average human’s Reviews > The Gods Veiling > Status Update

As I reach the third, my fingers flinch when they lie flat. A chill runs through me as my cheek presses to the door and their voices sound like they’re right on the other side.
My heart thunders in my throat and I slow my breathing to calm it down. I make sure to exhale through my nose and my body falls motionless.
“Don’t raise your voice again. I told her to get familiar with her room, then come out when she pleased. We’re going to get this figured out.”
Kyzen.
“What’s there to figure out? I’m pretty fucking sure your wrist looks just like mine does. Like all of ours do.”
Riven.
His angry but smooth voice has the arm my mark is now on twitching.
“Exactly. That’s what we need to figure out. What do these marks do exactly? It has to be more than just a tie to us. It feels different from anything that’s been explained. Will it take away the power we gained or kill her if we figure out how to remove them? What are our next steps in all of this? How much do we tell her?”
Kyzen’s response has my skin growing hot. I’m not completely sure if the mark and my soul are connected, but I definitely felt like I was dying there for a second when I tried to snatch it back. So if they try to remove the marks and they are connected, I’m done for.
He who I’ll never name again, I hate you.
“You should’ve made her stay the night in the healing villa. What do you think about this?”
“I think she’s a temporary anomaly. Did she say anything about her domain or power?”
That was Amick responding to Riven’s mean ass. And did he seriously just call me an anomaly?
Kyzen’s nicknames aren’t so bad now.
“No. I gave her the parchment to read. She did, didn’t say anything other than she’s still in the dark, and didn’t want to keep it. So she’s either unhappy about what it said, not the gloating type of god, or…” Kyzen trails off.
Really? That was some sort of weird test?
I knew not to trust the flirt.
“Or she already knew what it’d say, and she’s keeping it to herself. All gods gloat. They can’t hide their arrogance. Especially not powerful goddesses.” That cold tone leaves only one of the men.
Creed.
“The Chancellors claimed she’s acted like she was above everyone the moment she was chosen, then she readily accepted an Attendant to be her bitch on call. This is on you, Amick. You were supposed to have our predicament figured out by this Veiling and you didn’t. You don’t even fucking share what you’re up to. Now look where it’s left us. Trapped with a stuck-up growing goddess. She’s going to fuck everything up for us.”
Riven’s cruel words knock the wind out of me. My chest cramps and I place my hand there to ease the pain. The Chancellors definitely painted me out to be the realm’s largest bitch.
“That’s harsh even for you, Riven. You can’t put the sole blame on Amick. Also, we all know a certain god has his hand in this. I also don’t believe she has any intention of treating Yemi like her bitch on call as you put it. We need to hear her out, see what she’ll tell us,” Kyzen says.
Shit…they know about him…
Is that what Riven meant by their predicament?
“You’re completely leaving out how she spoke to the High Chancellor. She isn’t careful or thoughtful with her words.”
I internally sigh at Amick’s comment. Little do they know Der—Dickhead—told me that information. So it is the truth, but I guess my throwing it in his face was poorly timed after they just heard the worst about me.
“You’re being pathetic, Kyzen. You’re trying to protect her already. Five minutes alone with her and you’re ready to welcome her into our fucked-up mess with open arms. Did you or did you not demand that the Chancellors send us back into the Veil just as much as the rest of us?”
“Yes, I did, because I don’t want this for her—for anyone—Riven, but this is what’s happening. We’re stuck with a completed Valtrue, with her, and that’s that for now. Instead of only looking out for and protecting ourselves, we now have to babysit her. I can’t turn back time to fix it. I’m trying to be practical about our new situation. You can come at me all you want but get on the same page about her.”
Apparently, Kyzen getting stern is a thing of rarity. He didn’t even raise his voice, but the low, no-nonsense pitch behind it leaves no room for argument. Not only does it shock me frozen since all I’ve heard is the easygoing flow so far, the other three men briefly fall silent.
“None of us should have to do that. She’s a god just like the rest of them. She can take care of herself. Warn her about whatever you please, but don’t expect anything extra from me.” Creed’s voice takes on a level of detachment and coldness that seeps into my soul.
I absolutely never want him, Riven, or Amick—matter of fact, none of them, to know they now hold a piece of it.
“That’s not going to work. The Chancellor’s already sent me their orders for her. She’ll be accompanying each of us on our rotations, and we’ll all be together during Court like normal,” Amick says matter-of-factly.
Court?
“I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter.”
“That’s because you need a babysitter, Riven.”
“You know what, asshole—”
“Enough,” Kyzen cuts in between Amick and Riven. “This isn’t going to work today. Don’t worry about speaking with her. I’ll do it tonight and you all can get it together, then try tomorrow. You will try again tomorrow. Give me some space and don’t go near her.”
My body is already drifting back to my room with Kyzen’s order. The pounding in my chest is threatening to rip me open and all I want is to get as far away from them as I can.
The god who did this to me got something fundamentally wrong when he thought they were perfect to tie my soul to. They speak to each other like they barely tolerate one another. Not like brothers whose differences complement each other at all.
I pass through my room and don’t stop even as I sling the door that leads outside open. The fresh warm air adds to the heat spreading throughout my body. I take a second to look around.
Then I run straight for the trees.
I don’t know how long I run for, nor do I know where in the hell I am, but anywhere is better than being at that house. Their tension is tangible, and I’ve only added to it.
They can keep the glitz and beautiful rooms.
I’d rather not live under a roof that does nothing but fight. I’ve already been dealing with that for the past year.
That foreign pain still beats in my chest, and I clench my fist hard enough to leave indents in my palms. I swear it’s like my being is begging to be made whole once more. It recognizes it isn’t safe or welcome where it’s now having to reside.
I place my hands on my knees to catch my breath as I come to a small clearing somewhere in the middle of the forest. After a couple deep inhales, I plop down on my ass as I struggle to focus on anything other than everything that was said.
Kyzen’s comment about not being able to turn back time blares in my mind along with his remark about babysitting me. The many times I’ve been spoken about like an orphan child that needs someone to watch her every move rings through my ears.
The little rock at my feet goes soaring through the trees as I throw it as hard as I can. When it bashes against a branch, I let out a scream that I feel like I’ve been holding in all damn day.
I let my anger fly free as I tear up handfuls of grass and dirt. Each moment of the day that replays across my mind has more of the agony in my chest and hatred in my heart bleeding out all over the forest floor.
My throat grows raw as my eyes burn with tears I can’t hold back anymore. My desperate breaths draw up a memory I wish it wouldn’t have.
“I can’t run anymore, Mom. I’m gonna be sick.”
“Things in our lives, Thayla, will push us past our breaking point. We must push back harder. Never give up.”
“Keep going, my shooting star.”
I bellow to the sky. “What’s the fucking point past the breaking point?”
Why the hell did you both tell me never to come here if you knew this is exactly where I’d end up? Why did you leave rather than prepare me better?
The crack of a branch has me on my feet, spinning around in a millisecond. I get into position, ready for the attack.
My muscles never relax, but I quickly drop my guard and wipe my cheeks as Yemi steps out from behind a tree. “Did you seriously fucking follow me?”
“Where you go in your free time, I have to go. I saw you run out your door.” She shrugs.
“Gods. No, you don’t. Go back to your house,” I snap, then turn my back to her and try to collect myself.
There’s no movement behind me, but hell, honestly, I wouldn’t know if she left or not. I never once heard her following me.
“Are…you okay?”
“Why even ask if you don’t give a shit? You’ve made it incredibly clear you want nothing to do with me, and I get it. So here’s your out. Just get away from me.”
I drop back down as my legs scream for me to give them a break. My shoulders slump with the shaky sigh I let out and I stare through the endless stretch of trees.
A silent moment passes before the leaves crunch beside me, and she makes herself comfortable. I roll my eyes as I pull my legs closer to me and cross them, then pointedly ignore her.
“It’s not that I don’t want anything to do with you. I just don’t want my life to be harder than it has been over the past two years. I’m just trying to protect myself.”
I hum quietly. I can see and understand that. I’ve done that for quite some time now, although I was never cold to anyone, just…closed off.
“Yeah…fucking same,” I grunt and try to rein in the venom in my tone. “You don’t have to protect yourself from me. I never wanted to come here.”
“Then why in the realm did you enter the Veiling?”
I snort at the accusation in her voice and let out a sober laugh. I examine the curiosity in her unblinking, unemotional stare. I’m pretty sure part of her is just trying to find out as much as she can so she can protect herself like she said. The other half may really be interested.
At this point, I don’t care. I need to tell someone the truth before it makes me explode.
“I didn’t. Mellcom and Jeremiah, you know the two from Oddian that I kept snapping at?”
