Page 5 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

Thayla

If not for Laney’s hand squeezing mine and her bubbly excitement, I’d be as rigid as a statue standing here.

I’m trying to hide the fact that I’m internally panicking and so angry I have half a mind to walk up to the platform and flip it over.

“You look like a goddess, Thayla. I’m so happy you came with me.” She pulls my arm up and down as she bounces on her toes.

I muster up as much courage as I can in the smile I give her. When she saw Mellcom and Jeremiah marching me out our door, she squealed in delight. I refused to meet Lambrit’s eyes and told her I decided I wanted to see her again in her beautiful dress.

I tenderly pat her hand. “Thank you. So do you.”

As soon as I glance above her head, I immediately wish I hadn’t. A multitude of questions swim across Lambrit’s face. None of which I can give him an answer to right now.

I’m not speaking the truth out loud.

It’ll only give more power to the possibility of Mellcom being chosen.

My heart hurts from his decision. Despite where this last year has brought us, it’s always been the two of us.

He’s my idol, the big brother I always wanted, and he always took the role seriously. He put the fear in everyone—you mess with her, you deal with me.

No one but him could fight with me unless he said so .

Now it seems all we do is fight with each other.

And he’s about to leave me to become a god.

“Oddian.”

The Gods Chancellor’s booming voice causes me to startle. Luckily, Laney releases me at the same moment and starts clapping frantically. Unfortunately, on the other side of me, a much stronger hand grips my shoulder.

He’s not getting chosen…

He is.

He’s not.

The madness running through my mind silences when the Chancellor raises his hand.

“I am Chancellor Gulliver. The gods have been gracious enough to bless us with another day. Not just any but another Veiling. Today, their sacred Volreen will choose the five of you who will best serve this realm. You will join those who have come before you in pursuit of reaching your full power. You will join the Beginning Gods, the Domain Gods, and those under them.”

Ground-trembling cheers pierce the air and I grit my teeth. It’s as though none of them have ever thought for a second that the gods are to blame for us not having our power now.

Chancellor Gulliver raises his palm as white light glows from the Volreen and again, silence follows. “The blood that was given as an offering has been examined. The gods have decided who among you will rise. It is time to fulfill your duty to the realm. To your gods.”

My heart thunders. Its erratic pulse beats throughout my whole body. It syncs with the vibrations in the ground and there’s no part of me that doesn’t shudder from the budding anticipation.

This entire experience makes me feel sick.

This is not how it should be.

I take a deep breath and hold it as the Chancellor slides his hand into the bowl of the Volreen. The white light crawls up his arm, and he smiles as though it’s the most glorious sensation he’s ever experienced.

When he withdraws his hand, his green robe that’s lined in gold is still just as dry and pristine as it was when he reached in. There’s no evidence that he even invaded the sacred stone other than the strip of parchment pinched in his fingers.

“Garish Foremus.”

The air in my lungs rushes out and the roaring from the left of me captures my attention. The crowd cheers and claps the man on his back as he walks by them .

His face, one I’ve seen daily for years, is serious, but even from here I see the tremble in his curled fingers that hang at his sides. I know little about him other than he’s a worthy fighter. I’ve never beaten him and typically cringe when we’re paired together.

That’s one from our group.

I fight the need to peer at Mellcom. His words from earlier this morning are feeling more like prophecy rather than words of encouragement.

The Chancellor bows to Garish as he makes his way onto the platform. They share a few whispered words that none of us can hear, then Garish turns toward us and bows.

Everyone loses their ever-loving minds.

The noise is deafening as though they haven’t witnessed this before.

The Chancellor’s beaming smile and movement toward the Volreen have everyone settling down. He repeats the same process and again, I swallow down all the air I can.

“Lambrit Armend.”

Everything moves in slow motion. Disbelief floods me as my eyes water and my lips part. My stomach revolts and I place my hand over my mouth to hide my gagging.

Mr. Armend’s deep voice pierces my panic as his strong arms pull Lambrit into a hug. He’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen cross his usually stoic face. “I’m so proud of you, son.”

Lambrit’s stunned expression searches mine even as his mom cups his cheeks. Proud tears cascade down her face, and Laney wraps her arms around him.

I’m going to scream. I’m going to…

Get it together for now.

My mouth snaps shut, and I force my hands to work up a clap for him. I bite my bottom lip to stop the trembling as I nod encouragingly.

