Page 80 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

Amick

“None of you have anything useful to do today?”

My brothers continue their conversations as though they didn’t hear me. One by one, they’ve flocked in here and I’m confident it’s not because they desire my company.

Creed appeared first, followed by Riven. Kyzen came bounding in shortly after with a smile plastered to his face. The other two grew excited until they realized he was alone.

It’s my little anomaly they’re waiting for.

It’s baffling.

When it comes to how my brothers respond to Thayla, that’s an answer that continues to escape me.

Creed finally acknowledges me by taking a step closer to my desk. I don’t bother directing my attention to him. Unlike them, I can work and listen at the same time.

“We’re going to be useful. We’re here to help you, help Thayla with her power.”

“Your help isn’t necessary.”

“Is that because you like dominating all her time?” Riven asks as he attempts to sit in her chair, but Kyzen has the proper mind to stop him.

“No.”

“Well, then what is it? I didn’t clear my schedule to sit here and look at your beautiful matching faces.”

“Your face is nearly identical to ours. The four of us together will fluster her not help her.”

“I enjoy her being flustered.”

I stop my note-taking and cut my eyes to him. The way he rattles her brings him great pleasure, but then he pulls back again, leaving her flustered in irritation. His chaotic pattern is nothing of shock to me, but it’s a confusing cycle for her.

Creed’s the same, with the exception he doesn’t tease her in the way Riven does. He protects, pulls back, and observes.

Kyzen and I are the only consistent. That’s why she flocks to us when she puts her pride to the side and asks for something.

“She needs to learn. She can’t do that properly with the two of you around. Ultimately, it’ll be her choice to make if she wants you here or not. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that, though, if I were you.”

I resume my writing as they stay silent for a blissful three seconds.

My chest jerks and an irritated huff sounds through my mind. I’ve read every piece of material I have that could explain why this sensation continues to happen. I even wasted time reading old texts from the nonmagical realm in case I’d magically developed an illness seen there.

Creed checked me over and assured me that nothing was wrong. Despite logically knowing if he sensed nothing, no one would, I still went to the healing villas to have a second opinion. They confirmed what he said.

My conclusion is that it has to do with the little anomaly. If my brothers were quiet long enough to hear, they’d realize her laugh is traveling through the Athenaeum.

The sensation is heightened when she’s near. It’s still present in her absence, but nothing as distracting and disruptive as when she’s close.

“Well, that was quicker than I—”

“How do you all feel about me dating?”

The room finally descends into a silence I’ve been craving for the last hour since Creed showed up. I seize the opportunity and read over the notes the Chancellors took during our meeting this morning.

“Repeat that,” Creed demands and I internally roll my eyes. She spoke loud and clear, I’m not sure what he needs repeated.

“How would you all feel if I went out with someone? ”

The energy shifts in the room and I tilt my head to the side as I continue my work. For whatever reason, what she’s asked isn’t making my brothers very happy.

“Who?” Creed’s knuckles whiten on the edge of my desk a few inches from my work and my eyebrows scrunch.

“I don’t know, anyone.”

Anyone? What is it she’s trying to ask?

The only sound heard in my office is my pen flowing flawlessly over my parchment. This conversation is pointless since my brothers continue to search for answers in silence. She’s barely making coherent sentences, so until she can use her words to make more sense, I have nothing to add.

“Who the fuck asked you out?” “No.” “Are you interested in someone?”

I finally sit straight in my chair as their voices boom around me. I hadn’t realized they all had formed a line shoulder to shoulder to stare Thayla down. She takes a step farther into my office and slams my door. The force behind it makes my bookshelves rattle, and I lay my pen down.

Slowly standing from my chair, I come around my desk and cross my arms. My blank glare is pinned to Kyzen. For a mediator, he’s doing a poor job at whatever this is going on.

“What is it exactly that you’re asking, Thayla?” My tone is calm and soothing, but apparently not to my brothers’ liking.

“I know you’re a fucking recluse, Amick, but you know what the hell dating is,” Riven shouts as he throws his hands up.

“Yes, engaging in a planned social activity. I’m not understanding the fuss and disruption you’re all causing in my office. She dates all the time.”

“Not with a fucking boyfriend,” Creed growls and Kyzen pinches the bridge of his nose.

