate any roundabout business.”
“Yeah, because she—”
“Don’t,” Kyzen warns Riven, and Derivius turns from us with a sad frown marring his face.
My stomach rumbles as we march forward. I was too nervous to care about breakfast this morning, and I couldn’t care less about food now, but the emptiness is making my nerves loud and proud, apparently.
Amick’s finger brushes against my knuckles as he peeks down at me. I try with all my might to put on a brave face, but it’s hard.If I could, I’d literally pull a Creed right now and throw him over my shoulder, then haul ass out of here.
On my other side, Kyzen lifts my hand to his lips.
“Everything’s going to be okay.”
His smooth whisper is paired with a caring stroke across my soul. I inhale sharply when three others join him.
Behind me, I can’t make out the soft words Nero’s speaking to Yemi, but I glance over my shoulder and give her as much of a smile as I can when her eyes meet mine.
The air in my lungs stalls as Derivius thrusts the double doors open with no warning. My feet desperately want to stay planted in place, but I refuse to stumble when the guys take a confident step forward.
