Page 48 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

They hurriedly do as I say, then they look at me for direction. “Swords at the ready.”

I walk around the group, using my sword to tap thighs and elbows to correct their stances. Mellcom used to do this, but he’d tear you down for every mistake. I take the opposite approach.

If I correct something, I tell them something else was perfect. I don’t try to give them false hope, but I do try to build confidence in place of the fear staring back at me.

“How is the end of this test determined?” I ask Leah when I come back to her.

Beside her, Jay’s shaking like a leaf. I lightly grip her wrist to steady her and her sword. Her fear both concerns and pisses me all the way off.

Not at her, but at this taurnshit.

“When everyone from one side is either knocked out or has surrendered, that's when the test will end.”

Fucking ruthless god.

I nod to Leah, then take a spot between her and Jay. “If for some reason our circle breaks, get closer, fill in the gap. Don’t charge them. Make them come to us. You all realize the unfairness of this situation, but that doesn’t mean you give up immediately. Work together, not individually.”

I take a moment to try to empty my mind and get a feel for my sword. My teeth grind together painfully as I run my finger down the hilt. The day off yesterday from training made me realize how much I truly fucking hate this.

Despite minutes ago offering to train Yemi, I really loathe this. I’d be willing to do it for her so she can protect herself. I don’t want to actually cause anyone harm.

I hate fighting with no purpose.

I hate that I know how to get a group of untrained women in a position to fight highly trained ones. And for what?

What’s the reason for this? You can’t get an accurate measure from pitting two completely different skill sets against one another.

It makes me even madder that a tinge of appreciation filters through me that I do know what to do in this situation.

That momentary feeling is washed away when my chest pulls excruciatingly tight. My head whips up and I lock eyes with Creed.

“Get ready,” he mouths.

Gods, did he know how to get my attention?

A second of silence passes before a war cry rings out and feet pound against the ground. I rapidly take in our surroundings as my heart crawls up my throat. All twelve of them are coming in a circle formation as well. They’re spread out across multiple angles in the Court.

An absolutely stunning girl runs straight in our direction with her glare set on Jay. Her long black ponytail swishes behind her as her toned legs eat up the space between us.

With only a few feet left separating us, she raises her sword and Jay’s wavers as she completely freezes in her spot.

Fuck.

The sound of wood colliding with wood echoes behind me just as I jump in front of her. Without hesitation, I lift my leg and kick the girl in the stomach. The moment she bends over and her breath whooshes out of her, I bring the hilt of my sword down on her face.

She crumbles and I whip around. “Snap the fuck out of it right now.”

“Right…right. Sorry. ”

“Behind you!”

I raise my sword and spin on my heels. One of my knees hits the dirt with the force of the sword coming down on mine. As the girl raises it to strike me again, I push myself up and wrap my arms around her waist.

The two of us go rolling as we battle to be on top. The rapid succession of her fist bashing into my ribs knocks the wind out of me and she quickly takes the opportunity to flip us.

I bring my arm up to shield my face as her sword comes down. The impact causes vibrations to travel through me, but the forearm shields Creed strapped to me take the worst of the hit.

Before she can do it again, a foot collides with the back of her head and I shove her sideways before she can collapse on top of me.

I clamber to my feet and give a trembling Jay a devious smile as I grab her and drag her back to our dwindling circle. She doesn’t reciprocate it as she keeps glancing at the girl on the ground.

“I…I probably gave her a concussion.”

“Probably, but you saved me a broken nose, so it evens out.”

“That’s not how that works.”

“It does today, so good job. Now pay attention.”

Those are the last words shared between the two of us as the five of us remaining face off against the ten of them surrounding us. I give one appreciative, sparing glance at Creed for his shout of a warning. He doesn’t return it. There’s a fierce scowl spread across his face.

My mind empties as my body starts to flow in the all-familiar movements. The cries of pain, grunts falling from lips, all of it becomes an intimate melody that I’ve had the unfortunate pleasure of dancing to far too many times.

As another female drops by my hands, the dead weight of a body crashes into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. I’m quick to balance myself back out but flinch at the red pouring from Leah’s nose.

Jay cries out as she drops to her knees to check on her. I’m too slow to snatch her back up.