If knowledge is measured as a strength, he has that tenfold.

Too bad he’s not fucking going.

He stumbles from his parents, and Laney nearly tackles me as she wraps her arms around my waist. She’s both cheering and crying. I don’t think her little mind and heart know what to feel right now.

My fingers run through her hair as her big brother and the Chancellor repeat what Garish did prior. Both his parents cheer wildly when he bows to all of us, and I choke down the lump forming in my throat .

I swallow repeatedly as we prepare for the third name. My previous worry that Mellcom’s words were looking like prophecy dissipates. My only concern now is my plan to get Lambrit and get us across the Unclaimed region’s barrier before the carriage for the Chosen arrives.

“Jeremiah Etain.”

What? Shit.

I didn’t seriously pray he’d get chosen.

My body becomes heavy as I sway. Laney’s arms tighten around me as Mellcom grips my forearm. He holds me long enough to steady me, then lets go. His arm brushes mine as he steps in front of Jeremiah, and they lay their foreheads together. The smile on both their faces makes my stomach sink.

Don’t they realize he’ll be gone forever?

Jeremiah steps away from Mellcom and his eyes bore into mine. His thumb traces across my cheekbone and part of me wants to slap it away. The other part wants to snatch him back and tell him a different Jeremiah was called.

It’s very possible to hate someone and stupidly care for them at the same time. I truly despise this man down to my bone marrow for all that he’s put me through, but I loved him once upon a time. I still appreciate what he’s provided for Mellcom.

The role he holds in our society hasn’t given him an opportunity to make a lot of meaningful relationships. Many can’t let go of what he puts them through in training to be genuine friends outside of those arena walls.

Jeremiah can, though. He always has.

He’s done me wrong on countless occasions, but never Mellcom. He’d lay his life on the line for my brother, and that’s the only reason I tolerate him as much as I do.

The Chancellor shows his respect to Jeremiah, then the three men now standing around the Volreen nod to one another in unity.

I’m going to be sick.

Two more. Let’s get this over with.

The whispers surrounding me fade out as the Chancellor reaches his hand into the Volreen for the final male’s name. I honestly hope the sacred creation decides to go off course and calls the female’s name first just to throw everyone off.

“Mellcom Bellame.”

My internal wish for chaos melts away. My chest collapses as though I’ve just been kicked straight in the heart. I dig my fingers into his skin and put a death grip on his forearm to hold him back .

“No.” All I can do is breathe the word.

That’s everyone in my life.

“It’s decided, Thay.”

My head shakes violently as he grips the back of my neck, then tears himself from me. I gently unwrap Laney’s hands from around me and pass her to her mother. My feet don’t make it a step past Mr. Armend before he grips me by my arm.

“You can’t interfere, Thayla. This is the will of the gods.”

“No, no, no.”

How…how did he know? He knew. He had to have known.

Mr. Armend’s hand stays tightly coiled around my bicep, but surprisingly, the other runs softly up and down my other arm. It takes me countless seconds to realize Mrs. Armend is also gripping my hand and Laney is back wrapped around me.

My head swivels to the right where we were just standing, and the empty sight knocks the wind out of me.

Three of the five Chosen all came from this row. All the people I’ve ever let close in my life are leaving me.

I’m being left all over again.

Mellcom’s and Jeremiah’s faces are set in grim lines while Lambrit’s is full of worry as he watches his family embrace me. This is the first time and probably the last, his parents put aside their differences concerning me.

They’ll really never forgive me for what I have planned.

Especially if I fail.

I fight back the tears that want to fall. They blur my sight as I stare unblinkingly at the three of them standing on the platform. My ears ring with the internal scream I’m bellowing.

“No,” Laney cries. I glance down at her as her arms tighten around me to the point they’re constricting.

My hand moves mindlessly as I rub the back of her hair. Reality is setting in for her and as much as I want to tell her she still has me, I’ll look after her, I can’t. It’d be a lie. I’m getting Lambrit and myself out of here as soon as this is over.

“Laney, sweetheart, you have to let her go.”

My body trembles at Mrs. Armend’s words. Her face has taken on a deathly pale color and her hand is trembling slightly against mine that’s petting Laney.

“Why does she—”

“Thayla Godrun.” The Chancellor’s voice thunders.