“I’m not saying that as an insult toward them. I’m saying it from what we’ve already seen and experienced. We, the two of us, are more easily accepted. You more than me, but they never are. Prior to knowing about her soul—well, aside from Creed—she matched each of us in a different way. She didn’t know who we were and still doesn’t know the hell we lived, yet she’s never treated us or them differently.
“We all already fall into a natural dynamic that works. You, at times, go right along with Riven’s flirty nature toward her, then you catch yourself. Same with Creed. I notice the soft smile you shoot him when he does something small and innocent for her, then again, you stop as if you’re mentally telling yourself he shouldn’t be doing that, or you shouldn’t be okay with him doing it.
“Despite how our brothers act other times, you see the way they watch her. You see how she watches them, cares for them in her own way. Her soul, I believe, has minimal to do with it. It may alter some things, but I don’t truly believe it affects how we feel until it’s completely tied as yours is now.”
He raises a brow. “Did Creed tell you about that?”
“No. I’ve witnessed the shift, though, ever since it happened. Your emotions for her grew exponentially after it happened. Yes, sex can create an emotional connection, but not as instantaneous as I’m witnessing happen to you. Regardless, what I’m getting at is, their emotions for her now, without her soul being tied irrevocably to theirs, aren’t causing their feelings for her.
“That’s happening naturally because of the way she sees them and treats them. The only difference between them and us is we accepted it a lot faster than they have. If you want to blame it on her soul, then that’s fine as well.
“Consider that entirely for a moment, though. They hold a piece of her very being inside of them. They have a responsibility to protect it just as we do. Youbelieve and expect them to do that without ever feeling something for the woman it belongs to?”
He runs his hand down his face, shaking his head. “No, I don’t. I hear and understand all the points you’re making, but it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around it. The way they act pisses me off. Then they turn around and act just as jealous and protective as us. It’s fucking confusing.”
“Confusing for all of us, but I think you’re putting too much focus on them. Have you not noticed the difference in Thayla since her soul completely attached to yours?”
A small smile slips through the fingers that he has resting on his lips.
“Of course I have.”
“How do you think she’ll feel once all her pieces are finally whole again?”
His eyes whip to mine as though reality has finally struck him. “You don’t think she’ll feel complete or totally happy until her soul is sealed to us all?”
“No, I don’t. Again, though, I don’t believe it’s only her soul’s doing. Our Binder’s past life that she still hasn’t been completely open with us about shaped her in many ways. She has multiple sides to her, all of which need to be taken care of one way or another without judgment or question. Could she and is she happy with the two of us, yes, I believe so. But I believe she’d be even happier if every side of her was matched and fulfilled without restraint.”
He closes his eyes as his head bobs up and down. His hand slips from his forehead and lands on his thigh with a loud slap. The war his mind is going through is scripted in his body language.
“I’ve noticed all of this. I’ve even teased about it, but accepting it as a reality is something different. I don’t know how to explain that part of me is already on board with this, while the other part isn’t going to be fully on board until they get their shit together. I got to see some change in them, and I’ll need some time to wrap my head around it.”
“I understand. I started accepting this after observing the way we all reacted to her meeting our father, then I fully accepted this again after you two had sex so I’ve already got this nuance out of my way. It’s a good thing you’re the God of Time and can rush your nonsense along.”
He snorts, but the sound is cut short by a knock at my open door.
“Rising Chancellor, Mr. Kyzen, I apologize for my interruption, but I was sent to retrieve you. There’s a situation in the Sanctum that requires your mediation, sir.”
Kyzen sits up straighter. “What’s the situation?”
“I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t given any details, only instructions to get you and that I’d find you here.”
“Thank you for informing me. I’ll be there in a moment.”
The Attendant gives him a slight bow and leaves my threshold as he stands.
“Well, duty apparently calls. Let Thayla know I’ll be back as soon as I get whatever this is out of the way.”
“I will and don’t fret over what we talked about too much. They still need to straighten themselves out first. Knowing Creed and Riven, it’ll take longer than necessary.”
“That’s a good point. They’re nothing if not hardheaded.” He chuckles as he strolls out of my office.
I can’t help but feel like the tension in his steps is because of me, but it was a conversation that needed to be had sooner rather than later. Namely, before he witnesses what the forced proximity in the carriage will inevitably do. The three of them in a room with no escape from one another will push them closer.
I’m very interested in seeing how it plays out.
I check my sunsetter and note the time I have to get work done before I undoubtedly have to go find Thayla and Yemi.
The pages and notes fly by before my eyes, but my mind continues to drift to her as well as my brothers.