A foot collides with her face, just like she’d done to the girl who attacked me.

That was far too fucking personal.

I spin out of the way when I catch sight of a sword coming toward me in my peripheral. Unfortunately, I turn right into a fist .

The strike across my cheek instantly splits the skin and my blood trickles down my face. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I stagger and force my mind to stay vigilant.

You’ve been hit harder than that. Pull it together.

I shake my head and watch as if in slow motion as the last of the girls from my group drops to her knees. She cries in surrender, but the goddess prowling toward her doesn’t stop her steps.

She raises her wooden sword high and slices it down across her face.

The whimper from the poor girl’s lips as she hits the dirt in a cloud of dust makes me see red. I pull my shoulders back and stand straight as the one who struck her down after she begged for mercy turns to me.

The remaining four females join her at her side, and I immediately know this is the strongest female in the Defender Designation.

“You must be Thayla.” Her tone completely contradicts the stern set of her brow. It’s sultry, even, and full of confidence.

She’s also breathtakingly beautiful, but the glint in her eye is cruel.

“That would be me. You are?”

“I’m Mara. I’m a part of the Lead Valtrue.”

“You’re going to have to be more specific than that for me. I don’t know anyone just yet.”

That’s obviously not the answer she wanted. Her face clouds in disgust and she looks down at me like I’m a waste of her time. I guess I’m supposed to know exactly who she’s talking about.

Granted, I do. I just didn’t want to feed her cocky, self-centered attitude.

“Gladian, Chasin, Mellcom, and Jeremiah are my Valtrue. They informed us all about you.”

“That’s great. We’re going to be the best of friends then.” I smile and hold my arms out, indicating for her to bring it in for a hug.

She doesn’t like that either.

A hysterical laugh sounds from behind me. I’m not dumb enough to check and see who it was. Plus, I’ve already memorized it. I’m sure the psycho of my Valtrue does find it funny I’m offering her a hug at a time like this.

“They told us—”

“Listen, I’ve got to be honest with you.

I really don’t give a fuck what they had to say.

Nor do I care to hear it. I think you should form your own opinion about me rather than listen to either of them.

We’re going to be spending a lot of time together, I’m sure, so we should get off on the right foot. ”

I point my sword between her and me, but a sigh leaves my lips as she shakes her head almost disappointedly.

I’ll take that as a no.

“You need to learn your place and standing within the Godsdawn. If what they said is true, you have to face that reality.”

Her words may seem like helpful advice, but the threat she’s making is clear. What she really means is, learn my place with her.

More accurately beneath her.

I observe her closely. I need to study up on Valtrues because this appears to be a trait shared amongst hers. Mellcom and Jeremiah have always liked to push people. They’ve never backed away from a challenge. The guys just warned me that Gladian would do that to me, but really, it’s her doing it.

She’s not being overly ugly or bullying, but she’s clearly telling me she has every intention of keeping her standing at the top.

Whether I like that or not.

Do they all have a desperate desire to be known as the strongest? If so, why?

Do all of us in my Valtrue share a trait?

I don’t throw out my own threat, just my truth. “I don’t want your standing, Mara. You have nothing to prove to me.”

“This isn’t Oddian. That’s not how it works here. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. You’re going to have to face and do the same.”

Annoyance laces its way through me. “Seeing as I’ve only been here for like five minutes, I’m going to need you to give me some time.”

An understanding smile crosses her face. There’s not a thing comforting about it, though. “That’s a luxury I can’t afford you. Give our newest Defender a proper Gods Court welcoming, ladies.”

I exhale slowly as they each chuckle and the first two of them break away from their line.

Mellcom’s voice filters through my mind. He’s not actually speaking in the moment. It’s the ghost of his commands. Each order shouted from the sidelines the many, many times he’s stood there and allowed me to be ganged up on.

I let my anger toward him fester and fuel me once again. The fact it’s him who’s guiding me in this moment both sickens and grounds me.

My feet don’t budge from my spot as the two of them surround me. I adjust my grip on my sword and my eye catches on another that was deserted a few feet away. I remain in place, bouncing on my toes as they begin charging .

When they get to where I know they could almost reach me, I drop down and roll until my fingers wrap around the handle.