“It wasn’t a battle. It was a massacre.”
Sevryn’s whisper slices through the air like a sword, and everyone flinches as though they were struck. His Valtrue, Ellian, and Derivius sink into their seats, and their worried eyes bounce from him to us.
“Kyzen,” Amick orders the moment Doren finishes passing around mugs and setting a kettle in the middle of the table.
My brother’s shoulders droop, but he exhales nonetheless as Thayla laces her fingers through his under the table.
From the moment my knees hit the kitchen tile until Thayla’s fist landed against Yemi’s door, Kyzen repeats the events of the morning. No one so much as breathes too hard.
My fingers clench the delicate porcelain, and I force myself to loosen my grip before it shatters and I scald myself. I breathe and watch everyone’s reactions.
Sevryn stares down at the table as Yemi’s focus flicks between him and Thayla. She keeps her hand pressed against her mouth. Either to hold back bile or gasps.
Iric’s normal persona is firmly in place, but the way he twirls his thumbs contradicts how calm he is. Isn’t, actually.
Nero appears stunned, like he can’t possibly believe what he’s hearing. The quicker his ass gets over this whole righteous taurnshit standard he holds the gods to, the better off he’ll be.
I’m going to make Derivius bind his ass after this until I firmly believe he doesn’t run home to Mommy and Daddy and tell them everything.
Ellian’s face stays serious as he cups his chin and rubs his finger over his lips. Before hispromotion, he’d take anything we told him in stride, offering a comforting smile or a pat of loyalty against our backs.
The loyalty is still there, but he doesn’t spare any comfort. The more Kyzen speaks, the more distraught he looks.
Rage glares back at me when I make it to Derivius. Even his barely functioning black eye holds hatred. He’s not the least bit shocked that our father or Seveous stooped to this. This just adds another thing to his list.
“Where…” He pauses, clearing his throat and taking a sip of tea. As he sets the mug down, his gaze lands on Thayla. “Where did you hide the second Binding?”
“Somewhere safe.”
He arches a brow. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“I will once you hand yours over.”
“I have nothing to hand over. You already possess my Binding.”
A hush falls over the house, and Derivius smirks.
“You motherfucker.” Riven laughs, something between true humor and anger. “You stole that bitch’s Binding, then lost yours along with hers? What the hell were you doing?”
“Drowning my sorrows. Besides the point,” he shifts his attention back to Thayla. “Do you plan on using it?”
She adjusts in her seat. “I don’t know yet. We’re a ways away from another Veiling where you all will release more power, and I don’t see how we’ll succeed at anything with the level we have now.”
“That’s a fucking petrifying thought given your Valtrue is already the strongest in the Godsdawn,” Yemi chirps, wide eyes flashing over everyone.
“We individually will never be stronger than the Beginning Gods. Even with all of our power. What will set us apart is our closeness. And how we function as a unit. We will overcome everything together. You and your Valtrue need to get on the same page. We need you all, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, everyone, to get on the same page,” Amick says.
“I want to kill my father,” Sevryn growls as he cuts his eyes at him.
“Understandable but unachievable at the moment. A lot has to change before we’ll be ready to face either of our fathers head-on. Today made it glaringly clear how unready we truly are.”
My teeth grind together as my soul rebels at the notion. It wants to be set free to prove him wrong. Thank fuck my mind knows better and isn’t ruled—completely—by my power.
Ellian clears his voice, dragging our focus to him.
“I’m sorry for everything you all experienced today. Truly. What happened in the Abandon this morning can’t…” He tightens his lips and shakes his head as he stands.
“There’s not much we can do about it right now, but we won’t forget it happened. You’ve all had enough for today, but tomorrow, all of you will come to my house for dinner. We need to talk and discuss some things prior to me addressing the Godsdawn. That’s a conversation best had after food and hearing children’s laughter.”