I cock my head at Thayla to see if that’s what she’s referring to. “A boyfriend? As in a male you exclusively engage in social activities with?”

She sighs and drops her hands from her hips. “Yes, Amick.”

“I’m still not understanding the issue then. I’m your boyfriend and my brothers have no issue with that.”

“What?” the three of them shout at me.

“We engage in activities together daily.”

They all pivot their bodies toward me, so I mimic the motion. Creed takes a step closer toward me. “The two of you do what together daily?”

“By the Valories, Amick.” Thayla tosses her hands in the air. “Their minds have gone straight to sex, while yours…hell, I don’t know where yours is at. ”

Both fire and ice slither through my body. Rarely, by that I mean I can recall the number of times and the events in the thirty-five years of my life that caused me to feel this way. It’s happened twice now with her being involved.

My mind blanks while I get the feeling under control and stop the fever coursing across my skin. It takes considerable effort to force my muscles to obey me, but as they do, I center myself. Thayla’s eyes widen when mine sear into hers.

“You want to know how we feel about you romantically dating? Am I now understanding the point to this conversation?”

“I…I didn’t exactly specify that, but I’d assume after a while, it’d become romantic.”

My brothers lose their minds. Their voices rise to unbearable volumes that cause my ears to ring and my heart to pound erratically.

“Out.”

“Fuck no. We’re getting down to the bottom of this and she’s going to tell us who the hell asked her out,” Riven argues.

“I said out.” Thayla turns on her heel, ready to do as I commanded. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Her shoulders tense as she slowly lowers her hand from the handle. The glares from the others heat my face, but I don’t turn my attention from our daring Binder.

“Come on. We’ll talk about this with her later.” Kyzen finally steps in, but if he had done his job already, it wouldn’t be coming to this.

He, Creed, and Riven stomp from the room, sparing Thayla glances as they go. “You’ve done it now, little burden. Coming in here asking stupid-ass questions like that.”

“Fuck you, Riven.”

“If that’s what you wanted, angel, all you had to do was tell me so.” He boops her on her nose as he steps away, and I know what she’s preparing to do before she even does.

“Don’t.”

Her clenched fists hang limply at her sides. Her glare is unwavering until the click of the door makes her flinch. I take a step toward her.

“Explain to me what brought this on.”

Her chest heaves in measured, deep breaths the closer I grow to her. She stands her ground as I knew she would. “Nothing. I was just trying to figure out what everyone’s opinions were on this subject. ”

“You’re lying, Mysenta . You have no control over your body’s reaction to your emotions.” I raise my fingers slowly and run them down her ear. “When you lie, your earlobes turn red. You don’t wear your hair down enough to hide it. I won’t ask again for the truth.”

I watch in amazement as her pupils dilate. I’m still not sure exactly which of her emotions cause that as it happens quite frequently.

She releases a slow breath as I let go of her ear. “I was asked out, just a moment ago in the dining hall. I don’t want to tell you or the others by who. It just made me think about how I don’t know how any of this works.”

I hide the natural reaction of my jealousy behind my unblinking eyes. It’s a foreign emotion. One I’m not willing to process in the middle of this conversation.

“How any of what works?”

“Relationships, dating. As a Binder, or I guess any member of the Valtrue, is that an accepted or expected practice to date outside your group? Everyone just goes about their romantic lives dating around and their partners are just okay with them being tied to four other people for the rest of their lives?”

“Statistically, you have to keep in mind, there’re more gods not in Valtrues than those in completed ones. But yes, that’s an accepted and expected practice. Just because beings are paired in a Valtrue together doesn’t mean they’re romantically compatible.”

“So…you all would be fine with me seeing someone romantically?”

“No. Is that really what you want?”

“Oh my gods, Amick,” she groans, gripping her head, then letting her hands fall fast to her sides.

“No, I’m not saying that’s what I want. But I’m still confused.

It’d bother you all if I were to see someone, but what, because I’m tied to the four of you, I just have to live the rest of my life and never be with someone again? ”

A frown mars my lips, and I observe her sudden flip from calm consideration to this outburst. Her cheeks are flushed, and her breathing is labored, causing her chest to nearly expand until it touches mine.

When I touched her a moment ago, she first moved toward my hand before halting herself. Since last week, her sleep patterns have been interrupted, she’s had mood swings with us all, and Riven’s increasingly called her out on her state of arousal.