Page 83 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

She sighs once again, either detecting the lie or she just doesn’t have the energy to continue to stand here and argue with Havar and me teaming up on her now.

“It was some of the female Defenders who cornered me. Mara did this.”

A blazing inferno burns through my entire body to the point I shake. Everything in me both goes numb and vibrates from the rage I feel. The paling and pleading on her face are the only things keeping me from snapping.

“Okay. Thank you for telling me. I’ll make sure to discuss this with Creed.”

She exhales sharply and smiles softly at Havar. “Thank you. See, it’s going to be fine.”

His eyes meet mine.

“Havar, will you get her comfortable? When the guys get home, I’ll talk with them, and we’ll walk you to the healing villas if the swelling hasn’t gone down. Is that okay with you?”

“Yeah. I just want to lie on my couch for now. I’ll go there later, though. ”

“Sounds good. I’m going to go check and see if one of them came home already by chance. I’ll be over in a few to check on you.”

She nods, but I can’t look her in the eye very long. I force my legs to keep steady as I walk back through my door and I lean against it when I close it.

Deep breath, Thayla.

Deep breath. Keep breathing.

Nope. Not enough fucking air.

I’m through the kitchen and living room before my body truly realizes I’ve moved.

I see nothing.

I hear nothing.

My one-track mind is in full control and the burning in my blood forces me to move faster. Run.

The houses are a blur as I sprint by them. There may be people on the path. There might not be. I don’t know.

My legs eat the distance between my house and the Court as my mind races. Each thought has anger and something else building to a devastating degree inside of me.

How could she do that to Yemi?

I saved her fucking life.

It doesn’t matter that she hates me for whatever reason. You don’t fucking corner someone for no reason, then put your hands on them.

I don’t give the first shit that Yemi’s ability snapped out. Her power obviously knew it needed to protect her. I wish whatever it is would’ve fucked Mara up.

I would’ve handled the consequences of that. Just like I’m about to hand Mara her consequences for putting her hands on my friend.

The conversation and Creed’s warning that we had my first few days here about how I expected Yemi to be treated blares in my mind.

If you allow one to get away with it, they’ll all try.

My sprint finally slows as I enter the mouth of the tunnel that leads into the Gods Court. I tilt my head back to look at the mural of the Beginning Gods with their swords above me and flip them my middle fingers.

Fuck them too.

As soon as I exit the hall into the dirt center, my eyes devour the space. It doesn’t take me long to spot Mara and her friends huddled together right in the center .

My body vibrates with an intensity that makes me want to throw up. Heat flashes assault me as I stomp forward. Pins and needles shoot through every inch of me, and I can’t get my breathing under control.

I snatch the sword out of the hand of some waste of space male as he twirls it around, attempting to show off for some of the girls. I don’t spare a glance behind me as he yells to get my attention.

Gripping the handle with both hands, I take a few practice swings with it as my footsteps grow closer. It’s a little heavier than I’d like, but it’s manageable.

And it’s going to do some damage.

My voice comes out deep and deadly when I get a few steps away. “Mara.”

She turns with a sneer on her nose.

I relish the two seconds of fear that register across her features right before I swing the sword with every last drop of strength I possess in my body.

My blood hums as the strike across her face silences every voice in the entire Court.

There’s a satisfying crack that echoes through the space.

Whether it’s from the initial hit or something on her breaking, I don’t know.

The bellow of agony that rips from her a millisecond later has a cruel smile twisting my lips.

“Don’t you fucking move or interfere.”

My voice growls as I point my sword at her friends when their shock wears off and they attempt to step toward either her or me.

I throw the wood at their feet. I won’t be needing it.

“Get up, Mara.”

She shakes her head, either telling me no or trying to shake the stars from her eyes.

“Get. Up.”

A furious groan leaves her lips as she grabs a handful of dirt and tries to throw it at me.

Fucking pathetic.

With a deep breath and a crack of my neck, I kick her straight in her stomach as she gets to her hands and knees. She rolls to her back, gasping for air, and I slowly sit myself right on top of her. Her fists pound against my chest, but I couldn’t feel them even if I wanted to right now.

Everything’s numb. Everything’s burning with anger.

I grip her wrists and fall forward until our noses almost touch.

“Tell me you know why this is happening, Mara.”

