Page 52 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

I lean against my desk and cross my arms. “Do you have a reason to fear that’s what will happen?”

“I haven’t had the greatest start to my time here, so I’m just basing that on the pattern so far.”

“That’s a fair assumption, but patterns aren’t definite. Their sequence can be broken at any time. ”

A deep sigh falls from her lips and her shoulders sag. “Let’s hope so. The last thing I want is for something to happen and all of the Godsdawn look at me like I’m crazy. I feel like I’ve got enough attention on me already.”

“That’s inevitable given your relationship with us. Riven’s already claimed the title you fear, so it’d have to be something truly catastrophic for you to take it from him.”

Her long hair drapes across the back of the chair as a laugh belts out of her. The sound has my chest pulling tight and I rub the spot to examine why that continues to happen. It’s an unfortunate side effect of our Pairing that I’ve been experiencing constantly lately.

None of my research has found any mention of physical reactions to being marked and paired. The Valtrues’ accounts I’ve gone through express a subtle feeling that a connection to someone has been made, but it was during the initial marking, then disappeared after that.

This reminder has been constant, with no sign of lessening.

As the noise around my room fades, Thayla rotates her head, getting a good look at my space. She’s quiet in her appraisal and I give her another moment to indulge.

“Was there anything else or did you have any more questions?”

“Why did the four of you react the way you did today?”

“What do you mean?”

“In the Gods Court, after Mara and I were separated. The four of you all went toe-to-toe with Gladian’s Valtrue. Why?”

“That should be obvious.”

She huffs and crosses her arms to match my own. “It’s most certainly not.”

A small sigh passes through my lips.

I hate explaining things that are clear as day.

“You’re our Binder. You’re going to be tested by gods individually.

That’s the way things go in the Godsdawn.

Gladian’s entire Valtrue approached you without allowing us out of the Holding as well.

That came off as them threatening you in our eyes.

No one will get away with isolating you from us or threatening you.

Gladian realized that quickly enough, but the error of his decision was already noticed. We reacted accordingly.”

Her lips part as she stares at me intently. A few times, her mouth opens, then closes as indecision of something to say wars within her.

“Is there anything else, Thayla? ”

She finally blinks. “No. I think I’m going to process what you said and stop freaking out about it. Am I hindering you from getting something important done?”

“Yes.”

She snorts and slides her legs from underneath her, then puts her shoes back on. “I’ll get out of your hair then, Candyman.”

“You’re not in my hair. You’re in my room.” I pass her the torch lamp as she stands, and her grin grows wider.

“It’s sarcasm for intruding in someone’s personal space.”

That makes sense.

“I’ve never heard that one before.”

“Well, now you have, so add it to your catalog of sarcastic sayings.”

I will.

I open my door and motion her out. A few steps past my threshold, a whistle chimes from the living room. Both Thayla and I look at my brothers now sitting on the couches.

“Were you in there taking advantage of my brother, angel?” Riven asks and Thayla raises her middle finger to him as she walks in the direction of her room.

What a strange thing for him to ask. She didn’t take any more advantage of me than they do when they have questions or concerns about something I know and they don’t. Plus, she unknowingly gave me a few things to think about.

“She didn’t take advantage of me. It was mutually beneficial.”

All three of my brothers’ eyes widen and I cock my head to the side.

“Wait a minute…Amick took care of that issue you were having, little goddess?” Kyzen calls out as he leans over the couch and stares at her.

“He sure did. Good night, boys.” Her body shakes from her laughing as she disappears down her hallway.

Creed, Kyzen, and Riven glare at me. I study each of their features while I dissect what those facial expressions mean. Their scrunched brows and frowns are telling.

“What’s that noise? Why are you humming?” Riven asks.

“I can’t recall a time I’ve seen the three of you both envious and jealous. Interesting.”

I step back into my room and shut my door as they call my name. If they’d like to know what Thayla and I discussed, they can go ask her. I’ve had enough distractions for one night.

“I’m not doing this with the two of you. Especially not here. You need to go back to wherever you’ve been assigned.”

“Just tell me which of the houses is hers and we won’t bother you again.”

“No, absolutely not. You’ve lost your mind, Mellcom.”

“Do we have an issue here?” I ask as I walk up behind the two new gods cornering Lambrit at his podium.