She nods, and I carry on.
The truth of this morning falls out of me in a rush of words. I don’t take a single breath until it’s out there in the open. I include the part of me beating Mellcom’s ass in the living room and that brings me a small sense of justice.
I’m pleased to witness the shift in her face. The shock comes first, followed by the guilt.
Her mouth opens and closes repeatedly before she covers it with her hand. It’s the first genuine reaction she’s had directed toward me.
“No need to get upset on my behalf. I’m here now. There’s not much I can do about it.”
“Gods, you make a lot more sense now.”

“If you’re referring to my cussing, loudmouth, and tendency to threaten the two of them, I’m always like that. It’s just a little more than normal today.”
Her hand falls into her lap limply and tangles with her other one. “I’m sorry this has happened to you. I know a thing or two about being somewhere you don’t want to be.”
“You really don’t have to apologize, but I appreciate it. I’m sorry your stay isn’t what you thought it’d be. I’m sure you were the opposite and had high hopes coming here.”
She fiddles with her thumb cuticles before lifting her head. “I did. It’s been nothing but a nightmare.”
I arch a knowing brow. “Your Designation, I assume?”
“Yeah. You seemed to have picked up on that quickly in the tests.”
“I know a thing or two about being treated like shit.”
She looks away from me as we both drift into an awkward silence. It adds to the overwhelming homesickness and loneliness coursing through me.
Even though I’d feel the exact same there.
At least there I was comfortable in my bedroom or Lambrit’s, and I could escape to my hot spring.
If I could know what I know now, gods, I’d go back a year and a day.
Unfortunately…there’s no turning back time on this.
Even if I could, it may not have changed this outcome at all.
“I obviously didn’t know what choosing you would truly mean. If the High Chancellor’s stupid ass had explained what having an Attendant meant better, I’d have never accepted. I accepted you thinking I was getting you out of a shit situation and giving you a better one. I could look at you and tell you were miserable, so I told myself we could help each other out. If there’s a way to…unchoose…if that’s even the word, I will.”
She gives me a tense frown. “What’s done is done. The Volreen, more precisely, the Gods Binding, has tied our essence. It’s not like you and your Valtrue, but there’s no splitting us now. I’ll be at your mercy for eternity.”
I flex my fist repeatedly to simmer the rage trying to spew out of me. “My mercy…I get I’ve come off a little strong, but given the situation, hopefully you can see I’m not just some raging bitch looking to pick a pointless fight. I have no intention of bossing you around or you coming to my beck and call. Or whatever it is Attendants really do. Firstly, it’s fucked up, and secondly, I’m a grown woman. I can figure it all out for myself. You can literally do whatever you want.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
I glare at her. She most certainly did.
“Okay, not completely like that. When the High Chancellor explains everything the way he does, it paints my Designation in the light of the lowest of gods. We get the least amount of our power released, so we’re immediately viewed as less than and treated as such.
“Most Chosen who accept their Attendants treat them as personal slaves as you called it. Those who aren’t accepted or just haven’t been offered up yet, get bossed and bullied around by everyone. Hell, they’ll still do it even after you’ve been accepted. So, given my situation, hopefully you can see where my apprehension and edginess are coming from.”
I press my lips together and face back toward the trees. My head shakes as I blow out a breath and pick the grass at my feet. “Yeah, I do. I completely understand, believe it or not. But unfortunately, just like everything else today, I don’t know what the fuck to do about it or where to go from here.”
We fall back into a tension-filled hush. My lingering thoughts about how not only was my life flipped upside down today, but in turn, I did it to someone else, is eating me alive.
It’s hard to really be mad at her attitude. We’re both having the same kind of shitty day. Our reactions are the only difference. She’s colder and quieter. I’m louder and aggressive.
“This really fucking sucks.”
A snort that surprises both of us tumbles out of her. She even startles like the sound is foreign to her ears. “You can say that again.”
“You’ll probably hear it enough that my repetitiveness will start grating on your nerves.” I chuckle, tossing the handful of grass I was collecting in my palm. “So what now?”
Her eyes drift into the distance. “My transition into this new role started the second you accepted me. From here on out, I’ll be accompanying you almost all day for whatever you need. I’m supposed to take care of anything that’ll make your life easier.”
My nostrils turn up at that. “Ew. I really don’t like that. No offense, it’s not that I don’t enjoy your lively company. I don’t like the idea of you doing everything for me because it’s easier. Unless you’ve got a way to get me off this mountain. That’ll make my life easier.”
A small smile crosses her lips. “You really don’t know the rules.”
“Rules?”
“Yeah, like earlier when you didn’t want me to carry your bag for you. That’s a responsibility that falls to me. That makes your life easier.”
“I’m sorry, my mind is malfunctioning. Are you saying there are actually rules that say you have to do shit for me?”
“There’s a whole book.”
My jaw falls open and I scowl at her smirk. “You’re serious? There’re rules I have to follow when it comes to me telling you what to do? What if I don’t want to treat you like that?”
“When we’re alone like this, you can treat me however you please. When we’re around all the other gods, it’s best you just follow the rules as much as possible. I don’t want to get punished for not doing what I’m supposed to.”
Punished…
“Surely since you’re quote, my Attendant, I have a say in how others treat you? They can’t punish you. You’re a grown woman and a god just like them.”
Her tight smile makes my stomach swirl with both hatred and unease. “As long as you’re around me, you have a say. You can also make it known to the others what you say about me goes. But if I’m being honest, I’ve never seen an Attending God, which you now are, ever stand up for their Attendant. There’s no telling what kind of light that would put you in, in the eyes of the others. It’s best we both stick to the Attendants’ rules and those of the Godsdawn.”
Yeah, fuck all that.
I’ve been bullied enough in the past year. I’ll be damned before I stand around and watch it happen.
“I swear, Yemi, I won’t be like that toward you. I definitely can catch an attitude at times, and I have a foul mouth when I’m angry, really all the time, but I’ll never treat you like you’re less than I am. I’m not too happy with the gods right now, so me swearing to them won’t mean much, but I do promise that.”
She smiles, the realest one I’ve seen so far, and I return it although I hate everything she just said. “I appreciate that. It’ll be easier for me knowing you’re not bossing me around because you think you’re superior. We still need to abide by most of the rules, though.”
Yeah, okay.
I chuckle as I push off the ground and wipe my hands off on my pants. “I definitely don’t think I’m superior. Far from it honestly, but I guess I’ll study up on these rules.” I offer her my hand as a small…I don’t know, truce, understanding. I’m just trying to be nice. “Sorry you caught my meltdown. It’s been in the works all day. I feel better now, though, so that’s a plus.”
“No need to apologize. I mean, you freaked me out at first, but it makes a hell of a lot more sense. I’m sorry for the way I judged you and acted. I was just preparing myself for you to be like all the others. I didn’t want to let myself think you were all that different. If there’s one thing I’ve learned the hard way, you can’t have blind faith in anyone in the Godsdawn.”
I cut my eyes over to her. “So no one’s out here making best friends for life jewelry?”
“Not even those with matching marks.” She glances down at my wrist, then back up to me. “I’m only close with Havar, Rose, and a few of the other Attendants. I don’t talk to any of the other gods at all unless absolutely necessary.”
“From the impressions I’ve gotten so far, I get that.”
“Some are more obvious about their self-serving motives. Some not so much. In your case…” She pauses and shakes her head. “I don’t know if you got paired with the most selfish or selfless of the bunch.”
My chest pangs and I groan. “Don’t remind me of them.”
“Already met their wrath?”
“I wouldn’t call it wrath. Overheard their disdain for our situation. Hence why I went for a run.”
“Well, good thing you stopped when you did. If you had kept going, you would’ve made it to the Veilatara meadow and been stomped to death. They don’t take kindly to strangers. Havar refuses to even let me go with him to see them.”
Huh. I’ll let him surprise her then…
We walk for a while, sinking into our own thoughts. I’m not sure how long it’ll take us to get back since I wasn’t paying attention when I was running, but I use this opportunity to observe the forest.
We had gorgeous woodlands in Oddian as well, but you can tell the forest thrives better here in Godsden. It smells sweeter, the trees are taller, and the colors are ten times brighter. There’s power in abundance and it shows.
“I went farther than I thought. You kept up with me the whole time?”
“Yeah, but a couple paces back. I used to love running before I came here. Now they use it as a punishment to see which one of us will throw up first.”
I try to hide my sneer, but I fail. “Well, other than that disgusting side note, that’s impressive. I’ve had to work out every day for as long as I remember, and running was my favorite because no one could talk or yell at me while I did it. I didn’t hear you at all.”
