She holds the Binding inches from my face. I glare at it and her. No part of me wants to touch it or remove my hands from the spot on my stomach where the power pierced me.
“I don’t—”
“I’ll guide you, but you must listen. You’re running out of time, and once that power settles, there’s no getting it all out.”
Her words are spoken so certainly that it takes me a moment to understand she’s being serious. There was no urgency in her tone.
Just calm warning.
“Do as she says, Thayla.”
I cut my eyes over to V and my men, and fear flashes across all four of their faces. It’s shaded by the rage coursing through them, but still on the surface enough to see.
As one, they nod.
It’s unconvincing. Their worry and doubt betray any confidence they may have.
Water drips from my trembling fingers as I reach for the Binding. Its power adds to all the other sources pounding in and around me, including the hot springs, and I whimper from the jerking in my stomach.
“W-what do I do?” I ask with an agonizing stutter.
“You’re going to cleanse your body. The Gods Binding is a creation of order. Whatever method was used to bind this power to you, the same will need to be used to unbind it.”
“The God of Obliteration hit me with power from his Binding,” I tell her, although I doubt—
“Therefore, your Obliteration will get it out of you.”
Welp, never mind.
Another screech rips from my throat. Daggers pierce me from the inside out as this horrid power forces its way through my blood faster. My fingers dig into the Binding as I grip it with all the strength in my body.
“What do I do?” I scream.
“Command your Obliteration to get the power out of you and put it into the Binding,” she commands.
“How—”
“No more questions. No more doubt. Just do it, Thayla. It’s time you listen to your instincts.”
My gaze collides with hers. Where my eyes are filled with pain and rage-induced tears, hers are steady and the most striking shade of silver. I’ve never seen a god or goddess with irises like that.
Focus.
Instincts.
My instincts are pleading for me to get this shit out of my body, but they sure as fuck aren’t telling me how. Every feature on my face begs her for some guidance.
“Call your gift—your Obliteration—forward, and command it to wrap around the power inside of you that shouldn’t be there. Then you’re going to do what you already know how. Put it in the Binding.”
Put it in…
For the Valories.
My Seduction had to go into the Binding for me to push more power out to the guys.
I hold my breath, choking down another sob, possibly a scream, that’s crawling up my throat. My attention zeroes in on the spot where the lump forms.
Where my Obliteration lies.
