Page 161 of Grave Situation

“Do it.” I’ve come too far now to turn back.

Hours later, as my muscles cramp and my skin crawls from the unrelenting sensation of someone being inside my head all this time, I wonder if this was a mistake. Maybe we should?—

My whole body bows off the bed, my lungs sucking in air assomethingin my head catches fire. White-hot pain consumes my mind, taking over every thought, every ounce of awareness, until?—

Until it stops. And I float in the stillness of a billion stars, only they’re not stars. They’re thoughts. Memories. Mine. And also not mine.

I see them then, the tiny filaments connecting the memories and thoughts to each other, a vast, complex network. I see the filament connecting it all to me. And I finally understand.

I’m Wasianth, but I’m Talon too. I’m the me I’ve always been, but I’m also a reincarnate. I know everything he ever knew,remember every life he’s lived, have access to almost all his powers… but I’m still Talon. I haven’t been booted out of myself.

“Talon?” Jaimin’s voice sounds like I’m underwater, muffled and distant, but I still hear the urgency, and I reluctantly leave the vault of my mind and return to full consciousness.

My eyes open. “I’m okay,” I rasp, and then, as my gaze focuses, I realize we’re no longer alone. Coryn, Peiris, and Arimen hover beside Jaimin, the former two armed, and behind them, in the doorway, is the ship’s captain.

“You were screaming,” Arimen says shakily. “Screaming like someone was murdering you.”

I don’t tell him that if I’d been being murdered, it probably would have hurt less. Instead, I manage a small smile. “Sorry. I’m okay, though.” I’m not sure what Jaimin’s told them.

“See? Just a nightmare, like I said,” he adds, filling in the gaps. “Thank you all for checking on us, though.”

The captain murmurs his goodnight and leaves, closing the door behind him.

“Was it really a nightmare?” Peiris asks softly, and I shake my head and sit up.

“Jaimin healed me.”

“Healing doesn’t hurt,” Coryn insists. “Let me check under the bed.”

Jaimin lays a hesitant hand on my cheek as Arimen explains to Coryn why nobody could possibly be hiding under the bed. “Talon?” he whispers.

I turn my face into his palm and kiss it. “Yes.”

Relief causes him to sag. “Good. That’s good. Did… Did it not work?”

“Oh no, it worked,” I say just as Arimen finishes. My words fall into a sudden silence.

“It worked?” Peiris breathed. Arimen’s mouth gapes open and closed like a fish’s. It would be funny if not for?—

“O, Great Wasianth!” he cries, dropping to his knees and bowing his head.

I sigh. “Please don’t do that, Arimen. I’m still me.”

“And you’ll wear out the knees of your pants,” Peiris adds practically. “Especially if you’re going to do this every time you see him.”

Arimen looks uncertain and confused. “But he’s a god.Mygod. I can’t just treat him like he’s any normal person.”

Those words make my skin crawl. “I’m going to need you to not call me ‘your god,’ please. Really. Please.”

Peiris coughs lightly, and Jaimin presses his lips together to hide a smile. “It would be safer for us all, especially Talon, if we didn’t mention godhood at all,” he suggests diplomatically. “We don’t know how people are going to react to it.”

The uncertainty on Arimen’s pale face instantly morphs into shocked indignation. “Do you mean people might not be happy to know that a god walks among us?”

“That’s exactly what he means,” I confirm. “We know the gods are special to you, but not everybody has the same relationship with them—plus, some people react badly to those with power. You’ve noticed how the crew is much more reserved around me and Jaimin, right?”

Sighing, he shakes his head. “I know I’m supposed to hold everyone in the same high esteem, but some people are just disappointments.”

This time, Jaimin lifts a hand to cover his mouth, unable to repress his amusement. I try to keep a straight face as I reply, “I understand. I feel that way about most people I meet.”

---