Page 89 of The Gods Veiling (The Valorian Veil #1)

I blow out my breath and shake my head. “I’m not walking that far.”

“You just let me worry about that.”

“No. You can’t carry me all the way to the meadows.”

“Well, for one, I definitely can. Two, where we’ll meet them isn’t all the way at the meadows. It’s not far from here.”

I grit my teeth. This night will haunt me forever. “Will you ask him why it’s so important right now?”

He takes a moment, then just starts walking. Right out my back door. He ignores how I repeatedly say his name and grip his shirt.

“I didn’t say I wanted to do this or that this is okay, asshole.”

“Too bad. It’ll help you heal, so this is what we’re doing.”

The dick even has the audacity to put his hand on the back of my head and shove it down until it’s tucked into his neck again.

I do bite him then. Hard.

His feet stop moving and his hands tighten around my thighs. I don’t break the skin, but now that I’ve got his full attention, I push myself up slowly once again.

“Listen here, just because I’m beaten and can barely move, don’t think I won’t find a way to fuck you up. Next time, ask me if this is okay.”

Those dark gray eyes of his are pronounced even in nothing but moonlight and the white rings around his pupils are blazing. I wasn’t expecting that kind of intensity, and I refrain from squirming against him.

“I’m so fucking thrilled to see your fire still shining bright even in this situation.

But you listen to me.” He tilts his face a little closer and his breath mingles with mine.

“You’re going to do whatever it takes to heal, like it or not.

And also…you bite me again and I’m going to bite back, Thayla. ”

The way he growls my name dark and low is completely opposite to the sarcasm he had in his tone with his first comment.

My stomach tightens when he starts walking once again without ever taking his gaze off mine. The multiple intentions in his words are clear and I don’t know if I’d love or hate a bite from him .

What I really don’t know is if I’d survive a bite from him. Pretty sure I’d be a goner. In more ways than one.

I lay my chin on his shoulder and tell myself it’s because sitting up is painful—which, to be fair, it is—and so I don’t obscure him from seeing where he’s going.

Really, I can’t just stare into his eyes any longer. There’s too much to unpack in their depths and I can’t handle that tonight.

After I don’t know how many minutes pass, a soft neigh hums through the air, and I turn my head in the direction Seismet and Verlet are approaching from.

Seismet doesn’t stop walking until his nose touches my forehead. The gesture makes a shuddering breath fall from my chest, but a hiss passes through my lips when hot air hits my back.

“I’m deeply sorry you’ve experienced this, Thayla Godrun.”

Verlet lays his muzzle on a part of my back that isn’t damaged, and I fight back the water that fills my eyes.

“Thank you, Verlet. I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not. Seismet, take her. Creed will stay with me.”

“Take me where?”

“You’ll see,” Seismet says as he kneels.

“Do you know where?” I ask Creed.

“I do, but this is sacred, and I’m not allowed to tell you. It’ll help you.”

Of course he knew the whole time.

A rush of pissiness passes through me, but it’s quickly swept away with respect. When it comes to the Veilatara, my whole Valtrue shows them the reverence they deserve, and that’s so endearing to me. Although a heads-up would’ve been nice.

Honestly, I’m just nervous about how painful it’s going to be riding on Seismet and how the hell am I supposed to get off him?

“I’ll take care of you, Thayla. This I swear.”

Creed expertly moves my legs from around his waist, then grips my hips. He sits me gently in front of the contraption wrapped around Seismet’s wings and holds me until I’m steady.

“Lean forward and wrap your arms around his neck.”

I do as I’m told as Seismet’s power washes around me, cushioning me closer, and a deep sigh falls from my lips at the comforting warmth.

I keep my eyes on Creed and Verlet until the darkness steals my sight of them.

“Can you tell me where we’re going now? ”

“It’s our sacred hot spring. The water was blessed and shielded by the Valories millennia ago. The only beings allowed to enter are revered creatures and those of our choosing.”

The thought of heat touching my back right now has me cringing. “It’s going to help my back?”

“It is. And there’s someone I’d like for you to meet.”

He laughs at the groan in my mind.

“Oh, come on, Seismet. I’m really not in any shape or mood to play nice and enjoy company.”

“Trust me. You want to know this being.”

I sigh and don’t argue. I don’t have the energy.

It’s only a few more moments until a luminescent light begins to color the dark forest floor. I try to lift my head but find that I can’t.

“Seismet.”

“Hold your breath.”