“I’m quiet on my feet,” she says, but her cheeks blush a pink that doesn’t say embarrassed but lie. I decide not to pry.
“So is there…” Do I really want to ask this? I do. “Is there anything you can warn me about them?”
She whistles low and gives me an apologetic smile. “They’re a brutal bunch. From what I’ve witnessed, they’re easier to handle individually. Mostly. They were the strongest group here even without being a completed Valtrue. I don’t know their whole story and I’d never dare ask, but they were left here as teenagers. The name everyone calls them…”
I can summarize that’s where it came from.
“You said individually they’re easier to handle. What do you mean?”
“Right. Mind you, this is all from me observing them. Today was the first day I’ve ever had to be in such close quarters with them. I watch from a distance. Amick is a Rising Chancellor, so he spends a lot of time in the Athenaeum. He seems easier to approach in there if you’re asking relevant questions. He doesn’t seem like a personable person, but not necessarily a mean one either. Kyzen is a Mediator. If there’re problems or disputes, they call him in. He seems the nicest.”
That makes complete sense and explains everything I’ve seen from both of them so far.
“Riven is a wild card. He’s petrifying and confusing honestly. I’m not sure what he does, and I stay away from him. I’ve watched him just lay gods out, laugh about it, then help them up, and pat them on the head. And Creed…yeah, he’s just scary. Plain and simple. He spends most of his time in the Gods Court. He doesn’t speak to pretty much anyone but his brothers or the Defenders. Riven rumors that they’re quadruplets because they’re all the same age, but I heard that isn’t true. I don’t know for sure, but they’re definitely brothers.”
Quadruplets…Gods, their poor mother. If that’s the case.

Couldn’t be me. Absolutely not.
“They’re not happy about this Pairing at all.”
“Yeah, I got that from the shouting.”
“Is there anything else you got from the shouting that I should know about?”
“No, it was basically Riven screaming at the Chancellors, them yelling back. Your whole Valtrue demanded you all go back into the Veil and the High Chancellor denied that, then read them your Deliverance. I also heard it, by the way…”
I sigh. “Yeah, it didn’t give us much, but the High Chancellor sure did a good job making me seem awful. What about their powers?”
She hesitates long enough to tell me she doesn’t want to answer. “What I know about their powers is only speculation. I’m liable to scare you more than inform you and piss them all the way off by telling you something that’s not true. I know you’re searching for answers to help you accept this. I totally get it, I’d be the same way, but I think that’s a question you need to ask them to get to know them and form your own judgment.”
I get her sound reasoning. I just don’t like it. “Ugh, I guess so. Anything else you can or feel comfortable sharing?”
“No. You’ll learn as you go based on what’s bound and what’s not…Oh, I didn’t think this really mattered, but now that you’ve told me why you’re here, this is probably important to you.”
Chill bumps break out across my skin. Her tone is laced with dread, and it sinks into my stomach. “What?”
“Mellcom and Jeremiah are in a Valtrue together. I’ve never seen this before, but two kinda phenomena happened. One, them being paired together. It’s almost unheard of to be from the same region, same Veiling cycle, and apparently close, then match. Two, they were paired with Gladian, a Domain God. He’s the God of Strength. Awful man. He’s so vicious. The other two are almost fully powered. Well, actually, they may be now after this. Chasin, his domain is under the God of Endurance, and Mara, hers is under well…Gladian himself. She’s ruthless, to put it bluntly.”
My hands immediately begin to shake. It petrifies me knowing it wasn’t Derivius who orchestrated this. When I first believed it was him, I was hurt and mad. Now it’s terrifying knowing a mystery god that I know nothing about is pulling strings not only with my life but obviously Mellcom’s.
My voice trembles despite me trying to stay calm. “What about their domains?”
Her frown deepens. “Both have a domain under the God of Pain.”
I stop walking and put my hands on my hips while I breathe. My eyes fall closed as I pull the panic back in. My mind goes straight to the worst of the worst.
How can they use that against me? If I don’t speak to them, will they force me to with their power? What about training? Will I have to face off with them again while they have this astronomical upper hand now? How can I avoid them?
“You okay?”
“No. Not really. Things were really bad between the three of us when we left Oddian. I’ve been the biggest bitch to them because of their betrayal. Mellcom more than Jeremiah has tried to talk about it with me, but I don’t want to hear it. Them having powers, and it’s in a domain of pain, will not bode well for me if I piss them off.”
Some more context to my life prior to coming here would probably fill in the blanks for her and she wouldn’t look so confused. I don’t have it in me to do that right now, though. I’m ready to call it a day. It’s bad news after worse news and I’m at my limit.
Thankfully, my somber face must speak to her because she doesn’t push. It’s only a few more minutes before we break out of the tree line and the houses come into view.
Instead of relief, my shoulders slump with defeat.
I don’t want to go in there either.
“How about Lambrit? He’s the one who accepted Rose. Was he okay after his test and do you know where he went?”
A smile crosses her face that makes me feel better. “Smart one that one is, huh?”
“Very. He’s my best friend, and he isn’t the best in crowded, social situations. I’m a little worried about him.”
“He and Rose left to find the housings after you passed out. She doesn’t do well in crowds either. He did try to come to you but was stopped. I only got to see them for a second before I followed you to the healing villa. His domain is under the God of Scripture.”
A huge, sincere smile spreads across my face. That doesn’t surprise me one bit and I’m so proud of him. “The god that remembers everything he writes. That’s not a shock to me. I’m positive Lambrit can already remember anything he reads. He’ll be fantastic.”
“He seems really sweet, which is different, that’s for sure. But I won’t overwhelm you with anything else after this.”
“After what?” I groan.
She takes no offense and laughs me off. “I’m technically supposed to check with you about all meals. So dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning. It’d be my responsibility to bring it to you from the dining hall, or we go there. If you don’t want to eat there or in your house with them, you can come over in the morning when you get up and we can go over some rules. I actually enjoy cooking, but I don’t have anything to prepare tonight, so I’ll have to go to the dining hall in a few, regardless.”
“Really?”
She chuckles. “Don’t sound so surprised by my invite. It’s both sincere and selfish. I really don’t want to be around your Valtrue but will learn to suck it up. Bringing you breakfast would make me have to come in there with all of them again, though. Then if they wanted something, I’d have to get it as well.”
“The fuck you would. I’d like for one of them to attempt to tell you to get them food. Grown-ass men. They can get it themselves. You can always just use the door directly to my room, by the way.”
Her head whips between the two houses and I snicker at the worry on her face. “That’s a decree you’ll have to lay down, not me. But so, food?”
I’m starving honestly, but the thought of her going to the dining hall to get me food doesn’t settle well in my stomach, but I’m sure as fuck not going there tonight. “I’m fine for tonight, thank you, but breakfast at your place sounds great. What time do you get up?”
“Before the sun. That’s when all the Attendants rise. I hated it when I first got here, but now I kind of enjoy watching the sun come up. The beauty of this place is still something I really appreciate.”
I won’t bore her with the fact that I’ve had to wake with the stars for quite some time now, so I’m an early riser as well. I actually love watching the sun come up, so at least that’s one experience I can look forward to.
“I get up early as well. So I’ll get ready and head over in the morning.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then. If you need something before, you know where to find me,” she says with a nod toward her back door, then she walks away.
I let out a little breath. I have absolutely zero idea how to navigate a relationship like this one.
Nothing but heavy silence greets me as I pass through the back door to my room and pause to listen for any noise. My head falls back against the wood as the weight of the day crushes my shoulders. Before I give it much thought, I sling the curtains closed, strip off my clothes, and climb into the massive bed.
The sheets are cool, and the comforter is the perfect weight. The fire is low, giving off just enough heat and light. With the remaining sun outside blocked out, I easily convince myself it’s bedtime.
Just close your eyes. Everything about today is now a tomorrow problem.
Quickly enough, with a long-drawn-out breath, I give in to the call of sleep and let my eyes fall shut.

36%

No time for offerings.
Not that I’d give them to him, anyway.
I stand within that circle, tilt my head back, and shout at the stars.
“Derivius.”
Nothing but still quietness greets me. The only motion in the temple is my chest falling up and down. The longer I wait, the more my resentment at his careless decision grows.
“If you care about that goddess you cursed, you’d better come speak with me. I’d hate for something to happen to the fragile little thing I’m taking care of.”
The wind howls outside along with the fretful creatures. The air rushes through the room and the torches on the walls blaze to life one by one. I hang my head as his power surrounds me.
It’s a shame he gave away the fact he has a soft spot for her so easily. That’s not going to go over well for her in the slightest bit if the other gods hear about it.
“Careful, Creed. That sounded like you were threatening my little troublling.”
