Page 1 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

Thayla

Prologue

If I can make it before they catch me, I can leave them before they leave me.

Everything burns. My lungs, the tears falling down my cheeks, and the sun beating down on my shoulders. I don’t let any of it slow me down. I burst through the tree line and finally reach the meadow hidden away on the outskirts of Oddian.

I crawl the rest of the way through the tall grass to the hot spring when my numb, wobbly legs crumble beneath me.

I’m not supposed to come out here. At least not alone.

It’s too close to the magical barrier that separates us from the Unclaimed region. If you cross that line, there’s no coming back out.

That’s all I can think about doing right now.

I want to be as far away as I can be from the sadness in my mom’s and dad’s eyes. The soft understanding on Meridamus’s face and the eager smile on Mellcom’s.

If I just ran through that unknown barrier, then they wouldn’t be leaving me.

I’ll be leaving them.

But then what ?

I send one of my shoes and socks flying over my shoulder, then wipe the disgusting mix of snot and tears from my lips. There’s no stopping the panting or sobbing.

A scream I hardly have the breath for rips from me as my other lace gets knotted to the point I can’t get it undone to take the shoe off. I give up my battle and fall to my side.

My bare foot slips into the hot water while the other dangles on the edge.

Much like my life.

It’s dangling on the edge, getting ready to tip over.

My arms wrap around my stomach as I give in to the tears that won’t stop.

“Oh, my little shooting star.”

I knew they were right behind me.

My dad’s voice causes my sniffles to morph into sobs. He doesn’t force me to look at him or even move. His strong arms that have carried me my whole life pick my head up and lay it on his lap. His fingers tenderly stroke my hair out of the stream of my tears.

Another set of hands, these warm and soft, lifts my leg. With just a few tugs, my mom has my shoe and sock removed, and she massages my aching foot.

“We know you’re upset with us, Thayla girl. Do you want to talk about it?”

My mom’s loving tone wraps around my heart, and I agree with no thought. I’ve never, ever, gotten into trouble for speaking my mind to them. They’ve always told me to be honest with them and they’d never be mad at me.

Now it’s no different. Except for the fact that I’m very mad at them.

My body shakes from the foreign feeling.

“I thought about running to the Unclaimed region so I could leave you before you left me.”

My dad’s fingers flinch in my hair before they resume their soft caresses. Mom’s hands never stop running up my leg and around my foot. Neither of them fusses at me for my tone, and guilt floods my chest.

“I’m sorry. I only thought about it and said that so I could hurt you.”

“Thank you for apologizing, baby. We know this isn’t fair. Say whatever you need to.”

She never fails to understand me, and that makes me choke on another sob. I hold my hand out for her to sit me up and crash into her open arms the second she does.

“I just want to know why? You’ve never kept things from me. Why are you keeping this from me? ”

“I’m so sorry. I know this feels unfair, and it is, but this one and only time in our lives, we ask that you accept our just because as an answer. It’s safer and better for you not to know anything.”

“Safer? Are you in trouble?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Thane.”

“I refuse to leave her here believing we’re leaving just because. We’ve always treated her equally and we’re not stopping now. We discussed this, Anylah.”

“You’re right…right. Okay.” My mom releases a shuddering breath as she runs her fingers through her long hair.

“Look at me, my shooting star.” Dad tilts my chin toward him and runs his thumb under my eye. “Your mother and I did some things years ago, and our choices are catching up with us. We need to leave you now while we prepare to face the consequences of our actions.”

“Is…is that why we’ve moved so much?”

“Yes.”

Fear for my parents floods my blood and my chest cracks open. My fingers tremble in my lap and my vision blurs as tears well up once again.

Who could be after them? What did they do? It couldn’t have been bad. They’re good people. The best. They love me so much.

Where are they going to go? How long will they be gone?

Mom runs her hand in soothing circles around my back, and I focus on the motion. “Hey, hey. Breathe for me, baby.”

“Can’t…can’t you pray to the gods? Ask them for help. Any of them. What you did can’t be that bad, right?” My head bounces from left to right between them as they glance at each other over my head.

“Tell me what we’ve always said about the gods and why we don’t pray to them anymore.”

I take a few deep breaths, both trying to calm my lungs and my mind. It’s all growing fuzzy, but I give my dad the best explanation I got. “Because our prayers give them more power and they can use that power over us without giving us anything in return.”

He nods twice. His pinched smile makes my heart clench. “I won’t allow them to have the power they want over you, my girl. ”

I jump to my feet as anger sweeps through me. Everything inside of me heats to a degree I’ve never felt before. I don’t have the words to describe this unknown feeling.

“So what are they even here for? Why did the Valories take all our power but allow them to keep theirs if they weren’t going to do anything for us?”

My voice travels through the meadow and my shoulders shake. I’m sure even the creators hear me yelling at them.

“Thayla girl,” my mom says as she and my dad grab a hand each.

“What does this mean? How long will you be gone? What am I supposed to do? I don’t want you to go.” I lace my fingers through theirs and grip them as tight as I can.

“This means, for now, you’ll stay here in Oddian, safe. Meridamus is telling Mellcom the same thing now, so there won’t be any secrets for you to keep from them. You can talk to Meridamus the same way you do us. He’ll continue to teach you, just as we have. You just continue being you.”

“Dad,” I cry as he pulls me down into a hug.

The embrace seems to last both forever and not long enough. When he ruffles my hair, I do it back like I always have.

“I love you, my shooting star.”

“I love you.”

My breakfast threatens to come up when he turns me to my mom. Red rims her beautiful eyes and her bottom lip trembles, but unlike me, she holds her tears at bay. Her arms are the warmest, safest place I’ve ever been. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

“There isn’t a force in this realm that could keep us from you forever, Thayla. No creators or creations, no boundaries or barriers, and especially no gods. Our love for you transcends any power. We’re always with you and will always see you. Do you understand, my girl?”

“I understand, Mom.”

“Promise me some things.”

“Anything.”

“Stay away from the gods. Don’t go to them or Godsden searching for us. Never enter yourself in the Veiling.”

My body shivers at just the mention.

“I’ll never go to the gods, Godsden, or enter the Veiling. I promise.”