She knows what that means. Her mom taught her what happens when someone by chance passes away. We had a few deaths in Oddian that had to be explained to her.
Mrs. Armend preached that if you prayed hard enough to the gods, if your time ever came to pass on, you’d go be with the Valories in the stars.
“Laney,” I whisper after she continues to hold her breath longer than I’m comfortable with.
She shatters.
I catch her body as she crumbles into me. Her fist bashes against my armor, and I don’t do anything to stop her.
My eyes burn so bad, and I blink them countless times to fight my own tears from falling. The more she keeps screaming for her parents, the harder it becomes.
My gaze locks onto Creed’s as he kneels behind her. He looks absolutely devastated.
Three more bodies press in behind me, and I suck in a harsh breath as they lay their hands against my spine. Their touch nearly breaks the fragile control I have over myself.
We sit here, long enough that the fading sky finally falls dark, and the lights around the arena flare to life. The harsh brightness has me squinting my eyes and tightening my grip on Laney as her cries taper off.
I adjust her in my hands until her head is resting on my shoulder. She tucks her face into my neck, and her tears slide down my collarbone.
“Let’s go home,” I say, and the guys all grip me, helping me to my feet.
A voice clears behind us, and my attention seeks the sound.
Derivius, Meridamus, Gladian, Mara, and Chasin stand there, staring at us with tender features.
“We’ve got everything covered here,” Derivius murmurs. “I’ll come check on all of you when I’m done.”
My men nod, but I focus on Mara.
I can’t help but wonder how she feels right now, losing a member of her Valtrue.
Her eyes are more tender than I’ve ever seen as they bounce from Laney to me. Something fierce, almost protective, crosses her features when she gives me a clipped dip of her chin.
I turn from them.
“V. Will you come get us, please?”
A hoot that sounds from a tree just a few feet away echoes around us and I narrow my gaze once he lands on my shoulder.
“You were supposed to go home.”
“You are my home. Where you go, I go. From here on out.”
“Yeah, well, what if the Go—”
“Thayla,”he says quietly, cutting my tirade short.“Let’s get Laney home.”
I breathe and lean my cheek into his feathers.
“To Lambrit’s.”
He purrs and the guys step closer to me.
My lids drift shut and I still my insides, willing them not to woosh around too violently.
My lungs fill with the crisper air of the Godsdawn before I can force my eyes open. The lingering scents of Oddian don’t fade, though, as I lay my lips against Laney’s hair. She smells like angel orchids and wild grass.
Finally, I force myself to face reality.