“Your little troublling? It’s not like you to give out cute pet names to your puppets.”
“None of you are puppets, but I call you all something cute behind your backs. Is this why you called me here after your years of silence? To discuss Thayla? You know, the normal thing to do would be to, I don’t know, have a conversation with her. Ugh, look at this place. It’s filthy.” He scoffs, running his finger along the wall, then glaring at the dust covering the digit as though it personally offended him.
His nonchalance has me seeing black. My fists clench at my sides and my jaw locks. “Reverse the Pairing. We can’t have nor wanted a completed Valtrue, and you know exactly why.”
“I never wanted to be disowned, but here I am. Standing in my last remaining temple, that by the looks of it, is on its last leg. All while being summoned by one of my most favorite but ungrateful gods.”
“I’m as grateful as I need to be. Sometimes you take the chaos too far. She’s too far. Take her back.”
“There’s no taking her back, Creed. She isn’t an object you purchase and can return. Mind you, all I’ve heard is you demand I take the tie away but not the power that pairing with her has brought you.”
My nostrils flare. I hate to admit that he did release more of our power than any other Veiling has. It’s been crawling through my blood, settling inside ever since the new mark on my wrist took shape.
It’ll take some time for us to feel it in full force.
Fuck, I want to rip it out of me as well.
“Why, after all these years, did you enter the Gods Veil for her, release this power, and risk the wrath of the other Beginning Gods?”
“Aww, you sound like you actually care, my dear boy. Here I was thinking you only cared about your brothers’ and your powers.”
“You know that’s not true. Not for me anyways. And regardless, that power is rightfully ours. It should be given to us without a tie to a Binder we don’t want. You obviously care about her. Why put her in such a deadly position?”
“That you don’t want. Plus, how do you even know you want nothing to do with her? You haven’t even spoken to her.”
My eyes narrow on him. “Stop avoiding my questions, Derivius. I don’t need to speak to her. I feel her.”
“You’re sure it’s her you feel?”
My power flares to life and my eyes darken at the accusation. He throws his head back, laughing, and I rein it in. I won’t allow him to goad me. He’s doing well enough at it already.
Chaos loves to tempt death.
I release a deep breath that’s tainted in hatred. Not exactly at him, but what the other gods have made of him. What they’ve made of us all.
“You know she can’t be attached to me, Derivius. This little slice of soul trying to cling to mine for dear life will never survive me if it attaches. That isn’t a threat. You know that. I can’t fathom why you’d make such a careless decision with an innocent soul.”
The smallest flinch passes through his eyes. He did think about that but obviously changed his mind. It makes no sense to me.
“You really don’t believe you can take care of her soul?”
His question hangs in the air with a heavy silence. You can’t hear the footsteps he takes toward me or the breaths falling from my chest. Just the lingering uncertainty in the answer I don’t have.
The closer he gets to me, the more he looks like the man we used to see more than enough as children. Where Riven got a crazy glint in his burgundy eye from his chaos domain—I believe an unfortunate gene that passed down from our father—Derivius’ blue is fun and mischievous.
His chaos can be deadly, always unpredictable, but he’s always had a purpose behind it.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t do that, Creed.”
The pain that flashes across his face guts me. He’s never been one to lie. If he can be honest with us, he is. Always has been. Whatever’s going on, it bothers him that he can’t say.
“Then tell me the truth of her. Why did you do this to her, to us? Does she understand what’s going on? Did you explain to her what splitting a god’s soul will do? Does she understand the danger not only her bodily vessel but part of her being is in?”
“No, I didn’t. I figured the god who knows the most about souls would take this time to learn something new himself and teach her. All she knows and understands is her soul has been split. The rest you all need to figure out together. As a Valtrue. I’ve been turning a blind eye purposefully and protecting the schemes you and your brothers concoct. I’ll continue to do so, but you all must find your way through this.”
His hands land on my shoulders and I stare into his one black eye. Its coloring isn’t natural. I remember when they both were blue.
I caused that one to turn black.
He caused the scar across my left eye.
“You’ve signed over her death, Derivius. One way or another. We both know that.”
The calculating smile that crosses his face has multiple meanings. It’s always a drawl between a welcoming sight and a warning. You never know until the aftermath which it truly meant.
“No, my boy. I’ve signed over the deaths to those who deserve it. We all just have to get to that battle first.” He turns from me but stops a few paces away and peers over his shoulder. “Inform your brothers and keep in mind, you lose her, you lose more than the power you’ve been given.”
With that, he leaves in a flash of bright white light and his low laugh rings all around me.
The trickle of sweat down my neck and under my shirt fuels the confusion pouring through me. As the turmoil builds, so does the tugging in my chest. The more stress I’m under, the more it bleeds into her soul.
I close my eyes to get it under control, but the comfort of darkness does nothing but push me further.
She’ll have to deal for the night.
I let the feeling consume me as I destroy anything I can get my hands on. Stones erupt everywhere around me from the pieces I hurl against the walls. Not that there were any recognizable chunks of him left, but I want there to be nothing but dust.
A burning sensation sears across my cheek as fragments fly around. The warmth of my blood flowing down my face and across my lips has a bellow pouring from my mouth that shakes the gravel at my feet.
I stomp through the open doorway, not bothering to slide the stone back in place. Let the fucking animals run wild in there for all I care.
After years of asking him for space, the one time I put it to the side to get some answers, I’m left with nothing but anger and confusion.
A slew of claps echo around me and I spin on my heel with my power ready, desperate to be unleashed on anyone foolish enough to sneak up on me.
“That was beautiful. Truly. I really loved how you redecorated the place. For a moment there, I thought you’d somehow got a little of Gladian’s strength with the way you were throwing those rocks around.”
“What the fuck are you doing, Riven?”
I sneer at him as he leans against the building, petting some sort of creature against its will. The damned thing is trying its hardest to get away from him. He keeps it held close to his chest and acts as though he doesn’t feel the thing’s claws tearing his arm up.
“Snugglybug and I were waiting for you to come out. I figured you wanted a moment alone to destroy everything. Run along, sweet pea.” He coos as he puts the creature down and watches it lovingly as it runs for its life. “I wish you all would let me get a pet.”
“That thing isn’t a pet and gods don’t have pets. Nonmagical mortals do. Why did you follow me?”
“Oh, that. I could smell the building chaos coming from under your door. I knew it wouldn’t take you long to come to demand answers. Answers I’m assuming Big DD didn’t give you.”
I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. “You’re telling me you didn’t eavesdrop on our entire conversation?”
“Unfortunately, those types of creatures don’t fear me like they do you, oh lord of death. It makes no sense. Anywhos, I had to create a distraction, then Snugglybug wanted some scratches. I missed the excitement and arrived when you started throwing shit around.”
I just stare at him, then turn on my heels to trudge my way back to the trees. His mischievous chuckle grows closer to me, and I’m tempted to starshoot to the house to avoid him.
“So all three of my brothers took on some deadly risk today, and all failed miserably, it’d seem. Someone should’ve put me in charge of something other than babysitting books and we would’ve got some shit accomplished.”
“You’ll be babysitting something more than books soon enough,” I grumble under my breath as we step into the darkness of the forest.
Three paces in, my feet fall still. My gaze watches as the wild beasts run rampant, chasing down four different Amicks that are squealing like injured swine.
Riven’s hand slaps down on my shoulder as he dies of laughter and points at each one like I can’t see for myself.
“Oh gods, I wish his stuffy ass were here to see this.” He gasps, wiping fake tears from his eyes. “Back to the babysitting. I’m not doing that.”
“You are.”
“I’m not. Why aren’t you on my side about this? You literally just bitched that she’s a god and can take care of herself.”
“Shit changes quickly if today hasn’t proven that enough already. It’s no longer a matter of sides. It’s a matter of if we want to keep our power, we keep her alive.”
He groans like a child and kicks over one of the Amicks who runs by us. The creatures pounce like ravaged beasts and that brings the delighted, deranged smile back to his face.
“This power boost is going to be delicious. I look forward to the benefits, but I’m not taking care of her.”
The atmosphere shifts with his power, and he withdraws all the chaos in the air. Each of the beasts running around skids to a stop, then turns their snarling jaws to him. One look and a warning noise from me has them scampering away.
My voice comes out stale as I continue stomping my way through them. “Yes, of course. It’s perfectly acceptable you evade your new responsibility.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you finally see it the same way I do.”
My sigh is full of defeat, and he mimics the sound with one full of relief. I don’t say anything else or warn him as I call my power forward, wrap it around me, and starshoot to the house. He’ll know what and where I’m going by the white light.
My body rematerializes outside our door and the small closet now perched beside our house makes me sneer in disgust.
