Breaking Gods by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online

peace.
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Getting out of robes and a bodysuit was considerably worse than shucking a plain gown. Her hands fumbled as she peeled the clothing away.
    Muraz joined her just as she was peeling out of the top of the suit. She looked at him with a sort of a challenge that she couldn’t stop and pried the suit off her body, kicking free of the legs. For some reason, the very sight of him antagonized her.
    She breathed deep and walked into the water until it closed over her head. Swimming as deeply into the cavern as she could, she found the calmest, deepest spot she could and settled down.
    When Muraz swam toward her, her irritation was lessening. She took his hand and used that touch to show him how to simply not breathe under the water. He looked at her with surprise and settled down next to her.
    They sat there for twenty minutes and Lieta absorbed the serenity of home. When she stood and began walking out of the water, Muraz was at her side.
    Sister Esrai and Brother Frimin were waiting to dry them and wrap them in robes.
    Attendance after a traumatic exertion had become a ritual after she had been forced to take a life for the first time. They had dried her, wrapped her and taken her to Mother and Father. Today, the order was reversed, but Esrai’s hands were no less gentle for that.
    Barefoot and robed, they walked to the main square and the dining tables had been laid out and torches flared to light the interior. Music played the moment they stepped inside and part of Lieta clicked into place once again. Venila came to her and gave her a hug, which gave permission to everyone else. She was swamped with hugs, laughter and flowers.
    Specialists Heirak and Ukiss were there with Valuu and they stared at Muraz during the dinner.
    Muraz smiled, “I believe I will get a complex. They do not seem happy to see me.”
    Lieta chuckled. “They do not. I believe they were sure that you were torturing your population and forcing yourself on the women.”
    He frowned. “Why would they think that?”
    “Because that is what they were told and that is what they told me. I was expecting something quite different, but when you started acting like a thwarted child, you still kept the force of your lightning away from your people. That counted for a lot.”
    He ducked his head, “I never meant to hurt them.”
    Lieta put her hand on his. “I know. The information exchange went both ways. You were not acting in malice but need. There is a difference.”
    “That is what the Minder at Janial said. I will admit I had no idea that supernatural talents were flaring up in such varied populations.”
    “They always have been. Our kind just come to them when the time is right and the blood of the Aruda builds up.” She looked down and realized that she was still holding his hand. It felt so normal, so natural. She jerked her hand away.
    “You finally noticed.” He was smiling. “It is fine. Mother and Father said we were born to be drawn to each other.”
    “They would know. Each leaf on the tree is one of our kind on this world, but to date, I am the only one to evolve to this level. You seem to be catching up.”
    “It has only been weeks, but Mother and Father have met with me daily. They have helped me become what I should have been all along.”
    Lieta was curious. “What was your home like before Darhil?”
    “It was polite, cold. They didn’t know what to do with me and I couldn’t ever use my talent without injuring folks around me. The effort to master my skills took all of my control. When my parents had amassed enough money, they sent me off in a shuttle with just enough training and supplies to last me for four months and told me to find a world where I couldn’t hurt anyone. They told me to make it my own, so I did.”
    Sister Esrai took the seat across from them. “In case you think we do not know who he is and what he did, we got full disclosure from him when he arrived. We have moved you to