Page 170 of The Gods Order

“V, a Binding, please,” she mutters.

Another flash of light glows around his claws, and he soars over to Doren’s shoulder. Yemi, Sevryn, Nero, and Iric give him some space as he readies himself for Val’s signal.

Behind them, Barir, Vulius, and Prath stand stoic. Their gazes continue to drift over to Mara, where she’s firmly placed herself at Thayla’s back. Riven attempted to make a joke about how she was staying by her side so she wasn’t forgotten about.

It nearly cost him a punch to the gut, but Thayla refrained.

I sense the apprehension floating off Gladian. He hates the idea of his Valtrue being separated, although they really aren’t.

“Begin, Doren.”

Val’s voice and his suddenly glowing eyes have all of us startling, but Discovery pulls himself together. His eyelids drift shut, and his power roars to the surface without a second thought.

“What are you doing?” Thayla whisper-yells at Val.

“Just making his travels through the barriers a touch easier.”

“You’re risking—”

“Thayla,” he says softly. “I’m not risking anything. No one can sense my power being used. Everything’s okay.”

Her fists clench at her sides and her jaw muscles jump, but she doesn’t push any more. I swear, none of us take a full breath while we wait for Doren.

At least three minutes pass before he takes a gasping breath and stumbles back a step. Sevryn grabs his shoulders, holding him steady, while Yemi basically snatches the vial Vulius passes her.

It’s taking everything in Amick not to tell him to hurry up and collect himself.

“It’s there. I just need one moment for the vial to kick in,” Doren pants, nodding like a madman as he answers everyone’s unasked question.

Val clears his throat, gaining all of our attention.

“Thayla, Yemi, get ready.”

The two of them snap their attention to one another, then step forward together, pressing themselves shoulder to shoulder. Kyzen, Amick, Riven, myself, Mara, and Gladian step closer to Thayla, while V flies to her shoulder. Right beside us, Yemi’s Valtrue and the rest of Gladian’s do the same thing.

Thayla’s and Yemi’s eyes close as they fall into deep concentration. The seconds stretch by long enough that I want to shift on my feet but refuse to. I won’t allow myself to have any doubt in either of them.

Air flows from their lips and the sensation of my Binder’s power of Boundaries coats my skin just as it did when we practiced. My coiled muscles relax as her glowing eyes flash open. Val runs his stoic gaze over each of us.

“Good. Remember, the less power you all use, the easier it’ll be for them.”

We all nod in acknowledgment.

“Unsensed and unseen for as long as possible,” he adds.

Thayla releases a long, harsh breath as she shakes her hands out. Her attention stays firmly locked on him and her desire to say something is obvious. Whatever the words are, they sit in the back of her throat. No matter how many times she swallows, the struggle she’s facing is clear.

Val notices as well.

“My shooting star,” he whispers.

His yearning to say more than that is obvious as well, but he doesn’t. Instead, he backpedals until he nearly touches the barrier.

“It’s time.”

The finality in his tone cracks her composure. She takes a small step forward, and her mouth parts a few times before she clears her throat.

“Be careful.”