An Attendant…she better have a good excuse for accepting that.
The living room is silent, and I force my steps to match as I make my way to Amick’s door. Two quiet knocks are all it takes and the sound of his chair by his desk skidding across the floor filters through.
“Family meeting?” Riven whispers in my ear and on instinct, I throw my elbow into his gut just as the door opens.
Amick blinks at Riven’s coughing and I barge past him when I see Kyzen already sitting in one of the chairs by his desk.
“Yes, by all means, be my guests. For the second time today.”

My eyes roam over the room that never really changes. It’s basically a smaller replica of the Athenaeum, except it has a bed, closet, and bathroom.
The wooden desk is covered in the books that he was obviously poring through before we interrupted. Kyzen looks exhausted by the whole situation, which means Amick was making him use his powers again to scan the, I’m sure, worthless material.
I wait until the door clicks behind us and for Riven’s muttered curses to quiet down enough for me to be heard.
“Derivius has a plan, apparently.”
I summarize for them what was said and what happened at the temple.
Apart from a couple details.
Their glares at me going there without telling them first quickly enough morph into calculating stares. He may be a god we love, but that doesn’t mean we trust him fully on any given day.
All gods are self-serving. Whatever it is he’s come up with will benefit him just as much, if not more, than us.
“You didn’t say shit about any of this just now.” Riven huffs as he tosses a small glass globe up in the air repeatedly.
Amick’s neck is starting to turn a furious shade of red, but he focuses on me. “This is a part of his revenge plan.”
“I know. We’ve always known we played a role in his plans, but now that includes her for whatever reason.”
Derivius would give us all our power back if it didn’t mean the wrath of all the Beginning Gods would come down on him. They can’t kill him. It isn’t allowed by the orders of the Valories, but they can make his life even more of a hell than they already have.
That’s not a risk he’s willing to take. His revenge against them is too precious. Too many years in the making.
Whatever his new plan is, those rules of Beginning Gods not killing one another came off as null to me by his comment. It sounded like he’s planning their demise, not just their downfall.
Which I’m all on board for. But what’s it going to cost us?
“So what the fuck do we do then? Follow her around like lost little Snugglybugs and protect her so we keep our new power for when shit goes down to Hell? Literally.”
I shake my head as Amick looks at Riven like he’s grown an extra one.
Kyzen cuts in as he stands from his chair. “We don’t have to follow her around. She’s on rotation with us and lives with us. Plus, don’t act like that. We would’ve protected her regardless of whether it meant keeping our power. She’s done nothing wrong to deserve otherwise. We try to figure out what he wants exactly out of this arrangement he took upon himself to make.
“It’s obvious she isn’t the type who takes well to being told to give up what she knows. If she had no issue telling the High Chancellor what happened in the Veil was none of his business, us ambushing her for whatever information she has isn’t going to work. There’s this thing called getting to know someone we’re all going to try.”
“Think fast.”
No one thinks or even moves. The globe Riven had been tossing around crashes through the stack of books and Amick falls statue-still as they tumble across his desk.
Fuck me.
“I’m not sure how any of you have survived this long. No worries, though, leave getting the information from her to me.”
“Absolutely not,” Kyzen says while keeping a close eye on Amick. “A good place to start will be tomorrow at lunch. She heard us all yelling tonight, and that’s why she didn’t come back out. She went to Yemi’s house instead.”
“If she can’t handle yelling, she’ll never survive here. What did she hear?” I ask.
“She didn’t make it seem like she heard anything but the yelling and decided to give us space. I told her we’d meet for lunch and talk things out. So how about tomorrow, everyone just be on their best behavior.”
Our eyes turn to Riven.
“What the hell would I do? I haven’t even talked to her yet.”
I scoff. “You’re both beings of chaos. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
“Riven, you spoke to her earlier. You called her a burden, for fuck’s sake. More than once,” Kyzen adds as he moves to start picking Amick’s stuff up.
“Don’t. Out.”
The single low command from Amick has us all moving out of his space. We know when he’s had enough and even Riven knows better than to test that.
Usually.
“You’re sure there wasn’t anything else, Creed? He gave you no indication why it felt like we all got stabbed in the heart when our marks appeared before she did?”
Kyzen’s calculating questions make me flinch internally. He’s too fucking observant.
“No. I’m assuming it’s because it was just his will, not that of all the Beginning Gods. He forced it.”
He holds my gaze as he places his palm on his door. “I’ve considered that. It makes the most sense, but something’s missing.”
I grunt and head into my own room. No more than two steps in and that little tether now cushioned in comfortably starts tugging in my chest. I doubt they’re experiencing it as strongly as I am, but it won’t be long before they start questioning it even more.
No part of me feels guilty for lying to them. Sometimes it’s necessary.
Our lines are already divided. It’s clear that Kyzen and Amick are okay, possibly even happy about having a Binder. They just want the answers to why. Riven and I aren’t okay with this. For different reasons.
If they knew it’s more than a tie and that we now hold her soul, it’d push Amick and Kyzen closer to her, and it’d set Riven the fuck off. Until I know the extent of what it means to harbor a soul rather than set it free or lock it up, I’m keeping this to myself.
Then I’ll decide how I feel about this situation.
The many souls I’ve had to deliver down to Hellveilious beg to be set free. The echoes haunt me every night. Their pleas and essence aren’t things my brothers can hear or see like me.
They’ve seen what a god who’s missing part of their soul looks like, though. What they act like. Death is far greater a gift than being stuck in your corporeal body with no reason to live. Eventually, they always give up the fight. They always die.
I’ve never seen a situation like hers, so I don’t have the first fucking clue who she’s going to turn into.
If she tells them first, I’ll play dumb or face their fury for however long it lasts. If she doesn’t, the two of us will keep this unspoken secret between us.
In the meantime, I’ll keep her—and her sweet little slice of essence invading my body—the fuck away from me and my being until I can figure out how to make her whole again.
That’s going to be the challenge. My power’s begging to be set free so it can devour the delicacy living beside it for the time being.

41%

What’s four men when you’re used to battling nineteen every day?
This will be light work.
I nod to myself and take a step forward. I immediately cringe when my shoe makes a sound that sends the house into silence. It’s not like I was trying to sneak up on them again, but I did want to get a look first without all their attention on me.
There’s no point trying to be quiet now, so I pull my shoulders back and walk normally. The darkness at the end of my hallway grows brighter with the kitchen growing closer, and I force my body to relax.
My footsteps gradually fall still as all four men stand together, waiting for me at the counter.
Of course I’d have an unwanted Valtrue with gods that could rival the Beginning Gods for looks.
These men are dangerously gorgeous.
I try really hard to bounce right over Kyzen’s smile as I assess each of them, but my moment’s hesitation gives him an opening.
“Thayla, how did you sleep?”
The block I had on my coloring face fails the second I meet his teasing eyes. The happiness behind them would fool me silly if I didn’t hear everything he said last night.
I do appreciate him trying to break the tension, though. Just wish that teasing didn’t come from the condition he saw me in.
Do not think about it.
The darkness of the room hid you. He didn’t really see anything.
I subtly take a deep breath, then exhale. “Good, thanks. The food was amazing and put me right back to sleep.”
“That dish is a house favorite, so good to know we won’t be dropping it from the menu.”
I grin because I don’t know what to say. An awkward moment passes and Riven chuckles, drawing Kyzen’s attention. He elbows him, then smirks back at me.
“We’d like to take the easy way out and pretend most of yesterday didn’t happen. We’d like to start over with some proper introductions if that’s okay with you?”
Well then…
There’s a lot about yesterday I won’t just forget, but if they’re willing to give this whole starting over thing a go, I’m not going to turn it down. I’ll keep what I already know in the back of my mind and try to judge them fairly from here.
“Okay.”
His smile widens and my stomach does a weird thing. “Good. You remember Amick.”
Oh yes, I remember Candyman.
Those sugar crystal eyes of his see right through me and the twitch on my lips. With a curious scowl, he steps toward me and reaches his hand out. “Thayla.”
“Amick.”
The forced formality makes me feel even more awkward, and I repress the urge to laugh. Especially when I start thinking about how he would’ve reacted if I called him Candyman out loud again. I don’t know if he’s always like this or if he’s just as uncomfortable as me and doesn’t know how to react.
With a quick, sure shake of my hand, he returns to his line of brothers and laces his fingers in front of him like this is an incredibly important meeting. Which I guess it is.
I arch a brow at Kyzen as he seems to struggle with who to choose next when he first looks at Creed, then diverts his attention to Riven. My focus stays there as I find the asshole smirking and looking me up and down through his giggles.