Most Valtrues like to stick together. Mostly. It’d seem I made a grave mistake placing them on the same rotation, though. It’s becoming abundantly clear they’re going to be quite the nuisance in our lives.

“No issues at all. Just catching up with our Oddian buddy,” Jeremiah—the one I dislike the most—says as he attempts to lob his arm over Lambrit’s shoulder, which he easily evades.

“I see lying comes easily to you. I’d advise you to quit questioning the whereabouts of my home and the location of my Binder. This will be my last warning since yesterday wasn’t clear enough. You’re only receiving another because we’re within the Athenaeum.”

I stare them down. They may think they’re imposing figures now that they’re in Godsden and in a completed Valtrue with the God of Strength. But I shared a womb and have lived with the God of Death my entire life. They frighten me as much as the wind does.

“Come on, Jer,” Mellcom, the smartest of the two, says.

Lambrit scoffs and shakes his head as he watches them stomp off. He gives me a grateful nod and turns his attention right back to his work.

“Lambrit, your assistance for a moment.”

The brand-new fully placed Guider begrudgingly closes the book he was trying to read on the podium. I understand the irritation with being interrupted again whilst in the middle of something, but my request will only take a minute.

Just between his time with Chancellor Ellian yesterday and his time in the Athenaeum this morning, although Thayla was wrong about the hour comment, I do believe him mapping it all out has been an easy feat.

He’s not only been able to identify and procure the material he needs for his own studies, but he’s also already begun guiding both his Attendant and Thayla’s.

It’s impressive. I look forward to working with him.

Rose rises from her chair she was sitting in, but I halt her. “Rose, you may stay here with Yemi and continue your lessons. He’ll only be a moment.”

A look of shock skirts across her face as her eyes bounce from me to Lambrit then back.

I assume it’s the use of her name. I’ve overheard Lambrit and Thayla call her by her name rather than just Attendant, so if that’s how they deem both of their Attendants be addressed, then that’s what I’ll call them.

Wordlessly, Lambrit follows behind me to my office. Once I approach my door, I place my hand on the wood and turn the knob so he can enter.

“Would you like this shut, Rising Chancellor? And is this about what just happened? I didn’t tell them anything.”

“Open is fine and you may call me Amick. And no. I’m not concerned with the two of them. I’d like your opinion on these two chairs.” I motion to the new additions that are taking up space in my office.

Only one will stay, but narrowing down the choice has posed to be more difficult than I thought it’d be. I first grabbed a seat at random from within the Athenaeum, but when I sat on it, it was as hard as the floor. No matter how I maneuvered my body, it never got comfortable.

“Is there something special about either of them?”

“No. They both match the aesthetic, so they’re pleasing to the eye.

They’re of above average size to accommodate a large male, so a female sitting with her legs crossed won’t be cramped.

It’s the comfort level I haven’t been able to measure.

I know which one I believe is more suitable, but another agreeing opinion would verify that. ”

“A female with her legs crossed? Are you picking out a chair for Thayla, sir?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why don’t you just ask her?”

“Given her Designations and the fact she didn’t decide on or hold a consistent role within Oddian, that leads me to believe she doesn’t like making choices.”

“You’d be correct. Choices about little things anyway. She finds them irritating.”

As do I.

“So you sought my opinion because she’s my best friend?”

“Precisely. She made the relationship between you clear to me. I would’ve asked Yemi, but they haven’t spent enough time together to know subtleties about each other such as this. ”

He murmurs an agreement, then takes a seat in the first chair. Even though he brings his legs up to cross them as she does, he’s too tall to achieve it. “It’s very thoughtful of you to do this for her.”

“Thoughtful? She said she learns better when she’s relaxed and comfortable. She has a lot to learn. It’s practical.”

“Practical, yes, but you didn’t have to accommodate her. That makes the gesture thoughtful.”

Huh. I hadn’t considered that.

He rises and moves to the next chair, my choice, and makes an appreciative sound in the back of his throat. My silence stretches and when he realizes I have nothing to say, he carries on.

“Don’t worry too much about her catching up. She’ll get it. She always does. I’m afraid the strange sense of comfort she seeks when she studies is my fault. I study better standing.”

“How would your standing affect her comfort while learning?”