She gasps out a pitiful cough mixed with a laugh. “You’re so fucked. You don’t even know the number of rules you’re breaking right now.”

“I’m so sorry I gave you the impression that I give a single fuck. Now use your words like a big girl and tell me you know why you’re about to be made an example in front of all your little friends.”

I pull back a smidge so I can look down at her. Her eyes widen when she sees the possibly deranged seriousness on my face.

“Your Attendant hit me first.”

“No. Yemi attempted to get away from you and you cornered her because you knew you could. Unfortunately, you for some reason thought nothing would happen to you.”

Her body shakes beneath mine as she tries to buck me off, but I tighten my grip around her wrist and press my weight down more.

“I’m not someone you want as an enemy, Thayla.”

“You’re the one who put us in that position, Mara. I saved your life. I don’t mess with you in training. I’ve never had a problem with you. I never wanted to have issues with anyone here. But you have some weird-ass superiority complex and I’m going to adjust it for you.”

A humorless laugh leaves her lips, and she scoffs at me. “Good fucking luck. I’m going to make yours and your freak of an Attend—”

My fist lands across her mouth before she can finish that sentence. The skin on my knuckle splits instantly and my blood mixes with hers when I bring it down on her face again.

Over and over, I scream as I pound away.

I think about every wrong fucking thing about this Court as I take it out on her.

The Defenders are almost all bullies because this place has made them believe they’re better than everyone.

They treat the Attendants who have to hold a responsibility or role here like they’re moving targets or personal entertainers for their vile fucking games.

Gladian gives them all a superiority complex because of their Designation and because they hold the secret of the Abandon’s existence more than any other.

It’s wrong.

A shriek rips from my throat when a hand wraps around my wrist as I pull my fist back again. It’s like someone has wrapped a scorched bracelet around me and it tightens the more I resist.

“Thayla, fucking stop. ”

Mellcom’s arms loop around my body as he pulls me off Mara. Jeremiah’s standing right in front of me with a dangerous twinkle in his eye. It’s his hand wrapped around me.

“Stop mov—”

“Release me. Now.”

My command thunders through the air. Not a second later, I’m dropped to my feet and my wrist is released. I don’t know who I want to hit first.

“What the fuck is going on in my Court?”

Jeremiah steps out of the way rapidly and Gladian’s face turns furious.

“I should’ve known it was you. I smell the trouble in the air. What are you doing in my Court right now?”

He takes three purposeful steps toward me, and I pull my shoulders back.

“Don’t you dare come any closer to me.”

He stops moving and his fists ball at his sides. His eyes blaze with an intensity that should have me backing off, but I can’t. His rage fuels my own and I prowl toward him.

“Let’s get a couple things straight right now, you gigantic, selfish, egotistical asshole.

First off, this is the Gods Court, not yours.

Learn that. Second, keep your crazy-ass Binder the hell away from my Attendant and me.

Every time she even looks at one of us wrong, I’m going to beat her ass.

Matter of fact, add those two to that as well.

The next one of them who touches me, I’m getting the full force of my Valtrue involved.

“Lastly, take a long, hard fucking look at how you run this place. You’ve developed a godawful mentality and habits in these Defenders you’re training.

Your methods are barbaric, useless, and build no sense of unity whatsoever.

It’s going to hurt them in the end because shit is changing.

And it’s going to continue to do so. Grow the fuck up, you ancient-ass child. ”

My neck cranes back as I take a final step toward Gladian. Our eyes lock in a battle of wills. The vibrations that had been shaking the blood in my veins seem to pass into him.

The more he trembles, the less I do.

The rage-filled haze I’d been under slowly starts to dissipate, leaving a much more manageable and familiar amount pounding in my ribcage.

My head jerks back as he grabs a handful of hair at the base of my scalp. I screech as my nails dig into his arms and I pointlessly kick out at him. He snatches me so close to him, his hot breath fills my ear .

“You dare step foot in my Court, use your power on my Valtrue, and then on me, the God of Strength?”

I’m positive his bellow ruptures my eardrum, but not before I hear what he said loud and clear.

My power?

No. Can’t be.

I scream again as he jerks my hair until my knees hit the dirt. He’s one more tug away from breaking my neck.

I fucked up.

Fucked up royally.

“Get the post!”