That wildness that was present yesterday is still here today, but there seems to be a playfulness to it that eases my hackles. Maybe it’s because of the thick strip of blond, red, brown, and black streaks curling together on top of his head that I didn’t notice yesterday. It’s fun. Chaotic.
I guess my staring gives him permission to make the decision for Kyzen. He prowls toward me with that laugh still lingering on his lips and he reaches his hand out when there’s only a small amount of space left between us.
Smooth as velvet, he says, “I’m Riven.”
There’s no way this is the same cruel asshole from yesterday.
“Thay—”
My words are cut off as my hand collides with his shirt. His palm grips the back of my neck and tilts my head back faster than I know what’s happening. My breath can’t even rush out of me as his mouth seals to mine.
The room fades away as I melt into him.
All coherent thought goes flying off the cliff as my tongue tangles with his. That jerking in my chest morphs into a warmth that spreads through every inch of me.
A slip of a moan coming from the back of my throat slaps reality back into me. At the same time, my palm connects with his cheek.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” My chest heaves as I rub my hand.
His fingers caress the side of his face as his irises start to swirl. If I weren’t so confused about what the hell just happened, I’d be hypnotized by how the colors are beginning to blend.
“Do that again. I liked it.”
“For fuck’s sake, Riven,” Kyzen groans.
Not a moment later, he’s being snatched away from me and the two of them fade farther into the living room. I can’t hear a thing Kyzen’s saying over my heavy breathing and Riven’s laughter.
Amick just walks to the table like nothing’s going on around him.
I don’t know what, where, or who to focus on. I don’t know whether to touch my tingling lips, palm, or chest.
Every-fucking-thing is tingling right now.
What in the realm is happening?
I finally settle my attention on the last man who hasn’t said the first thing. He’s still leaning against the counter with his head bowed and his fingers rub at his temples.
He must sense my stare, and I release a shuddering breath when charcoal gray eyes meet mine.
“Creed.”
The word is breathy, and my hand holds the slightest tremble as I stick it out. His steps are slow as he approaches me. He gets as close as Riven did, but I don’t believe he’ll be kissing me.
“That’s me, little troublling.”
The pitch, the delivery, and the grasp on my hand are completely opposite to how those two words cause my body to react. Icy dread rushes through my blood with his warm, low voice.
He’s gone from in front of me before he catches the panic flash across my face, and I shove it down so the others don’t notice. His chair skids across the floor, gaining everyone’s attention.
“Enough, you two. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
My feet stay frozen in a block of ice while Riven marches to his seat and Kyzen comes to stand a few feet away from me.
Why does he know that nickname?
What was he told?
“I’m sorry about him and I don’t have an excuse good enough for him. This is not at all how I saw this going,” Kyzen says with a small, hopeful smile and holds his arm out like he’s ushering me to a seat.
“You’re serious? You expect me to just sit and enjoy a lovely meal after…whatever that was?”
His face scrunches as he puts his hands in his pockets. “Expect, no. Asking, yes.”
Better.
Except right now, I’m mad, flustered, and just fucking confused.
My chest pulls toward them the longer I stand here and brand each of them in my mind as their own kind of crazy. It’s as if my slivers of soul inside of them are trying their hardest to reach me and make me feel better. I fight back the confusing heat traveling under my skin.
“What’s wrong, angel? Did I leave you speechless? If so, run along if you have nothing to say.”
I sneer at Riven and at the same time, the startling realization that the amazing rush of warmth that came with his uninvited kiss was the pieces of my soul connecting. It’s starting to spread again now just looking at the stupid-ass smirk on his face.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
In two steps, I pick the chair farthest from him and plop down into it. “Angel my ass. I can’t believe the gods had the mortals call them that.”
Amick’s fork freezes midair before he resumes eating without the rest of us and Kyzen chuckles as he takes a seat next to me.
“Would you like to eat or talk first?”
“I’m sure we’re all capable of multitasking.”
“Some of us more than others,” he says as he takes a quick bite, wipes his mouth with a napkin, then his power washes over us. “Do you want to address the oxid in the room, aka Riven, or jump in?”
“Just jump in,” I groan.
“Great. Do you understand how your Deliverance read based on what the High Chancellor explained? Aside from the obvious gaps.”
“Yes.”
He rubs his hands together. “Okay, so normally, the new Chosen would be receiving their schedules with their roles on it today so they could prepare themselves for tomorrow. Due to your situation, your schedule’s going to be different.”
I nod along like I’m following although I already know this as well. “How so?”
“We each play a role within the Godsdawn based on our Designations. The Chancellors have decided the best course of action for you is to accompany each of us on a daily rotation to learn the roles we take on. Everyone has to learn the responsibilities in the five-focused Designations to an extent, so you won’t be much different from everyone else in that respect. With you having an Attendant, you’ll also indirectly learn that role. You just won’t have one you focus on primarily like the rest of us do.”
“So you all have a primary role each within your Designations, which means I’m going to have four primary roles?”
“Not necessarily. You’re not taking over our roles. You’re just…” he trails off as his nose scrunches.
I piece it together, though, and cross my arms over my chest. “I’m just following you all around like a clueless errand girl who’s stuck up your asses all day. Nope, not happening.”
Their words from last night about babysitting me ring in my mind and I refuse to let that be a reality.
He holds his hands up at me and shakes his head. “No, no. That’s not where I was going. You’re not going to be an errand girl or stuck up our asses. We just don’t know where you’ll fit in. With you having Equalized Designations…I mean, it’s kind of in the name. Really, all we can assume right now is eventually, after you learn about everything, you’ll just have to pick a favorite.”
Pick a favorite…I couldn’t even decide back in Oddian what I liked to do the most.
I’m going to pick wherever Lambrit is at all times.
“Fine. I’m going to be following you all around and learning the way of the Godsdawn as I go. Am I following so far?” He gives me a nod and I continue, “And this schedule, it’s the same every day? We go to do whatever it is you all do, then what? Come back here, go to bed, and do it all over again?”
“The responsibilities are always changing. It simply boils down to what’s needed the most in Godsden or the Godsdawn at the time. There’re no timetables for us to follow, per se. We could have nothing going on, then suddenly be needed across the region. There’re some days more than one of us end up together doing something, some days not.
“In the afternoons, we have physical training together in the Court. We get one day off from that a week. That’s the only set thing. It rarely changes unless something crucial comes up. Other than that, you can spend your free time however you please, within the Godsdawn.”
Huh, so it’s ever-changing. I can live with that.
Poor Yemi.
My quick acceptance is washed away the second the last thing he said dawns on me. “What are we physically training for and what’s the Court?”
For the first time since we sat down, Kyzen hesitates. I follow his line of focus as he looks at Creed.
I’m momentarily stunned by the light shining through his distant glare. Much like his hair that seems to shift from black to silver depending on the angle I look at it, his irises that were so dark a few minutes ago are beginning to glow white. The change resembles a star bursting through a cloudy night.
The scar slashing through his left eye only adds to the dangerous energy pouring off him.
He blinks a few times, then glares at me. “Training is much like I assume or at least hope you did in the arenas. The Gods Court is where training takes place. What’s expected will be explained to all the new Chosen who have to train tomorrow by Gladian.”
Gladian. Which means…
Motherfuckers.
That unfortunate piece of news spurs me right into my next question. “Did I have any power release?”
“Yes,” Amick answers immediately.
“How do you know?”
“There’re obvious signs already. The initial release takes time to settle so your body can grow accustomed.”

“Aww, you noticed my changes from yesterday, Candyman?”
His lips flatten. Both Kyzen and Riven laugh, and I’m pretty sure Creed’s mouth twitched.
Amick doesn’t bother responding or paying me any more attention, but his confident answer makes some of the fear that was creeping up fade away.
“Well, what else should I know this very second? Last night you said you’d discuss your expectations.”
“As of right now, that covers the immediate concerns. There are things…we’re not allowed to share. That will come with time, I promise. Expectations probably wasn’t a good choice of words, but in all honesty, we’re expected to fulfill our duties and roles. That’s all we can ask of you right now as well. It’s a learning game for all of us. We need to get to know you and vice versa. As you learn about us and the Godsdawn, don’t hesitate to ask what you want. If we can answer, we will.”
If they can…so they may be bound. Doubtful, though. If Deri—you know who—unbound Yemi, they’ll be as well.
So we’re all holding onto secrets until we know each other better…got it. Glad we’re on the same page for now.
“Well then, boys, it seems like you know everything about me, so who’s sharing first?” I ask as I finally pick up my fork and give in to the aroma.
Damn, that’s good. The dining hall has some very talented cooks.
“Share what exactly?” Kyzen asks.