That’s all the warning he gives me. I get the quickest glimpse of water as clear as glass right before we start to sink and I rush to take in as much air as possible.

Panic sets in as I find myself stuck to his back, unable to lift myself up and swim for the surface. A deep vibration passes through him and into me.

It gradually stops, but it’s replaced by a tingling that spreads through every molecule of my being. The sensation is much like pins and needles, but it’s not painful. It’s electrifying in the best sort of way.

My blood comes alive beneath my skin. The tingling intensifies tenfold as it rushes to my back.

Suddenly, Seismet moves from underneath me, and my eyes fly open. The water doesn’t burn despite its heat, and I watch petrified as he disappears.

My limbs obey my command to move, but I stay trapped, floating underneath the water with no way to go up. True fear settles in, and I force my arms and legs to kick faster. They do, but still, I don’t move.

I tire quicker than I’m proud to admit. My lungs burn and my head grows dizzier by the millisecond. Despite my mental will to fight whatever power this is, my body decides it can’t anymore.

Every move I make becomes more lethargic until I give myself over to the sensation completely. Wholly gambling on the hope in my heart that Seismet would never let me actually drown.

The second I stop fighting, I’m propelled to the top .

My gasping breath echoes all around me and I frantically shove my hair out of my face while I fill my desperate lungs with air.

Sputtering and coughing, I spin in the water, looking for my treacherous companion. “Seismet, what the hell was—”

My shout dies on my lips as my eyes grow wide.

The hot spring is surrounded by a rocky formation. The backside is the tallest and a small, uneven platform is at the bottom right where the water kicks up on the side. The blueish white light radiating from the water casts the creature sitting on those stones in an ethereal glow.

I forget to tread water and my body sinks back beneath the surface. My feet touch the bottom, then I’m shot back to the top. Only this time, my feet somehow stay grounded like the floor of the hot spring followed me up.

Again, I shove my hair from in front of my eyes and blink rapidly, mentally telling myself I imagined that creature in my oxygen-deprived state.

I didn’t.

Shock takes hold of my body. “Impossible.”

“I’ve come to learn in my time that there’s always a possibility in the face of impossibility. It’s my greatest pleasure to finally meet you, Thayla Godrun.”

I sink into the creature’s teal eyes that are brighter than the water I stand in. My chest expands as a ball of power buds in its center. It continues to grow to the point I’m worried it’s going to burst out of me.

And soon enough, it does.

A gasp falls from my lips when that power flows from me, directly toward the creature. It collides with his chest, and he spreads his white and indigo ombre wings wide.

With no say so from me, my arms splay out the same way when I’m hit in my heart. A glow forms between the two of us that shines brighter than the moon.

As that light gradually fades, my arms flop into the water and I sway harshly.

“What…the hell was that?”

Two separate laughs penetrate my mind and I whip my head to the side to seek out the one I’m familiar with.

“Seismet, what’s going on?”

“I shall allow my old friend to explain it. Leave it to him to steal my thunder.”

“I’ve stolen nothing. Your time will come, you old horse.”

“Who are you calling old, you weathering owl? ”

I glance between them with utter confusion flurrying through me. The new creature obviously heard what I asked Seismet and now I hear both of them. I don’t think I have the mental strength to deal with this.

“I’m sorry, are the two of you seriously arguing in my mind and using mortal animals as a way to insult one another right now?”

Both turn their all-knowing eyes to me. I jerk my head and raise my eyebrows in expectation of an explanation.

“Sincerest apologies, Thayla girl. I’ve missed my old friend, is all. I’ve waited many, many years for you.”

“You could’ve returned to the meadows at any time. You know this.”

“No, I couldn’t. It wasn’t a part of the path, and I was needed elsewhere.”

My head continues to swivel between the two of them. “I don’t mean to be rude, but can the two of you play catch-up or whatever this is after I’m told what’s going on?”

Again, they both stare at me.

“I always get the sassy ones.”

Seismet laughs at the creature, and I cut my eyes at them.

“What does that mean? What just happened?”

“Do you know what I am, Thayla?”

“As much as I want to say yes, I can’t wrap my head around it. It’s impossible. Despite what you just said.”

“I’m standing right before you, therefore, it’s not impossible.”

I release a deep breath and shake my head. “The Vedarya have been extinct for millennia.”

“All but one.”

His sorrowful tone has tears filling my eyes and my mind continues to deny this. There’s no possible way standing feet in front of me is the last living Vedarya.