My expression shifts once again when I land on Sevryn. He arches a cocky ass brow, and I snort despite trying to hold it back.
He’s such an asshole.
He’s a great friend.
An annoying, bossy, foul-mouthed, protective…big brother in a sense.
I’m not going to tell him how much I appreciate him. I’ll just spend our friendship talking shit to him to the point where he knows how much I care.
“I see all of it,” I say, and my chest tightens. “Even if I don’t say it right…I see you. All of you.”
My fingers flex, relaxing from the tight clench I had them in, and I breathe through the lump in my throat.
“To me, saying thank you isn’t really enough, but I also don’t want to make any of you feel like I’m trying to repay a debt. I know none of you expect that from me—us—but you all deserve the realm.”
“We only did what friends do, Thayla,” Doren says with a bright smile, and everyone murmurs their agreement.
“I know that too, and that’s why I’ve brought you here and made my decision. You allaremy friends, and I can’t fathom something happening to any of you. I literally see red when I think about it too hard.”
They all chuckle like I told a joke.
Obviously, I’m not kidding.
“As my friends, I need you all protected.” I pause, nodding at V, who’s sitting on Seismet’s head.
In a blink, one of the Gods Bindings appears in my hand.
They all fall still and stare at it.
“So, to ensure you’re all as prepared as you can be given our never-ending situations, I’m going to release power to each of you. Right now.”
Yemi doesn’t look surprised in the slightest. Everyone else is gobsmacked.
I smirk at the shock on their face.
“Thayla, that’ll mean…” Doren trails off, frantically glancing between Yemi and me.
“That you’ll finally be a fully powered Domain God. Yeah, I know.”
“Fuck yes!” Havar cheers, pumping his fists in the air. “Knew I was special.”
We all chuckle at him, but mine fades as I lock onto Mara’s stunned expression.
“I’m going to have to ask you to keep this little secret from your Valtrue. For obvious reasons.”
“H-how in the actual fuck is this possible?” she asks.
“I got some things I’ll need to catch you up on. For now, though, you want more power or not?”
She turns her gaze to Yemi, and something akin to permission crosses her features.
A couple of months ago, that look would’ve been sharp, and superiority would be oozing from her face.
Now?
It’s careful.
Measured.