“You all know my name, my age, where I’m from, my hobbies, or well, lack thereof. My domain is Untold, and I have Equalized Designations. I think it’s only fair you at least share what your Designations are, so I know what to expect from whoever I’m with tomorrow.”
They all exchange unsure looks. I honestly feel bad for Kyzen when they all settle on him. It seems the role of Mediator pours into home life more often than not.
I smirk and lay my fork down. “You want me to try to guess? Take the stress off?”
With a devious smirk, he crosses his arms as he leans back in his chair. “Take a crack at each of us. We’ll tell you if you’re right when you’re done.”
I hum as I tap my lips with my finger. I start with him. “I’m going to say Plentiful,” then to Amick, “Guider, most definitely,” then Creed, “Based on what you just informed me, I’m going to go with Defender, and lastly…”
My nostrils twitch as I get to Riven’s crazy-ass smile. Even if it wasn’t for his distracting look right now, I’d honestly be stumped. I don’t have the first idea where he’d go.
He needs to go to the healing villas to be evaluated.
His mood swings are concerning.
“Hold that thought. I’ve seemed to have forgotten my manners.”
About time he apologizes.
“I got you a welcoming gift.”
“I’m sorry?”
“No need to apologize for your poor gift giving etiquette. I forgive you.”
I open my mouth to cuss him out, but all that comes out is a scream when he snaps his finger, and a fucking head falls into my plate of food. Thankfully, my brain catches up quickly that it’s not real based on the glistening white chiseled stone.
“What the hell?” Kyzen shouts while he grabs a napkin and starts cleaning up the wasted goodness.
I carefully pick the head up so he can move my plate, then set it down straight. A small snort tumbles out of me, and I cover my mouth with my hand. The longer I stare at it, though, it becomes impossible to contain.
My unhinged laughter bellows through the house and I try repeatedly to stop so I can speak. The entire table sits silently as I completely lose it.
“I take it by all that cackling, you like it?”
Kyzen snorts while cleaning up the rest of the mess and I turn the little statue around for them all to see. “Where did you get a stone head of the High Chancellor?”
“Come on.” Creed sighs beneath his breath. Not cracking the first smile.
Amick eyes it for a long, silent second. “That’s going back tomorrow.”
“No, it’s not. It’s mine now. You don’t take back gifts.”
“Exactly. I went to great lengths to stea—acquire that. She’s keeping it.”
Amick doesn’t respond at all to Riven nor me. His face stays unburdened like he can’t bother to waste his next breath arguing with either of us.
Candyman is more sour than sweet.
Kyzen plops back in his seat after throwing away all the mess and sets another plate of food in front of me. It takes me aback for a second, but then when I look at the size of all of them, it’s no surprise they’d get extra portions of food from the dining hall.
“Well, that was exciting. As for your guesses, you were close but not completely right. Amick is a Guider, and his role is a Rising Chancellor, hence the pissiness at the High Chancellor’s head at our table. You’ll be with him tomorrow, so you might want to keep the stolen property to yourself. Riven is actually Plentiful and his role—”
“Is a surprise,” Riven states, cutting Kyzen off.
That sounds very promising for me…
“My Designation is Ruler, and my role is a Mediator. When disagreements emerge, I step in before things go too far.”
I never would’ve guessed Ruler. When I think of that Designation, I think of someone uptight, very serious, and controlling.
Like Mellcom.
Kyzen hasn’t shown the first signs of that and the smile he’s wearing has been pretty much plastered to his face since he entered the healing villas yesterday.
My attention turns to Creed. “Did I get you right? Defender?”
“I have Equalized Designations.”
I startle. “What? Like me?”
“No. Defender and…Healer.”
My mouth parts and my eyes roam all over him. Nothing about this man says Healer. This is obviously a sensitive subject, and that’s why Kyzen didn’t answer for him. The table’s completely silent.
Other than Riven crossing boundaries and his insanely strange way of apologizing, this lunch has turned out far better than I thought it would. The last thing I’m about to do is ruin it with my mouth.
“Wait, so…” I observe each of them.
“Yes, the four of us make up the five main Designations and your Attendant makes up the sixth. Leaving your ties Equalized.”
Amick states it as casually as I’ve heard anything else come out of his mouth. He’s nonchalant as he finishes his plate, pushes his chair back, then makes his way to the sink. I don’t think he even realizes what he said shocks me into silence.
Well, damn.
I guess there was some calculation to his chaos.

43%

I wonder if that will change when she starts hearing more about us.
I wonder what her Attend—Yemi has said about us.
A squeal passes through her lips as she slides on the decorative rug, almost busting her ass. My face scrunches at the noise. That probably wasn’t loud enough to reach the guys, but it sure as shit wasn’t quiet.
“Who the fuck left a towel in the middle of the kitchen floor? Probably that damn psycho. He probably walks around naked all hours of the night.”
A snort escapes me, and she shrieks even louder. I call my power forward and think of the light coming on. Its dimness appears in just enough time for me to see the spoon heading directly for my face.
Time slows almost to a standstill. With only an inch or so to spare, I pluck the silverware from in front of my face, then stroll toward her.
“Well, good morning, little goddess. That’s some pretty impressive aim for you to not have seen me. Or did you see me that whole time and was asking me those rhetorical questions?”
I laugh as I take in her narrowed gaze and the rise and fall of her chest. She has a fork at the ready, wielding it like a dagger.
“Why did you sneak up on me like that?” She pants.
“I didn’t mean to. I’m just not used to anyone being up this early. You surprised me just as much.” She watches me closely as I take her in from head to toe with a lingering smirk on my face.
To my displeasure, she has clothes on, but the rumpled, just rolled out of bed look is still just as alluring. Her rose gold hair is a lot longer than I realized. It’s nearly at her hips.
It’d look gorgeous wrapped around my…nope.
Her scowl turns from me to the floor and a groan falls from her lips when she takes in the bunched-up cloth. I chuckle as the whole time she straightens it out, she mouths off about how there’s no reason for a rug in the kitchen.
She dusts her hands off on her small pair of shorts, then plants them on her hips. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just trying to find the light so I could fix some coffee.”
I flip the spoon in my hand, then place it in the sink. Amick would die if he knew she touched it then put it back in the drawer. I’ll need to keep an eye on that fork she has as well.
“Mugs are here,” I say, opening the cupboard to the right of the stove and pulling two down. “I assume you know how to heat a kettle?” I arch my brow and peer over my shoulder.
She meets my playful stare with crossed arms and a frown. I don’t let her see my smirk as I grab the jar of coffee that Creed ground yesterday. He’s always good about keeping a couple pots’ worth ready so I don’t make all kinds of noise doing it when I get up.
“I didn’t think you’d be up this early, so I didn’t explain yesterday, but the lights are much like our doors. They sense our essence. Except in this case, you have to summon your power, then think about the lights coming on.”
As soon as I say it, the lights grow brighter, then dim back down to how I keep them this early. She looks around and repeatedly nods.
“I had every intention of asking, but our lunch events were a little distracting.” We both snort, then she huffs. “No wonder I couldn’t figure it out yesterday or today. So I’m just supposed to walk around in the dark until my power makes itself known?”
“When did you walk around in the dark yesterday?”
“When I woke up. I just opened my curtains and used the moonlight and fireplace to go through my stuff while I waited to go to Yemi’s.”
Huh. I didn’t hear her make a peep.
“I’m pretty sure Amick has a torch lamp you can borrow until you feel your power enough to learn how to do this. You can also give me permission into your room, and I’ll cut your light on. Or we can leave them off…” I shoot her a wink.
I don’t miss how she presses her lips together like she’s avoiding giving me a smile and her face blushes that beautiful red I’ve seen a few times now. “Do you normally get up this early or did the change of scenery throw your sleep schedule off?”
“I’m always up this early, although begrudgingly this morning I skipped the getting ready part,” she says as she tugs the hem of her shirt, but there’s no use. It’s not going to reach her thighs. “Like I said, I didn’t mean to wake you with all my noise. You really don’t have to stay up and drink coffee because of me. I’m okay now that I can see.”
Damn, look at her trying to kick me out of the kitchen.
The whistle of the kettle grows louder, and I pull it off the eye. She makes her way to the icebox, humming as she looks over the many options. None of us fix our drinks the same and I grin deviously when she picks Riven’s favorite flavored cream. He’s going to be smug if he sees that. I grab mine as she steps out of my way, then add my simple sweet splash.
“You didn’t wake me. I get up this early every day. You’re interrupting my quiet time,” I tease.
She whips around so fast she nearly spills the piping hot drink all over herself. “Shit…I’m sorry. I can get my drink and get out of your hair.”
