Page 74 of The Gods Order

“Deep breath and do it again.”

I do as he says. My chest expands with my inhale, and on my exhale, I shove all my annoyance out with it.

The next attempt goes better. Then worse. Then better.

The pattern repeats itself for nearly a fucking hour and I want to scream. It doesn’t matter that Val switches up what sound he wants me to focus on. Each time, I brush against the connection. I sense it, I feel it, I attempt to separate it, then my power does whatever the fuck it wants.

I swear to the Valories, it’s like when my powers settled for the first time.

Non-listening shit.

“You’re rushing,” Val says as I squeeze my eyes shut for the millionth time.

I glare at him through one slitted lid.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I understand what I’m supposed to do. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. My power is not cooperating.”

“I know.” His answer catches me off guard and I cross my arms as I face him fully. “You do understand what to do.”

“Then why isn’t it working?”

Instead of answering, he steps closer, reaching his palm toward me.

“May I?” he asks, and I huff, laying my hand in his. “Step-by-step.”

He stretches our arms out, fingers pointing at the tree line, and sharp zaps race down my back. I straighten and roll my shoulders out to relieve the pressure.

“Close your eyes and find the sound.”

I do.

“Now the connection.”

Again, I do.

His voice remains steady, calm, and with a patience that I feel like I’ll work a lifetime to have.

“Don’t touch the sound. Not the critters, the wind, or the leaves. Only the connection. The interaction between you and them.”

The sensation along my spine intensifies as it travels up my back, down my arms, then out of my fingers. Nothing but silence greets me.

“Can you hear my voice?” he asks, and I fight back a flinch. I wasn’t expecting to hear anything.

“Yes.”

“Good. Hold the connection.”

He releases me and takes a step away. I sit in the silence and for a fleeting second, enjoy whatever it is that clicks into place.

“Okay, Thayla,” he says, sounding a tad farther from me than he was a moment ago. “Now, I want you to narrow the connection down. Focus on whichever sound has been the loudest for you. Allow everything else to slowly filter in but what you choose.”

Okay. I can do that.

Apparently, I can’t. The noise of the meadow comes crashing down on me and a loud-ass groan rips from my throat.