Page 84 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

In one hard pull, he has me on my feet. I trip over myself as I attempt to both keep up with him and get free of him. Mentally, I shout at myself to calm down and find my power again. Figure out how to do what I apparently just did again until I can get my ass out of here.

My fight flees me as my eyes fall on the large wooden pole that’s just been set up. My stomach tries to crawl up my throat as I scan the chains and iron rings holding them in place.

No.

Not again.

My days of whippings are supposed to be over.

“Gladian.”

I frantically search Mellcom’s face. That pleading tone has na?ve hope rising in my chest. He knows better than anyone what this will do to me.

He’s one of the ones who caused this trauma and pain.

If men can leave scars, what can a god do?

“Don’t even try, Mellcom. I’ve let your sister’s mouth and actions slide far too many times. Creed gave his word he’d punish her each time she stepped out of line, and we see how much good that’s done for her. She will learn today.”

He what? He’s never.

Shit…every time he dramatically scolded me or carried me out of here…He was putting on a show.

Fuck.

“Get her on the post.”

Gladian slings me into Jeremiah’s chest with the force of a thousand stars. I’m met with a grip so painful I crumble into him more .

“Ah, it’s so sweet to have you back in my arms, sweet T. Where’s your little Valtrue now?”

I wish I knew. Why is Creed not here today of all days?

His mocking laugh makes my chest tighten, but I force myself to refrain from saying or doing anything. I know if I play into him, he’ll unleash on me more of whatever this painful ability is he has.

The tears are already welling in my eyes. It’d please him to no end to see them fall.

I wordlessly fall to my knees when he shoves me down and latches my wrist one at a time to the cuffs. I jerk my face away from him when he caresses my cheek softly. The movement makes me fall into a mournful abyss of green, but his stone-cold features say it all.

“I’ll carry you to the healing villas when this is all over, Thay.”

“I’d rather die right here in the dirt, thank you.”

Mellcom closes his eyes briefly. He doesn’t open them to look at me again as he pushes himself to stand and disappears from sight. I can’t help but peer over my shoulder, though, and watch as he walks past Gladian without saying a word.

My glare moves to him next. In his hand, he’s gently flicking a black whip at his feet. He raises it higher and sends it flying through the air. I stare in horror as power sizzles down its length, turning it gold as it goes. The cracking sound it makes has my body trembling.

“Open her shirt.”

No.

My heavy breaths fall fast as someone I don’t know steps up behind me and rips the back of my shirt open. The tattered material fans around me and the breeze that hits my skin chills the sweat dripping down my spine.

“Thayla Godrun. You will be punished before the gods and the Defenders for using your power against me, a Domain God, in the Court. Five lashes.”

His voice booms as far as the sun in the sky. The power radiating from it has me clenching the chains in a death grip. I squeeze my lids shut as panic sets in.

Don’t count the seconds. Don’t listen for the crack.

Don’t scream. Don’t cry. Don’t make a sound.

I gasp as there’s no avoiding the noise. I’ve never heard a crack so loud in my life. It’s louder than the madness in my mind.

First, it’s the sound. Then the ice. Then the heat. Then the realization.

All in sub-seconds .

My mind and body react at the same time. My back bows as a ground-quaking scream breaks free, loud and unrestrained. Tears that burn as much as the lashing spring from my eyes no matter how much I didn’t want them to.

My breasts become heavy and unsupported as the fabric of my bra snaps. With nothing standing in its way, the hot flow of my blood is immediate. It slithers down my spine and drenches my pants.

I don’t even get to take a breath before the second hit comes.

I fall against the pole for support as my stomach hollows out. My vision doubles as the pain is too much to bear. The memories, the reminders, everything bubbles to the surface. I sob as my body becomes heavy and slumps against the wood.

My chest jerks so hard in so many directions, it nearly forces everything in my stomach to follow.

I’m sorry for what I’m about to do.

As the third lash lands straight down the center of my back, crossing the two throbbing with agonizing pain, I grip my soul. I pull it toward me in hopes that I don’t make them fall to their knees but find me.

Please come for me.

The fourth lash slices across my lower back and my hips thrust forward as though they can run from it. It hurts to scream. My throat is raw and the tang of blood, sweat, and tears makes the burning sensation intensify to the point I don’t know if I’ll talk right after this.

Black spots dance across my eyes, but the sound of a familiar voice has me attempting to blink them away.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Creed’s voice thunders around me. It takes so much strength to lift my head, but when I do, my eyes collide with him where he’s standing at the arch entering the Court.

“You made it just in time. Your Binder’s learning a very valuable lesson.” The elation in Gladian’s tone is sickening and Creed’s eyes narrow dangerously on him as he takes calculated strides forward.

“What in the name of the Valories made you think you could teach her a lesson?”

“The fact that she came in here, powers blazing, and used them on my Binder. Then on me. She crossed the line.”

“And what pushed her to that point?”

He stops for just a moment at the post as he looks down at me .

My croak is pitiful. “Creed.”

He walks away. He turns his gaze and walks away from me. I swear what little piece of soul I have left withers.

“It doesn’t matter—”

“It does. Which Valtrue struck first?”

“She did. She came in here and attacked Mara.”

“Why?”

Silence hangs heavy in the air. I flinch as a voice calls out, then I cry when the movement causes my back to rip a little more.

“Mara hurt Thayla’s Attendant, Yemi. Mara claimed Yemi hit her first when she approached her.”

I force my head to rotate against my bicep as I follow the female’s voice. I close my eyes softly when I find her.

Why would you do that?

Why would she, as an Attendant, insert herself right now?

“It doesn’t matter,” Gladian shouts, silencing any murmurs and whispers. “I’m doing what you should have been, and that’s teaching your Binder her place. You should’ve been punishing her harder and you’ll finish it now. Then you’ll make sure she remembers.”

Everything inside of me goes cold. His command tethers to my soul and my lungs beg me to breathe.

I can’t.

The chains rattle when I force my shaking limbs to hold me up as I peer over my shoulder.

Creed’s dark eyes meet the begging in mine.

Nothingness stares back at me.

“How many lashes has she had?”

“Four of her five.”

“And you want me to deliver the last one?”

“That’s exactly what you’re going to do.”

He wouldn’t. He would never…

His face hardens and the clear decision across his features cuts through me. My breath hitches and my heart shatters with another betrayal. This one pierces me deeper than any other before despite the fact I’ve known him the least amount of time.

He holds a piece of me inside of him.

He’s always had the power to destroy it all.

Gladian shoves the whip into his chest, and he clutches it without ever taking his eyes from mine. A sob escapes me, but I cut it as short as I can.

No matter how close to the brink of death I feel, I won’t let him see me break anymore. I won’t let him see the fact that if he cracks that whip against me, he’ll seal our fate.

He grips the handle and lets the rest of the whip flow to the ground. The gold is replaced by black ripples that promise so much more pain.

I want to watch him do this to me.

Then again, I don’t.

I’m afraid if I do, I’ll never be able to hold his gaze ever again. Every second in each other’s company from here on out will be a fight. I need to be able to hold my own.

He hasn’t used the control he has over me other than to get my attention, but that doesn’t take away the fact he does have it, and he could do a lot worse. I can’t let him have the power to make me cower as well.

Decision made, I slowly close my eyes, making sure he sees the devastation he’s leaving behind. My forehead leans against the post, and I release a breath.

He’s going to break our entire Valtrue.

“Thayla.”

My name roars from three different voices as soon as the crack sounds.