“I’m fucking with you, Thayla. I mean, not about the waking up this early, but you interrupting. This is your house too. You can get up and do whatever you want.”
“You’re sure? I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s routine.”
The hint of sympathy in her voice is a little shocking. It dawns on me, it doesn’t matter how excited she may have been to get chosen to come to Godsden, her whole routine, life, has been flipped around.
“I’m sure. It might be nice to drink a cup of coffee with someone who isn’t a growly six-foot-four man.”
She gives me a little laugh before bringing her mug to her lips. “I take it the others aren’t morning men?”
“Not at all. They’ll sleep for another hour, hour and a half. It’s best to let them get their full night of beauty rest. Couch or table?”
Her mouth parts as she glances in both directions. Another blush creeps onto her cheeks as her eyes linger on the couch. The living space is lit by the new low-burning fireplace, and it looks more romantic than comforting right now.
I arch a cocky brow and smile. I thoroughly enjoy how easy it is to fluster our Binder.
“The table is fine.”
I don’t antagonize her or tease as I hold my arm out toward the table and let her pick her seat. I grab the kettle of coffee and both creams before following her. I’m sure she isn’t a one cup and done person this early in the morning and neither am I.
She chooses the same chair as yesterday and I have to hold in my snort thinking about that damn head Riven dropped in her food. I feel a smidge bad that Amick’s going to have to act oblivious until he figures out how to steal it back from her and return it.
The small interactions we’ve had so far lead me to believe she’ll be able to handle their tendencies, but the worst is yet to be seen. Riven can be…testy with people. Amick doesn’t care about conversation or social interactions. People think it’s him being rude and they lose patience with him quickly.
“So why am I starting with Amick today?” she asks, breaking our small moment of silence. She must have been thinking about yesterday as well.
“Did you want to be with one of the others?”
“It doesn’t really matter, I guess. You all have your reservations about this.”
She clocked that quickly.
“I have a meeting I have to attend today, and the High Chancellor will be present for most of it, so I didn’t think it’d be best for you to start with me. Creed will be in his Defender designation today, which leaves him training nearly all day. I didn’t think that was the best way to start you off in the Godsdawn. And honestly, I have no clue what Riven’s doing. I didn’t even consider placing you with him first.”
“I appreciate that.” She chuckles, then takes a sip of her drink. “So is this how this works? Because of your Designation in Ruler, you get to call all the shots?”
“No.” I snort. “Me trying to tell my brothers what to do would be like telling trees to walk. Just situations like this, they know when it’s best to let me organize it. Just the same if I need to know something, I’d go straight to Amick. It’s not that you don’t have a say now. I just figured you don’t have any idea of what’s going on. Once you’ve been in a few rotations with all of us, just tell us where you want to be.”
She sighs and wraps both hands around her mug. “I hate not knowing what’s going on. I’m confused about what exactly I’m even supposed to do with all of you besides follow you around. There are too many questions brewing in my mind. I don’t even know what to ask first. I should be thinking about things far more important than the disappearing clothes in my closet.”
I chuckle. I bet that was a shocker. “These homes have more than enough power running through them, making them sentient. Aside from them being designed with our essence mingled in, the Goddess of Illusion recruited and used multiple gods in the Plentiful Designation and their powers to design them. They’re made with the gods’ comfort at the forefront of the innovation.
“If you put your dirty clothes on the bathroom or closet floor, the power knows it needs to be cleaned. If we were to leave our dishes in the sink overnight, it’d wash those as well, but we never do. We keep our spaces clean on our own, mostly. You and Amick will be in the Athenaeum today. I’m not sure what’s on his schedule, but I have no doubt you’ll learn some shit. He’s the best person to ask any question, especially something like this.”
She gapes at me, then shakes her head. “I don’t know how to process that or the fact I don’t have to wash my own clothes or anyone else’s anymore. I’m looking forward to learning some shit.”
You say that now…there’re some things that’ll scare the shit out of you here in Godsden.
I don’t dare speak my thoughts out loud to her. There’s a time and place she’ll be learning the secrets kept in this region. The Chancellors like to make the Chosen wait until they’re too smitten with this place to care about the truths they learn.
We all know when we can share those revelations with the new gods. Her finding out will come sooner than the others because she’s in our Valtrue, but I’m in no rush for her to know.
It’s going to be a test of how well or how bad this new relationship is going to go.
If it goes bad, I don’t have the first clue what we’re going to do. This is fucking…forever we’re talking about here.
Gods, there are so many pieces to this we still have to figure out.
“Morning,” a gruff voice says behind us.
Thayla curses under her breath as her coffee sloshes everywhere and I sigh. We weren’t even being loud, but obviously someone couldn’t sleep.
“It’s a little early for you to be up, Creed,” I say, turning in my chair to watch him grab a mug and his cream.
“I have an itch in my chest that won’t fucking stop.” He grunts as he takes a seat and grabs the kettle.
“You should probably visit the healing villas for that,” Thayla says.

He pins her with a dark gaze. “The healing villas aren’t going to fix this issue.”
His glare doesn’t deter her. She meets him with one of her own. I lean back and sip my coffee in silence, waiting to see how this goes down.
“What’s your domain?”
I choke on the fiery liquid. I sure as shit didn’t see that being what came out of her mouth. Fuck, she either has zero self-preservation, or she’s truly unfazed by the energy that pours off us.
“I’m not comfortable with you knowing that yet,” he says with far more restraint than I’ve ever heard him use when anyone has dared bring this topic up.
Her narrow eyes never waver, but there’s no anger in her look. It’s calculating again. “Fair enough. Baby steps. We’ve got to build up some trust.”
Huh. Didn’t expect that either. She’s just full of surprises.
I’m surprised Riven doesn’t love this.
Creed doesn’t respond as he tips his coffee back and they seem to let whatever that was go.
“I was going to bring this up yesterday but decided against it since it was a semi-decent lunch, aside from the psycho.”
I can’t hold in my laugh, and she shoots me a pleased smirk.
“It’s important for me to address this before our day starts, though.”
“Well, go on and say what you got to say now that you’ve made the mood so serious.”
She arches a brow, then looks between Creed and me like she can’t believe I’m blaming her for the shift in energy.
“I’m not sure how you all get your meals or stock of food brought to you from the dining hall, or anything you may need in your roles, but Yemi’s not to be used. She’s not going to be fetching things for us. She’ll be using me as an excuse in order to get herself a better selection of food for her house, but that’ll be the extent of that.
“She’s not a slave, nor will she be treated as one by anyone. Whether it’s food runs or anything else the Attendants are made to do, she’s not going to be doing any of it for anyone but me, and that’s only within reason that I don’t get her in trouble. That goes for you four as well as any of the other gods. I despise how I’ve seen the Attendants be treated so far. My reaction to her being treated poorly won’t be pleasant.”
My jaw hangs slack as my eyes widen. I had a feeling when she made it clear we address her Attendant by her name, she was going to treat her differently than the others do. This is a level of respect I’ve only ever seen from my brothers and me. We know the true history of the Attendants, and we’ve never wavered from the way things are supposed to be.
“Understood. We won’t cross those lines,” I say and Creed grunts in agreement.
“If that’s how you truly feel, you need to be prepared to correct the gods’ behaviors immediately. If you allow one to get away with it, they’ll all try. Without your power settling yet, you should be ready for the worst.”
Again, she eyes Creed like she’s trying to figure him out. “Will the four of you not have my back on this?”
She asks the question like it’s a test. Depending on Creed’s answer is how she’s about to view us. I go to open my mouth to reassure her, but he beats me.
“If things go too far, yes, we will. But she’s your Attendant and the expectations you have of her need to come from you. Not us. If you get into the habit of using us as a crutch, the other gods will single you out the second you’re not around one of us. Make your stand known.”
She worries her bottom lip, but her stony face never falters.
“Understood.”
Creed nods once before getting up from the table and heading to the icebox. The lights in the kitchen come fully to life as he starts pulling stuff out for breakfast.
I chuckle as she cocks her head to the side and watches him. “Wait, you all don’t go to the dining hall?”
“Never.” I smile at the shock on her face. “Creed does the cooking.”
He’s cooking early today to be spiteful about her assuming.
“What?”
“That’s the Healer in him. You got to nourish the body. Can’t let that gorgeous physique of yours wither away.” I wink and openly eye her. I’ve seen and heard enough to know if she’s not okay with that, she’s going to tell me. I may earn myself a slap.
“Don’t bring that up.” Her whisper travels through the kitchen and my smile widens.
“Bring what up?” Creed asks.
“Nothing,” she answers far too fast while she stares daggers at me.
I throw my head back, laughing.
At least if I don’t get to enjoy my mornings alone anymore, they’ll be entertaining for me.